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Australian Museum

Museums ·Sydney ·Closed
4.614.9K
#2Museums in Sydney#3Museums in AustraliaTravelers' Choice 2025
  • Ideal for kids, teens
  • Good on a rainy day
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About

Australia’s first public museum explores the natural history and cultures of Australia and the Pacific. It stands at the corner of William and College streets, opposite Hyde Park in central Sydney.

Menu & prices

Bistro Gadi food menu Download the menu 249.6 KBBistro Gadi drinks menu Download the drinks menu 252.2 KBBistro Gadi specials menu Download the specials menu 840.6 KBBistro Gadi group menu 2.2 MB

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Australian Museum

Australian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian MuseumAustralian Museum

What's on here

Engineering the Future: The Entrepreneurship Paradox Engineering the Future: The Entrepreneurship Paradox Tuesday, 17:30Free From $15 Sydney Speed Dating Australian Museum 30-40 Straight From $15 Sydney Speed Dating Australian Museum 30-40 Straight Saturday, 13:30Free From $10 Sydney Speed Dating Australian Museum 30-40 Straight From $10 Sydney Speed Dating Australian Museum 30-40 Straight Saturday, 13:30Free Retro Silent Disco - Festive Special | The Australian Museum - Sydney Retro Silent Disco - Festive Special | The Australian Museum - Sydney Saturday, 19:0070 AUD The 8 Ways Roadmap: A Two-Day Professional Development Workshop The 8 Ways Roadmap: A Two-Day Professional Development Workshop 4 Mar 2027 – 5 Mar 2027811.33 AUD

Why go

  • Wild Planet explores evolution and the tree of life through more than 400 animals.
  • Wansolmoana brings together hundreds of Pacific cultural objects.
  • Garrigarrang: Sea Country displays objects connected with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Opening hours

Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
Monday10:00 – 17:00
Tuesday10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday10:00 – 21:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday10:00 – 17:00
Sunday10:00 – 17:00

Don't miss

  • Blue whaleLook up at the blue whale suspended above a room containing hundreds of animal skeletons.Skeleton room
  • Antarctic sledA sled used on Sir Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic expedition.Westpac Long Gallery
  • Egyptian mummyAn Egyptian mummy.Westpac Long Gallery
  • Feathered capeA feathered cape given to Captain James Cook.Westpac Long Gallery

Know before you go

  • Open daily 10:00–17:00, with Wednesday hours extended to 21:00.
  • Permanent galleries are free; blockbuster exhibitions require tickets.
  • Book tickets through the museum’s website.

What's inside

  • Permanent minerals gallery
  • An exhibition about early humans and species
  • Westpac Long Gallery, with 200 museum treasures and the Birds of Australia gallery
  • Temporary exhibition space

With kids

  • School-holiday workshops offer interactive science and culture activities for ages 5–16.
  • Family programming includes free drop-in activities and ticketed events.
  • Members can join workshops, talks and experiences designed for adults and kids.

Tips for your visit

  • The museum publishes animal factsheets and online education resources.

Interesting facts4

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  1. 22 million

    The collection holds more than 22 million scientific specimens and cultural objects.

    Australian Museum

  2. Its collections span zoology, mineralogy, palaeontology and anthropology.

    Australian Museum - Wikipedia
  3. 1973

    Since 1973, its Lizard Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef has studied coral reef ecology.

    Australian Museum - Wikipedia
  4. 2017

    Launched in 2017, FrogID uses citizen-submitted audio recordings to track frog populations and support conservation across Australia.

    Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 2)

Shorts

History

The museum began as Australia’s first public museum. Its collections and building grew through successive wings and gallery changes. The Long Gallery belongs to the earliest building on the site.

  1. 1827Earl Bathurst founded the museum.
  2. 1836The museum adopted its current name in June.
  3. 1846Construction began on the first permanent home, including the Long Gallery, designed by Mortimer Lewis.
  4. 1849The museum moved to its current site.
  5. 1857The sandstone Greek Revival building designed by James Barnet opened to the public in May.
Show all
  1. 1868James Barnet oversaw construction of the neoclassical west wing along William Street.
  2. 1890A third storey was added to the north Lewis wing.
  3. 1950sThe galleries were overhauled by the end of the decade.
  4. 1963An eastern extension added six storeys for research collections, a reference library and a public restaurant.
  5. 1999The building and collection joined the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April.
  6. 2008The Dinosaurs and Surviving Australia galleries opened.
  7. 2015The Crystal Hall entrance opened, returning the entry to William Street and connecting by a suspended walkway.
  8. 2020The museum reopened at the end of the year after a 15-month closure and major upgrade. Additions included Hintze Hall, a shop, café, members lounge, education rooms and expanded temporary exhibition space.
  9. 2022A permanent minerals gallery opened.
  10. 2023Wansolmoana, a permanent exhibition of Pacific cultural objects, opened late in the year.

How to get there

  • TrainMuseum station is a short walk away.
  • On foot1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010; enter through Crystal Hall on William Street.

Sources: Australian Museum - Wikipedia · Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 2) · Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 3) · Sydney/City East - Wikivoyage (see) · Australian Museum · What's on at the Australian Museum - The Austra… · Join & Give - The Australian Museum · Australian Museum - Wikipedia · Australian Museum - Wikipedia · School Holidays - The Australian Museum · Members events - The Australian Museum · checked 28 Sep 2026

Where
1 William Street, Sydney New South Wales

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Can I volunteer online with the Australian Museum?

DigiVol lets volunteers digitise the museum’s collection records online.

Does the Australian Museum have online learning materials?

It publishes animal factsheets and online education resources.

What activities can Australian Museum members join?

Members can join workshops, talks and experiences for adults and children.

Whose Country is the Australian Museum on?

The museum acknowledges the Gadigal people as the Traditional Custodians of its land and waterways.

Does the Australian Museum publish scientific research?

It publishes the peer-reviewed journals Records of the Australian Museum and Technical Reports of the Australian Museum Online.

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