The Jewish Museum of Australia was founded in 1977 by a group of dedicated volunteers led by Rabbi Ronald Lubofsky. During our first years of existence, this collective staged exhibitions at the Myer Gallery and Tramways Board building, acquired objects for a collection, and searched for a permanent home.
In 1982, one of our founding members – June Helmer – invited her brother, the Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen, to be our Patron ahead of the opening of our temporary premises in the disused classrooms of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in South Yarra. Over the next 13 years, we presented over 40 exhibitions at that location, several of which toured nationally and won industry awards.
With community support, we were able to purchase a building opposite one of Melbourne’s most beautiful synagogues, the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation. On 20 August 1995, the Governor-General Bill Hayden opened the Jewish Museum of Australia: Gandel Centre of Judaica, named for our lead benefactors, John and Pauline Gandel.
Your could be here
