Photo: Ozeye · CC BY-SA 3.0 · editedSouth Australian Museum
- Step-free access
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 11
1 / 11
Matthew Summerton · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited
What's on here
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2026
Thursday, 10:00
From Ideas to Impact: 1 Day Idea Validation Workshop in South…
Wednesday, 08:30779 AUD
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition
Sunday · All day2 USD
Why go
- The world’s largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material, presented with Aboriginal voices and values.
- Permanent Ediacaran fossil displays and opal fossils, including mineralised dinosaur bones.
- The polar gallery’s displays about Douglas Mawson, John Riddoch Rymill and George Hubert Wilkins.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
Don't miss
- 14 PiecesForecourt artwork incorporating water, shaped from an ichthyosaur’s vertebrae and created by Angela and Hossein Valamanesh.Museum forecourt
- Pacific cultures galleryPermanent gallery presenting Pacific cultures.Museum
- Ancient Egypt galleryPermanent gallery presenting ancient Egypt.Museum
- Minerals and meteoritesPermanent displays of minerals and meteorites.Museum galleries
Know before you go
- Daily, 10:00–17:00.
- The Discovery Centre cannot currently accept donations or specimens for identification.
What's inside
- Five floors present natural and cultural heritage.
- Permanent galleries include Australian megafauna.
- Other permanent displays cover South Australian biodiversity, whales and dolphins, and mammals of the world.
With kids
- The museum shop sells educational toys and books.
Tips for your visit
- Use the digital guide for self-guided tours, object stories and expert insights about the collections on display.
- Preview the galleries online through interactive panoramas, using the floor buttons to navigate.
Interesting facts10
-
The Biological Sciences collection holds more than three million animal specimens.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia -
The Australian Biological Tissue Collection is the largest tissue collection in the Southern Hemisphere.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia -
2,200 specimens
The marine mammal collection has more than 2,200 specimens representing 59 species, the largest and most comprehensive in Australia.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia -
50,000 fossil
The Palaeontology collection contains around 50,000 fossil specimens, including Ediacaran biota and South Australian Cambrian invertebrates.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 2) -
100,000 items
The Mawson collection contains more than 100,000 items.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia -
The museum holds the largest collection of carvings by Arrernte artist Erlikilyika, also known as Jim Kite.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 2) -
The opal collection includes Virgin Rainbow and Fire of Australia; the facts do not establish that they are on display.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 2) -
17,000 monographs
The museum library holds about 17,000 monographs, 2,300 rare books, 30,000 scientific journal volumes and 21,200 photographs for museum research.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 2) -
The fossil collection includes the oldest known chordate fossil.
South Australian Museum - Wikipedia -
Researchers use the scientific collections to study environmental change, evolution and previously unidentified species.
Content for connection | SA Museum
Shorts
History
The museum works with Aboriginal communities to bring their voices and values into its presentations of history, society and culture. Collaborators include Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Adnyamathanha, Nukunu, Ngaanyatjarra and Yolngu people. The family history unit uses records, photographs and archives dating back to colonisation to build family trees.
- 1856Legislation incorporated the South Australian Institute and provided for a library and museum. They initially used rented premises on King William Street.
- 1939The Museum Act made the museum independent from the Art Gallery and Library and gave it its current name.
- 1988Doreen Kartinyeri established the museum’s family history unit.
- 1997Funding supported development of the ground-floor Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery.
- 2000sThe Pacific Cultures Gallery was redeveloped and the South Australian Biodiversity Gallery was developed.
Show all
- 2016Margaret Davy funded the museum’s first designated Indigenous lead curatorial role. Glenn Iseger-Pilkington was its first appointee.
Accessibility
- Step-free access The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with lifts serving every level.
- Lift Lifts serve every level.
- Wheelchair loan Arrange a wheelchair with security staff.
- Programs Programs are available for people with autism, DeafBlind communities and people living with dementia.
Sources: South Australian Museum - Wikipedia · South Australian Museum - Wikipedia (part 2) · Adelaide/City and North Adelaide - Wikivoyage (… · Home | SA Museum · Plan your visit | SA Museum · Content for connection | SA Museum · South Australian Museum - Wikipedia · Musée d'Australie-Méridionale - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Website
- samuseum.sa.gov.au/
- Phone
- +61 8 8273 9100
Questions and answers
Does the South Australian Museum conduct research?
Yes. Researchers study environmental change, evolution and previously unidentified species using the museum’s scientific collections.
Does the South Australian Museum hold art exhibitions?
Yes. It hosts exhibitions of work submitted for the annual Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.
Can I explore the South Australian Museum from home?
Yes. Online content includes exhibitions, collections, research and interactive workshops inspired by its biological and earth sciences collections.
What science displays does the South Australian Museum present?
It presents an annual series of displays about women in science.
Did Douglas Mawson contribute to the South Australian Museum’s minerals collection?
Yes. He helped establish it while serving as honorary curator from 1906 to 1958.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.