The Collectors
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Episode 41, Friday 21 November 2008
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Justin Murphy visits the high-profile political opinion pollster Gary Morgan in his Melbourne HQ at 401 Collins St, nine storeys, hundreds of employees, all surrounded by, and working at, the most extensive and valuable collection of Australian colonial furniture in the country.
It is the best “working” collection imaginable, and boasts important and massive Board tables from early Banks and Corporations, right down to a charming little 1870 cedar ironing board that supports his office computer. There is the occasional steel filing cabinet, but most of the office furniture is old mahogany, cedar, jarrah or oak. Consequently, every office looks fabulous. It is a great building to work in, and the atmosphere is terrific.
Morgan employs a full-time Curator, and a furniture repairer, but there’s no ban on coffee cups or soft drink cans. There is however, a protocol. He just wants all his employees to respect and treat the furniture as if it is their own, but he does say he gets very cranky if he sees anyone stand on a chair!
