| From 1899 to 1986, the Exhibition Building and Concert Hall
housed the Queensland Museum. The Queensland Museum moved
several times since its foundation in 1862. It was moved to
The Windmill, the Parliament House, the General Post Office
and its own home, but it stayed longest in Bowen Hills.
There it stayed for 86 years before moving to the
Queensland Cultural Centre at the South Banks in 1986. Due
to its long association with the
Queensland Museum, the
Exhibition Building and Concert Hall became known as the Old
Museum.
During those times when the Queensland Museum was still
located there, the Old Museum also served other functions.
Its concert hall was leased
to the Brisbane City Council making the Old Museum the
main concert venue in Brisbane from 1891 to 1930. From 1930
to 1974, the Concert Hall
served as the art gallery of Queensland.
Until the present, the Old Museum continues to open its
doors and serve as a home to many orchestras. It is where
the Queensland Youth Orchestra regularly holds concerts.
Italso houses the Queensland Youth Choir, the Queensland
Rhythmic Gymnastics Organization, the Queensland Police
Pipes and Drums, The Kelvin Grove Wind Orchestra (KGWO) and
the Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre Company. Its concert hall
and rehearsal places are also available for rental to the
public.
Various parts of the Old Museum have undergone restoration
in 1997, 1999 and 2005 to 2006. The William Anderson organ
which was used in
St. Stephen’s Cathedral from 1921 to 1987 was installed
in the Old Museum as part of the improvement made in 1997.
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