NAMA's collection provides a broad overview of the cultural and environmental heritage of Australia's Alpine regions and Australian winter sports. Australia's alpine environment is unique and covers just 0.15% of the continent. The history of Australia's Alps reflects many of the processes that have shaped the modern nation, including migration, globalisation and tourism.

 

This history also illustrates the ways in which the movement of people, ideas and technology have had an impact on ourselves and our understanding of the landscape. The collections held by NAMA reveal these broad themes across both summer and winter, from European colonisation to the present.

 

The stories of Australian winter sports are also revealed through the collections, which are rarely told outside of Olympic successes despite a history of participation and competition dating back to the mid-19th century.