Descending the metal steps you are assailed by a smell that’s musty, slightly sharp and, well, old. It smells like history. 

Which is fitting, as settled on the utilitarian metal shelves, crowded on tables and hidden in labelled wooden drawers is a collection that documents Tasmania’s natural history.

Everything from the natural world; animals, insects, birds, plants has been a key interest of the museum since it began back in 1891. 

“What you're looking at here is the history of the museum,” describes QVMAG natural sciences curator David Maynard. 

“These are very old objects from across the world.”

Mr Maynard has the role of preserving and expanding the collection and he follows in the footsteps of many great curators before him. 

“The first real curator that this place had was H. H. Scott and he was … very engaged with the community trying to get people to understand what was out there,” Mr Maynard said. 

“I feel very privileged to have the job I have because there is a professional scientist that built this place and I feel theres quite a legacy. Whenever I do something I think, well I’ve got a standard to meet.”

Walking down the corridor is like a safari tour, where animals cute, queer, cuddly and downright strange draw exclamations of delight and surprise.

“We only get the opportunity to put about 1 per cent of our collection on display at any one time. Not all of it looks like it should be on display, but every piece here has a story to tell and that’s the important thing,” Mr Maynard said. 

A key part of his job is as a communicator, sharing these stories with the community and inspiring a passion in science. 

It’s hard not to be overcome by his infectious enthusiasm, as he talks animatedly about the collection. 

“That is the bottom jaw of our Zygomaturus, which was a giant wombat that used to run around Mowbray Swamp behind Smithton,” he explains as he picks up a heavy jaw bone as long as his fore-arm, yellowed with age.

Exploring the collection of natural specimens, it is impossible not to be struck with the diverse, beautiful wonder of the natural world and all its creations. 

“Until you actually go and stand near a flowering tree, if just stand there and watch, you’d be amazed at the number of insects and the diversity but until you do it you wouldn't have a clue,” Mr Maynard said. 

The museum serves a key role in maintaining a record of biodiversity in Tasmania across the years. They collect series of specimens, which are catalogued and then form part of the picture of the changing ecological landscapes. 

Each specimen in the museum represents a point in time, where it can be proven that species existed in that location at that particular time. And that record is priceless. 

“This is the only record that these animals existed in those locations and once they're here in the museum and registered each of these is a precious object. There is no difference between these and an artwork, you cannot replace it. You cannot go back in time to that location and that place,” Mr Maynard said. 

The museum still collects and adds to its array, although heading out into the bush with a rifle slung over one shoulder is no longer acceptable practice.  

“Nowadays it’s all roadkill, we’re not allowed to go and actively collect and that makes it hard, in our record of biodiversity there will be a gap in our knowledge in the future. But we can’t warrant going out and every year and collecting 30 quolls from this location and 30 quolls from that, so now we rely heavily on particularly the community bringing in roadkill,” Mr Maynard said.

“Our motto is if you’re willing to throw it in the boot of your car, then we’re willing to take it.”

This comes with a few caveats, however. The museum doesn’t need every paddymelon from northern Tasmania, but rare animals can be dropped at the museum’s front desk – so long as they come double bagged. 

Just a few bits of paper work and you’ve played a role in recording Tasmania’s amazing diversity.

Beyond simply a record of biodiversity, the specimens are also a valued resource for researchers. The museum draws scientists from around the world with its vast collection. 

“Some people might say, ‘Why does Launceston need a room full of dead fish?’ But it’s the researchers that come to us, it’s the spreading the name that Launceston has this great collection, you better come down to Launceston and check it out,” Mr Maynard said.

Expanding the collection, even if it’s importance is not realised now, is important as what may seem useless now may be vital in the future. 

“In the 40’s and 50’s there were a lot of Tasmanian devils killed … and they were brought here,” Mr Maynard said. 

“At the time they wouldn’t have known the benefit of that collection but it turns out it’s pretty important because now we’ve got a facial tumor disease.”

Researchers used the skull skeletons held by the museum to understand the impact of captivity on the devil’s intelligence, directly influencing the devil recovery strategy. 

“When these were collected the scientists wouldn't have known their benefit. We are today collecting things that we don’t have a value for now, but in the future we don’t know what that benefit might be,” he said. 

Mr Maynard’s job is a perpetual journey of discovery, and he’s hooked. 

“The good thing about this job is that you never stop learning. I know about fish, I’ve learnt about thylacines, I know a bit about marine invertebrates. At the moment I’ve got staff that are experts on birds mammals and insects and I’m learning from them, you never stop learning,” he said. 

The QVMAG is the keeper of all these stories, so the community too can share in the excitement of discovery and science.