History of the Australian Museum's Spirit House for Wet Specimen Preservation
The Australian Museum's 'Spirit House' is a specialized facility for storing ethanol-preserved biological specimens, established due to safety concerns about flammable preservation fluids. Constructed in 1896-1897 under Robert Wall's supervision in the museum's courtyard, the building was expanded with a second story in 1929 and replaced with a new four-story structure in 1969, later renamed The Spirit Block. The collection contains approximately 1.3 million containers, including scientifically valuable specimens like thylacines and Great Barrier Reef corals, preserved since the 17th century using ethanol for its accessibility and preservation qualities despite flammability risks. Access remains restricted to authorized staff managing the collection, which serves researchers worldwide for biodiversity studies.
Key facts
- The Australian Museum's Spirit House was built in 1896-1897 to safely store ethanol-preserved specimens separate from other collections
- Ethanol preservation has been used since the 17th century for whole animal specimens, though it is flammable and can cause color loss
- The facility was expanded in 1929 with a second story and replaced with a new building in 1969 featuring compactus storage shelves
- The collection contains approximately 1.3 million containers including extinct thylacines and Great Barrier Reef corals
- Access is limited to staff due to safety concerns, with regular ethanol replenishment to prevent specimen deterioration
Entities
Institutions
- Australian Museum
Locations
- Newtown
- Hintze Hall