Museum launches three new intriguing exhibitions

Published: 21 Dec 2023 12:09pm

The Museum of the Riverina is launching three new exhibitions at its Historic Council Chambers site for residents and visitors to enjoy over the summer.

The three exhibitions: the 2023 Bald Archy Prize touring exhibition, Tom Castro: The man who never was, and Lazy Days in Wagga Wagga, will open on Friday 22 December.

The internationally known Bald Archy Prize is coming home to the Museum of the Riverina after being exhibited across NSW.

Showcasing the best satirical portraiture from across Australia, the 2023 tour is a delight that encourages its audience to have a laugh.

Poking fun at Australia's biggest figures from sportsmen to politicians, it encapsulates the irreverent, larrikin Australian spirit in a way that appeals to people from all walks of life.

Wagga Wagga is the final stop of the 2023 Bald Archy Prize tour. The exhibition will close on Sunday 28 January 2024, so make sure you don’t miss out!

Tom Castro: The man who never was is inspired by the story of Wagga Wagga butcher Tom Castro, who in 1865 created history claiming to be the long-lost heir to the Tichborne family’s Hampshire estates.

Castro unwittingly set in motion one of the greatest cases of disputed identity in recent criminal history.

Man, myth, would-be-baronet, peep show oddity and pauper; who was Tom Castro, and did he ever really exist?

The Museum of the Riverina brings this amazing story to life with this evocative exhibition which includes Nathan Hughes’ painting The Great Tichborne Trials, alongside objects from the Museum’s Tichborne collection.

Lazy Days in Wagga Wagga presents a curated collection of photographs taken over a century of summers in our wonderful city.

Discover how locals and visitors spent their leisure time keeping cool, whether relaxing in the shade of a willow or by taking a plunge in the Murrumbidgee River.

Experience everyday Aussies enjoying picnics, games, dancing and larking around, with each photo brought to life through the addition of colour.

Manager Museum Luke Grealy says the Museum is excited to be presenting these three exhibitions over the summer.

“The exhibitions have something for everyone; the Bald Archy Prize is a long-running and well-known exhibition that features identities we all know,” Mr Grealy said.

“The Tom Castro case is intriguing to those who already know the story, or are yet to learn about it, and Lazy Days features images of Wagga Wagga that locals can relate to, especially this time of year when the weather is hot.”

The Museum of the Riverina - Historic Council Chambers site is located on the corner of Baylis Street and Morrow Street, (alongside the Civic Centre forecourt). Entry is free.