I'm not sure that the intention to create a profit zone is applicable, but
in Sydney there are three 'museum mall' zones.  One is the Ultimo-
Darling-Harbour area which includes the Powerhouse, University of
Technology, the Australian Broadcasting Commission,  the National Maritime
Museum, the Aquarium, Sega World,  IMAX theatre, the Chinese Gardens, the
Entertainment Centre, the Exhibitions and Conventions centre and Darling
Park (not yet open) Darling Harbour was modelled on the Baltimore Harbour
Revival scheme.

The second is the Rocks area, which, if you include Observatory Hill (quite
a climb) gives you The Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Trust's S H
Ervin gallery, the Observatory, the Centre for Contemporary Craft, the
Argyle Centre, the Rocks Heritage Centre and various small public galleries,
often of the crafts variety.  We're not sure quite where to position the
soon to be opened Customs House which will re-house contemporary crafts and
display the Australian Museum's Indigenous and Pacific Islander collection,
because it effectively joins the Rocks to Sydney Eastside.  The Rocks area
was developed as a tourist preserve after being the site of the first
Australian green bans - which saved much of this fascinating area from
demolition in the late sixties.

Sydney Eastside is a museum mile that evolved naturally from initial
tentative liaison among the institutions in residence, to a formal
incorporation as a non-profit association (with an elected president
representing the group who can negotiate with Sydney City Council or NSW
Tourism or other bodies, but without great input from the various SMGs)
 Eastside is everything within a quarter K each side of Macquarie/College
Streets, and includes the Opera House, the Botanic Gardens, the Police and
Justice Museum, Government House, the Conservatorium, the Museum of Sydney,
the State Library, Parliament House, History House, Sydney Hospital, the
Mint, Hyde Park Barracks, St James Church, St Mary's Cathedral, the Great
Synagogue, the Land Titles Office, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Australian
Museum, Hyde Park and the War Memorial (all of these have permanent
exhibitions or host regular events).

Eastside has the best collection of venues, but having evolved without any
planning, has less focus as a tourism destination and is not advertised as
coherently as are the other two.  So far, very little in the way of joint
marketing/cross referential programs has developed, despite much talk.

Hope this helps,

Heleanor
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 ----------
From: owner-museum-l
To: MUSEUM-L
Subject: Museum malls
Date: Thursday, 27 November 1997 2:09PM

I am looking for examples of "museum malls," - places in cities where
museums
(art, history, science, natural history), specialty sites (planetariums,
aquariums, IMAX theaters), exposition centers, etc. are agggregated to
become
more attractive to the broad poublic than any individual might be
separately.
 Some of those in larger cities come to mind immediately, such as Balboa
Park
in San Diego, the Mall in Washington, Lakeshore Drive in Chicago, the
Cultural Center in Detroit, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.  Are there
similar malls in smaller cities as well?  What about any where museums are
aggregated with for-profit attractions?

Please reply off-line.

Mac West
Informal Science, Inc.
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