Australia is full of natural wonders that stop you in your tracks and make you reflect on how amazing the world is. And while Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with, we also deserve some credit. Human hands have shaped some of our country’s most recognisable landmarks – places so striking that people travel across the world just to snap a photo. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House might come to mind first, but a bold Tasmanian museum has just been named one of the world’s most beautiful buildings in a new Time Out list.
All 24 buildings featured on Time Out’s latest global ranking are a feast for the eyes – many of them with equally enchanting stories. Only one Australian landmark made the list, which is a big deal when you’re listed alongside icons like the Taj Mahal, the Pantheon and the Sagrada Familia.
That beauty sash goes to Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) – a building that’s not only one of the most beautiful, but one of the most fascinating too. Carved into the Triassic-period sandstone cliffs of the Berriedale peninsula, this architectural wonder is an incredibly scenic 40-minute ferry ride from Hobart along the Derwent River. It’s framed by water, vineyards and hills that make it as stunning from a distance as it is up close.
The story of MONA is quite remarkable. Founder David Walsh initially opened a tiny museum of antiquities on the lonely peninsula – but when nobody turned up (in his words), he decided to think bigger. Walsh flipped the concept of a traditional museum on its head, creating the Batmobile-like structure that we all know and love today. The vision was that MONA wouldn’t just display art, but would be part of the art.
To avoid overshadowing the surrounding properties, much of MONA was built underground — a moody network of dimly-lit, subterranean chambers that house its exhibitions. The site also includes an art conservation area and an on-site theatre. Pharos is the newest part of the building, which was opened back in 2017, and is accessible via two tunnels. Arguably MONA’s most recognisable component, Pharos features a 14-metre inverted parabola that juts out over the Derwent River and is home to one of the museum’s exceptional restaurants.
Part of MONA’s beauty is that it’s an ever-changing monument, and you never know what wild idea David Walsh will bring to life next. You can check out Time Out’s full list of the world’s most beautiful places here.