Melbourne Museum

Table of Contents

Introduction

Melbourne Museum, located in Carlton, Victoria, Australia, is a remarkable destination for anyone eager to explore natural history, culture, science and the story of Melbourne itself. Situated adjacent to the World Heritage‑listed Royal Exhibition Building in the leafy Carlton Gardens, Melbourne Museum welcomes visitors from near and far with engaging exhibitions and immersive experiences. Whether one is curious about ancient creatures, Indigenous culture, wildlife, or the evolution of the city, Melbourne Museum offers opportunities to inspire and educate throughout a day of discovery.

About the Museum

Melbourne Museum is managed by Museums Victoria, the State of Victoria’s largest public museum organisation. The museum houses extensive permanent exhibitions and regularly features touring and temporary exhibitions drawn from collections across Australia and the world. The museum operates daily from ten in the morning until five in the afternoon, closing only on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

At the core of the museum is the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which celebrates the culture, stories and achievements of Victoria’s Koorie peoples. The Melbourne Story exhibition traces the city’s evolution since the early nineteenth century, weaving together artefacts, interactive installations and stories from early settlement to the contemporary metropolis.

Visitors can walk through the Forest Gallery, a living cool‑temperate rainforest inside the building that features eucalypts, ferns, wildlife such as native fish and birds, and seasonal changes accompanied by interpretations of the Kulin nation’s seasons. One can explore marine life with vivid displays of Victorian coastal species, coral and sponge communities, and deep‑sea creatures including encounters with striking animals such as the sperm whale and the giant squid.

A highlight for many visitors is the display of Phar Lap, Australia’s most famous racehorse, mounted and presented as a national icon. The museum also houses CSIRAC, the world’s oldest surviving intact first‐generation computer. In addition, the Bugs Alive exhibition offers a live look at insects and spiders including honey bees, stick insects and red‑back spiders.

For cinematic learning and immersive storytelling, Melbourne Museum features IMAX Theatre Melbourne, offering films in two‑ and three‑dimensional formats on one of the world’s largest screens—up to six storeys high. The museum complex also shares access to tours of the adjacent Royal Exhibition Building, a magnificent nineteenth‑century structure with UNESCO World Heritage status.

Museums Victoria’s collection totals over sixteen million items (approximately 2.1 million documented specimens and objects), encompassing natural sciences, Indigenous studies and social history. These collections support exhibitions and research, illuminating topics from geology and palaeontology to migration, technology, economy and culture.

Interesting Facts

Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building together form the largest museum complex in the Southern Hemisphere.
Phar Lap, Australia’s greatest racehorse, is displayed in a mounted skin presentation—a compelling national icon.
CSIRAC, on display at Melbourne Museum, is the oldest intact first‑generation computer in the world.
The Forest Gallery recreates a cool‑temperate rainforest with living plants, wildlife and a seasonal cycle explained through Kulin nation interpretation.
The museum owns over 16 million items, managed as around 2.1 million specimens and lots across natural science, social history and Indigenous collections.
IMAX Theatre Melbourne, located in the museum, features a screen up to six storeys high and shows both documentaries and blockbuster films.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +61 131 102

Website: museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum

Facebook: facebook.com/melbournemuseum/

Conclusion

Melbourne Museum offers a rich and varied journey through nature, history, science and culture in the heart of Melbourne. The museum’s thoughtfully curated permanent exhibitions—from the immersive Forest Gallery to the discovery of marine ecosystems, to iconic displays such as Phar Lap and CSIRAC—ensure that there is something to delight and inform every visitor. The Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and The Melbourne Story exhibition provide powerful perspectives on Indigenous culture and Melbourne’s transformation over time.

With its state‐of‐the‐art IMAX theatre, extensive educational facilities and location alongside the World Heritage‑listed Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum is a must‑see cultural destination. For families, students, tourists and lifelong learners alike, it offers a welcoming environment full of discovery, inspiration and connection to the natural world and Victoria’s rich heritage.