The Poet Among Statesmen

The Robert Menzies Institute invites you to join us in our museum space in the Old quad at The University of Melbourne for our latest exhibition launched April 3rd 2024.

About the Exhibition

The exhibition examines the influences of poetry on Menzies beliefs and values, curated by the Institutes’ Curatorial Librarian William Cook and Museum Assistant Victoria Hronas.

The exhibition covers eight key themes comprising Menzies as a Liberal, a Political Architect, a Leader, a Parliamentarian, a Family Man, a Nation Builder, a Patriot, and his Legacy.

Some fantastic new objects on display include: Menzies’ own poem ‘De Natura’ published in 1916 for the University of Melbourne Magazine, a first draft by famed poet Bernard O’Dowd and Menzies’ pocket sized version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Other interesting items include a new loan from the National Museum of Australia consisting of: The Japanese Order of the Rising Sun awarded to Menzies in 1952 and the personal film camera he used religiously.