Philanthropists’ gift
Communal philanthropists John and Pauline Gandel have equalled their previous record-breaking donation to Melbourne Museum to enable the development of a new attraction.
The new interactive Gandel Gondwana Garden, due to open in late 2022, is a partnership between the Gandels, Museums Victoria and the Victorian government.
It will connect the museum’s much-loved Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery with a new 900 square metre outdoor play-based learning gallery for six-to-12-year-olds. As visitors make their way through the garden, they will explore the natural ecosystems that make life on Earth possible.
It will be a unique, state of the art facility aimed at educating in a creative way, letting the children explore the gardens using their imagination.
“Our family has had a great experience with the Melbourne Museum through the Children’s Gallery project, which has been a runaway success since opening its doors back in 2016,” Pauline Gandel said.
“We are therefore very pleased to extend our support for, and partnership with, the museum and help them create another wonderful learning space, this time for slightly older children.
“The brand new, interactive, and immersive Gondwana outdoor space will encourage our youth to engage, develop their skills, their inquisitiveness, and their thirst for knowledge and learning, which is critically important for their future success in life.”
Museums Victoria CEO and director Lynley Crosswell said, “The Gandel Gondwana Garden will capture the imaginations of generations of children and families.
“We are deeply grateful to the Victorian state government and to Mr John Gandel AC and Mrs Pauline Gandel AC and the Gandel Foundation for their continued generous support of our museums and the contribution they have made to the enrichment and education of more than a million children.”
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