ABSTRACT
As ‘hybrid’ communities (see p. 3, this volume), Australia’s cities were involved in complex transcultural negotiations. According to Richard Twopeny in 1883 ‘Town-life is a recent invention in Australia’ (see p. 17, this volume).1 Whilst generally representative of the character of colonial Australia, such an impression underestimates the achievements of Australian city leaders. Metropolitan values and models were not straightforwardly adopted but rather translated and transformed when imported from the UK. Australian grandees thus sought to endow their cities with museums, libraries, and universities.2 Imperial representatives, such as the Colonial Office and AgentsGeneral, may have encouraged such developments but they did not issue mandates or prescribe plans of action.3 The Australian national galleries were an important example of the Australian colonists freely taking inspiration from UK examples in order to establish their own identities. This chapter explores the civic discourses invoked in the foundation and conduct of the various institutions.
