Cultural features of Australia

Marvel at the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal artefacts in the South Australian Museum and a comprehensive collection of Australian colonial art in the Art Gallery of South Australia. Further along North Terrace, visit the State Library, Parliament House and Government House. See the art collection in the Adelaide Festival Centre, the home base for the State Opera, State Theatre, Australian Dance Theatre and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Watch artists and sculptors in action in the West End or follow a gallery trail from the elegant CBD streets to neighbouring Kent Town and Norwood. Hit the streets for outdoor theatre, art, music, dance and film at the month-long Adelaide Fringe Festival in late February. Listen to world music at WOMADelaide, held every second March in the city’s lush Botanic Park. Watch fabulous performances at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June or celebrate ‘queer’ culture at the Feast Festival in November.

Perth, Western Australia

View Aboriginal art in the Art Gallery of Western Australia and visual and performing arts in The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. Explore the state’s geological origins, rich Aboriginal history and European settlement in the Western Australian Museum. All sit within the sprawling Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge. A few blocks away, watch the Western Australian Ballet, Opera or Symphony Orchestra perform in Australia’s only remaining Edwardian theatre. See a play at the Playhouse and Perth Theatres or hear soul singers and symphonies carry through the superb acoustic architecture of Perth Concert Hall. Visit the Aboriginal Art Gallery in Kings Park before exploring Fremantle’s museums and artistic enclaves. Wander between the Western Australian Maritime Museum, Fremantle Museum and the neo-Gothic Fremantle Arts Centre. See Aboriginal and contemporary art in galleries along High Street, in Mosman Park and Cottesloe. Each summer the Perth International Arts festival offers a jam-packed program of theatre, music, dance and visual arts.

Hobart, Tasmania

Stare at early settler art and a pair of preserved Tasmanian Devils in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, which embraces heritage buildings on the Sullivans Cove waterfront. Visit artist studios and watch performing arts in the heritage warehouses of the Salamanca Arts Centre. See the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra play in the Federation Concert Hall on Davey Street or listen to live jazz in one of the bars in Salamanca Place. Watch international ballet, opera, drama and musicals or glimpse the rumoured ghost at the Theatre Royal, Australia’s oldest theatre. Noel Coward played here and Sir Laurence Olivier urged Tasmanians to retain the building. See leading Tasmanian artists at the Lady Franklin Gallery in Lenah Valley and check out the colourful murals, patterned pavements and ornamented light poles lining the North Hobart streets. Musicians hit Hobart’s streets for the Hobart Summer Festival and the week-long Taste of Tasmania Festival, over the new year.

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Learn about the birth of Australia’s political system in Old Parliament House, then watch politicians debate today’s issues from the public gallery of modern Parliament House. See the nation’s finest collection of Australian art at the National Gallery of Australia and famous Australians on canvass at the National Portrait Gallery. Visit the National Museum of Australia, the War Memorial and the National Capital Exhibition. Pore over historical documents at the National Library of Australia or Australia’s first constitution at the nearby National Archives. Browse art and craft in the Canberra Museum and Gallery or enjoy visual and performing arts at the ANCA Gallery. Watch opera, ballet, theatre or musical performance at the Canberra Theatre Centre in Civic. See a local production at the Street Theatre or opt for classic musical at the School of Music in The Australian National University. Don’t miss the Canberra International Music Festival in May. Drive the Poachers Trail to galleries, studios and craft workshops dotting the Canberra countryside.

Darwin, Northern Territory

Explore Darwin’s rich Aboriginal heritage and relive the tragic 1974 Cyclone Tracy in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. See traditional and contemporary Aboriginal art and craft in the galleries along palm-lined Mitchell St. Watch footage of the World War II air raids on Darwin at East Point Military Museum and visit the unique cottages at Myilly Point Historical Precinct. Darwin’s tropical climate means much of the cultural action happens outdoors. Watch art house movies under the stars at the Deckchair Cinema, from April to November. Listen to powerhouse bands at Bass in the Grass at the Darwin Amphitheatre in late May. Don’t miss the Darwin Festival in August – 18 days of music, dance, theatre, comedy, cabaret, film and visual art at the George Brown Botanic Gardens. The same month the Darwin Fringe Festival hits town for a fortnight of seminars, aerial acts, Aboriginal films, a poetry cup, musical street jams, burlesque and art exhibitions.