Collection

Australian inventions and innovations

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From the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879 to the present day, the MAAS collection is rich with examples of Australian creativity and ingenuity that have had a real impact on our lives. This list is a small selection of the best.

The innovations cover all areas of life, including transport, energy, health, manufacturing, communications and leisure. The Museum continues to collect examples of Australian ingenuity in science, technology and design that have helped shape the world.

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Objects in this Set

K798 Victa 'Rotomo' rotary motor mower, Victa's first production model lawn mower, metal, designed and made by Mervyn Victor Richardson, Concord (Sydney), New South Wales, Australia, 1953
On Display

Victa lawnmower, first off the production line

90/1050 Beverage dispensing machine, 'Cafe Bar Mini 3', metal / plastic / glass, made by Cafe Bar International, Australia, 1965-1970

Cafe Bar 'Mini 3' beverage dispensing machine

92/282 Toilet cistern, dual flush, DuoSet, clear plastic, Caroma Industries Limited, Adelaide, 1990

DuoSet dual flush toilet cistern

92/297 Flight recorder, 'Davall Recycling Recorder', sectioned, serial No.133, invented by Dr David Warren in Australia, made by S Davall & Sons Ltd, Greenford, Middlesex, England, 1968-1978
On Display

Sectioned 'Red Egg' flight recorder

95/131/1 Hypodermic syringe, disposable, opaque polyethylene/metal, designed by Harry Willis, made by Charles Rothauser, Industrial Products Limited, Australia, 1949

Disposable plastic syringe by Harry Whillis and Charles Rothauser

97/125/2 Knife and scabbard, brochure and point of sale display card, Wiltshire Staysharp series 700 Mk II, steel / plastic / paper, designed by Peter Bayly and Associates, made by Wiltshire International, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1972
On Display

Wiltshire Staysharp knife and scabbard Mk II

2001/76/1 Water removal system , 'Super Sopper', galvanised iron/ electroplated zinc/ polyurethane foam, invented by Gordon Withnall, developed and manufactured by Kuranda Manufacturing, Taree, Australia, 2001

Super Sopper water removal system

2005/160/1 Wearable GPS tracking device and accessories, 'SPI-10 Sports Performance Indicator', metal / plastic / nylon / polyester / paper, designed and made by GPSports Systems Pty Ltd, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia / Vietnam, 2003

Wearable GPS tracking device by GPSports Systems Pty Ltd

2006/54/1 Braille writer, 'Jot A Dot', with packaging, by Quantum Technology Pty Ltd, Rydalmere, New South Wales, Australia, 2005

'Jot A Dot' portable Braille writer

2006/58/1 Miner's cap lamp with base station, 'Integrated Communications Cap Lamp' (ICCL), plastic / metal / cardboard, designed by Tiller + Tiller, made by Mine Site Technologies Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2004

Integrated mining cap lamp and communications system

2011/63/1 Ultrasound device, 'Signos Personal Ultrasound', plastic / electrical, designed by Design + Industry and Signostics Pty Ltd, 2009-2010, made by Signostics Pty Ltd, Australia, 2011
On Display

Signos portable ultrasound device

B2125 Pedal generator, brass / steel / paint, designed by Alfred Traeger, unknown maker, used by the Flying Doctor Service, Cloncurry area, Australia c 1930 - 1940

Traeger Pedal generator used by the Flying Doctor Service

B2309 Architectural model, Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon's design for the major hall, wood / plastic, constructed by Finecraft Scale Models Pty. Ltd., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1964-1966

Sydney Opera House architectural model

B2400 Header-harvester, ground drive, full size, 'Sunshine', made by H.V. McKay Pty Ltd, Sunshine Harvester Works, Sunshine, Victoria, Australia, 1935, used by the Hyland and Stapleton families of Cudal, New South Wales, Australia,

Sunshine header-harvester, c.1935

H4613 Submachine gun, Owen, sectioned, Mark II, made by John Lysaght (Australia) Ltd, Australia, 1941-1944

Submachine gun, Owen, sectioned, Mark II, made by John Lysaght (Australia) Ltd, Australia, 1941-1944

H5255 Model, automatic totalisator, metal / glass / wood, designed by Sir George Alfred Julius, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1907-1913

Model automatic totalisator designed by Sir George Alfred Julius

K805 Transceiver, Flying Doctor, type 60T25, metal-cased, Traeger Transceivers Ltd, Australia, c. 1950. Manufacturers of the first workable pedal wireless sets used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (OF).

Transceiver, Flying Doctor, type 60T25, metal-cased, Traeger Transceivers Ltd, Australia, c. 1950. Manufacturers of the first workable pedal wireless sets used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (OF).

85/826 Surf lifesaving reel, wooden, used by South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, Curl Curl, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1960

Surf lifesaving reel, wooden, used by South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, Curl Curl, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1960

86/12 Cochlear implant, speech processor and headset microphone, metal / plastic / electronic components, made by Nucleus Ltd, Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia, 1983

Cochlear implant made by Nucleus Ltd, Australia

86/474 Digital synthesiser, made by Fairlight Instruments, Australia, 1985

Digital synthesiser, made by Fairlight Instruments, Australia, 1985

86/1287 Medical apparatus, cardiac pacemaker with titanium case, made by Telectronics Pty Ltd, Australia, 1973

Medical apparatus, cardiac pacemaker with titanium case, made by Telectronics Pty Ltd, Australia, 1973

87/234 Traffic light pedestrian crossing buttons (2), ATPD, 'Audio -Tactile Pedestrian Detector', metal/plastic, made by K J Aldridge Automatic Systems Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1976-1987
On Display

Traffic light pedestrian crossing buttons

87/544 Baby safety capsule, plastic / nylon / metal / lambswool, Safe N Sound Pty Ltd, Australia, 1986

Safe N Sound baby safety capsule

87/1547 Steering assembly (sectioned), variable ratio, rack and pinion, power assisted, A E Bishop and Associates, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1987

Bishop variable ratio steering assembly