200 Treasures of the Australian Museum: Audio Description Tour Stop 5 of 22

Skeleton of 'Sir Hercules' and a rider (AD005)

This exhibit is not in a case. It is placed on a platform that extends into the gallery from between two pillars. The exhibit is protected by a black wall between the pillars and a glass fence on three sides. It is the skeleton of a horse, ‘Sir Hercules’, and a rider. The horse is rearing on its hind legs. The rider is holding on to the horse with its right hand and has its left arm raised above its head. Some of the joints are held in place by stainless steel rods and secured with bolts. The ribs are attached to the sternum with fine gauge stainless steel cables.

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Stops in tour

Stop 1
Westpac Long Gallery (AD001)
Discover the stories behind 100 treasures of the Australian Museum.
Stop 2
Australia's first bank note and Maitland Bar Gold Nugget (AD002)
The foundation of the Australian currency and a priceless large gold nugget.
Stop 3
Krefft's chair (AD003)
Chair of Gerard Krefft, Museum Curator, zoologist and a central figure in Australian science in the 19th century .
Stop 4
Platypus skin rug (AD004)
Made from the skins of 75 platypuses, this rug reminds us of a time when many native animals were unprotected and considered pests.
Stop 5
Skeleton of 'Sir Hercules' and a rider (AD005)
Affectionately known as the 'Bone Ranger', this specimen highlights the importance of horses and horsemanship in Australian history.
Stop 6
Rainforest shields (AD006)
The vibrant indigenous shields from the rainforests of far north Queensland were created as tools for survival.
Stop 7
Morning star pole (AD007)
Pointing heavenwards in the centre of this showcase is a morning star pole from Elcho Island in the Northern Territory.
Stop 8
Crocodile turtle mask (AD008)
This striking and rare mask from the Torres Strait Islands were worn by male dancers in funerary rites and other important ceremonies.
Stop 9
Roro feather headdress (AD009)
This elaborate headdress made by the Roro people from the highlands of Papua New Guinea is a vibrant example of the connection between people and environment.
Stop 10
Bird-shaped pestle (AD010)
Integral to the rise of agriculture in Papua New Guinea, this ancient stone pounding tool tells of one of the oldest histories of food production in the world.
Stop 11
Upe hats (AD011)
The sacred hats of the Papua New Guinea Buka Island hold many secrets of lost practices and cultural knowledge.
Stop 12
Malagan figures (AD012)
Showcasing a rich history of the New Ireland people, these ritualistic figures honour a person's memory after their death.
Stop 13
Mother and child (AD013)
A enigmatic figure of a mother and child from the Solomon Islands representing a world in profound transition.
Stop 14
Kiribati armour (AD014)
Once used in ritualised battles to settle disputes, the Kiribati armour reveals a fascinating history.
Stop 15
Cook's Hawaiian cape (AD015)
On his final voyage to Hawaii, this magnificent cape was presented to Captain James Cook by Ali’i (chief) Kalani‘ōpu‘u.
Stop 16
Figure of Arjuna (AD016)
A ritualistic carved wooden piece representing the Hindu God Arjuna from South East Asia.
Stop 17
Zulu shields (AD017)
Collected during the Anglo-Zulu wars, these impressive shields are made from the hides of Native Nguni cattle.
Stop 18
Theban mummy & coffin (AD018)
Excavated from a tomb in Thebes, this Egyptian mummy and coffin has revealed some surprises with the aid of new technologies.
Stop 19
Raven head mask (AD019)
Masks made by Canada’s First Nations people showing spirit beings in animal forms.
Stop 20
Mawson's sledge (AD020)
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by geologist Sir Douglas Mawson used wooden sledges like this across Antarctica's icy surface.
Stop 21
Opalised pliosaur (AD021)
'Eric' the pilosaur swam in a vast inland sea during the Cretaceous period, 110 million years ago.
Stop 22
Canowindra fish fossils (AD022)
Uncovered at Canowindra in 1955, these spectacularly preserved fish fossils depict ancient ecosystems frozen in time.

Stop 1
Westpac Long Gallery (AD001)
Discover the stories behind 100 treasures of the Australian Museum.
Stop 2
Australia's first bank note and Maitland Bar Gold Nugget (AD002)
The foundation of the Australian currency and a priceless large gold nugget.
Stop 3
Krefft's chair (AD003)
Chair of Gerard Krefft, Museum Curator, zoologist and a central figure in Australian science in the 19th century .
Stop 4
Platypus skin rug (AD004)
Made from the skins of 75 platypuses, this rug reminds us of a time when many native animals were unprotected and considered pests.
Stop 5
Skeleton of 'Sir Hercules' and a rider (AD005)
Affectionately known as the 'Bone Ranger', this specimen highlights the importance of horses and horsemanship in Australian history.
Stop 6
Rainforest shields (AD006)
The vibrant indigenous shields from the rainforests of far north Queensland were created as tools for survival.
Stop 7
Morning star pole (AD007)
Pointing heavenwards in the centre of this showcase is a morning star pole from Elcho Island in the Northern Territory.
Stop 8
Crocodile turtle mask (AD008)
This striking and rare mask from the Torres Strait Islands were worn by male dancers in funerary rites and other important ceremonies.
Stop 9
Roro feather headdress (AD009)
This elaborate headdress made by the Roro people from the highlands of Papua New Guinea is a vibrant example of the connection between people and environment.
Stop 10
Bird-shaped pestle (AD010)
Integral to the rise of agriculture in Papua New Guinea, this ancient stone pounding tool tells of one of the oldest histories of food production in the world.
Stop 11
Upe hats (AD011)
The sacred hats of the Papua New Guinea Buka Island hold many secrets of lost practices and cultural knowledge.
Stop 12
Malagan figures (AD012)
Showcasing a rich history of the New Ireland people, these ritualistic figures honour a person's memory after their death.
Stop 13
Mother and child (AD013)
A enigmatic figure of a mother and child from the Solomon Islands representing a world in profound transition.
Stop 14
Kiribati armour (AD014)
Once used in ritualised battles to settle disputes, the Kiribati armour reveals a fascinating history.
Stop 15
Cook's Hawaiian cape (AD015)
On his final voyage to Hawaii, this magnificent cape was presented to Captain James Cook by Ali’i (chief) Kalani‘ōpu‘u.
Stop 16
Figure of Arjuna (AD016)
A ritualistic carved wooden piece representing the Hindu God Arjuna from South East Asia.
Stop 17
Zulu shields (AD017)
Collected during the Anglo-Zulu wars, these impressive shields are made from the hides of Native Nguni cattle.
Stop 18
Theban mummy & coffin (AD018)
Excavated from a tomb in Thebes, this Egyptian mummy and coffin has revealed some surprises with the aid of new technologies.
Stop 19
Raven head mask (AD019)
Masks made by Canada’s First Nations people showing spirit beings in animal forms.
Stop 20
Mawson's sledge (AD020)
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by geologist Sir Douglas Mawson used wooden sledges like this across Antarctica's icy surface.
Stop 21
Opalised pliosaur (AD021)
'Eric' the pilosaur swam in a vast inland sea during the Cretaceous period, 110 million years ago.
Stop 22
Canowindra fish fossils (AD022)
Uncovered at Canowindra in 1955, these spectacularly preserved fish fossils depict ancient ecosystems frozen in time.

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