This new exhibition explores the evolution of the guitar from the 1890s to the 1940s, including the rise in popuarity of banjos, mandolins and ukeleles. Fretted instruments became popular during this time right across the world, from Spanish 12-string classical guitars to Hawaiian ukuleles.
More than 27 different instruments are on display including fretted pieces from Gibson, Epiphone and Maton. The exhibition resides in the University of Melbourne's Grainger Museum, the only purpose-built autobiographical museum in Australia, celebrating the life and work of Percy Grainger.
The exhibition is a special collaboration between the Grainger Museum and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and is curated by Associate Professor Michael Christofioridis and Dr Ken Murray of the Conservatorium.
A series of free talks and guitar performances accompany the exhibition.