McMullins’ $4m gift for Science Gallery Melbourne

Science Gallery Melbourne received its largest private gift, courtesy of philanthropists Peter and Ruth McMullin.

Ruth and Peter McMullin at Melbourne University yesterday. Picture: Aaron Francis.

From novel advances in recycling to the cultural meanings of blood, exhibitions at Science Gallery Melbourne are about bridging the sometimes polar divide between the arts and scientific disciplines.

The gallery, under construction at the University of Melbourne, has received its largest private gift to date, courtesy of philanthropists Peter and Ruth McMullin.

The McMullins have given $4 million in the hope that others will support the venture that aims to break down divisions between the arts and sciences and foster a spirit of cross-disciplinary inquiry, especially among young people. “It’s bringing arts and science together and trying to find ways to communicate complex ideas in creative ways,” said Mr McMullin, a businessman, lawyer and former mayor of Geelong.

He became interested in the Science Gallery through his ­association with its director, Rose Hiscock, whom he met when he was on the board of Museums Victoria. He and Mrs McMullin have visited several other campuses of the Science Gallery, a global network of seven museums that was founded in Dublin and which ­develops and shares exhibitions.

Science Gallery Melbourne has hosted several pop-up exhibitions while the permanent gallery is under construction, including the current show, Disposable,about waste recycling. The $34m gallery is due to open next year within the university’s Melbourne Connect development on the site of the old Royal Women’s Hospital.

More than $5.5m has been contributed towards a fundraising target of $13m, including gifts from the Hugh T. Williamson Foundation and the PACCAR Foundation.

A central area in the Science Gallery will be named after the McMullins, whose ­donation coincides with National Science Week.

Mr McMullin is the son of the late Ian McMullin, founder of the Spotless group of companies.

While Mr McMullin no longer has a financial interest in Spotless, he said business could learn from sustainability innovations such as those explored in the Disposable exhibition. “The entire business community needs to get up on the climate scene. There needs to be concerted action to address some of these questions,” he said.

Mr McMullin gave a donation of an undisclosed amount to the university in 2017 to establish the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness.