Surviving Australia

Discover Australia's most fascinating creatures, from the deadly redback spider and revered bull shark, to ancient giant wombats and fanged kangaroos.

Free Admission

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Opening Hours
Open Daily 10am - 5pm
Closed Christmas Day
Free General Entry
Where to find us
1 William Street
Sydney NSW 2010
Australia
Surviving Australia exhibition hero illustration - Dromornis planei, giant flightless bird. Image: Australian Museum
© Australian Museum

Dinosaurs

How well do you know your dinosaurs? Discover the amazing creatures that ruled the world until 65 million years ago in this exhibition that brings the Mesozoic era to life.

Permanent exhibition
Free entry
Open daily

Environment news from Australian Associated Press

Latest Headline: Native title holders take water dispute to High Court

Latest news

Unfinished Business

Experience an accessible 3D photography exhibition detailing personal stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living with disabilities across Australia.

Special exhibition
Free entry
Now open

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

Entries to the 2026 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are now open

Entries now open

Food and drinks

Recharge with a coffee and light bite at our family-friendly café Billabong Waterhole or settle in for a meal with spectacular views at Bistro Gadi.

Family friendly

Become a Member

Discover even more by becoming a Member. Delve into the Australian Museum’s collections, join a vibrant community and support our groundbreaking research and cultural projects.

Visit the Australian Museum in Sydney

Experience science, culture and nature in the heart of Sydney at the Australian Museum. Open from 10am to 5pm daily, discover the extraordinary permanent exhibitions on display with FREE General Entry to the museum.

Visitor Information What's On Location & Access
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What's on at the Australian Museum

Discover our exciting offer of permanent and special exhibitions to visit at the Australian Museum, as well as upcoming events including talks, workshops and First Nations cultural programs.

Event calendar
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Family in Dinosaur Exhibition

Early Birds: Autism and Sensory-friendly Mornings

Visit the Museum in a reduced sensory, relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

Selected Saturdays 28 February -12 December 2026
8am - 10am
Find out more
Wansolmoana exhibition banner

Wansolmoana Film Series

Experience powerful South Pacific stories this March as the Wansolmoana Film Series explores identity, courage, community, and forms of strength across our ocean of islands.

Saturday 7 March 2026
10.30am - 4.45pm
Find out more
Waranara Tours 2025

Waranara Tours

Expand your understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures on this unique tour of objects from the Australian Museum's collections, led by a First Nations guide.

Every Wednesday and Saturday,
11:30am & 1pm
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Children in Australian Museum Hintze Hall looking at map

Visitor guides and maps

Make the most of your Australian Museum visit with our free audio guides, Auslan tours, downloadable maps and visual stories.

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Westpac Long Gallery

200 Treasures of the Australian Museum

The Westpac Long Gallery showcases 100 treasures from our collections alongside the stories of the 100 people who’ve helped shape Australia.

Permanent exhibition
Free entry
Open daily
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Touring Exhibition: The Birds of Australia birdscape.

Touring exhibitions

Discover Australian Museum touring exhibitions that are currently on display in Australia and around the world.

Life-size models
Scientific illustrations
Multimedia
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Members events

As an exclusive benefit of membership, Australian Museum Members are invited to attend a custom-made program of workshops, talks and experiences for adults and kids.

Programs and events
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Latest news

Discover our research behind the scenes, read stories from our collections and learn about scientific fieldwork findings and cultural acquisitions.

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Research into South Australia’s koala populations, led by Dr Frédérik Saltré from the Australian Museum and University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Science solves South Australia’s koala dilemma

Research into South Australia’s koala populations, led by Dr Frédérik Saltré from the Australian Museum and University of Technology Sydney (UTS), provides the first comprehensive population estimate for the region.

19 January 2026
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CSIRO Research Vessel (RV) Investigator

Exploring the Deep: Australian Museum Scientists Voyage to the Coral Sea Frontier

What lurks at the bottom of the ocean, beyond the reach of any diver, in places no human has ever explored?

23 December 2025
Read more
Campbell's Keeled Glass-snail

Big comeback for tiny creatures: Critically endangered snails returned to the wild on Norfolk Island

A species once thought extinct has begun its slow crawl back into the wild.

23 December 2025
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Surviving Australia Exhibition

The secrets to survival in the world’s most dangerous continent revealed at the Australian Museum

Surviving Australia, the Australian Museum’s new multi-million-dollar exhibition, brings visitors face-to-face with giant wombats, fanged kangaroos and their remarkable habitats in a state-of-the-art installation

12 December 2025
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Former AM Director, renowned marine biologist Dr Des Griffin awarded 2025 AMRI Lifetime Achievement Award

Legendary Australian science changemaker honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award by Australian Museum

Former AM Director, renowned marine biologist Dr Des Griffin awarded 2025 AMRI Lifetime Achievement Award.

25 November 2025
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The annual Australian Museum Foundation’s Gala Dinner, <i>Night at the Museum</i> 2025.

A night of generosity: Australian Museum Foundation’s Gala Dinner

Raising over $400,000 in support of the Australian Museum’s iconic Birds of Australia Gallery, the annual Australian Museum Foundation’s Gala Dinner, Night at the Museum, took place on Thursday 16 October 2025.

13 November 2025
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Dr Matt McCurry with Midge Fossil from the Australian Museum Palaeontology Collection

The tiny fossil that helps us reexamine the story of how life evolved across our ancient supercontinents

Tucked within the palaeontology collection at the Australian Museum, the oldest fossil of a non-biting midge from the southern hemisphere is challenging long-held assumptions about how life evolved across the planet's ancient supercontinents.

10 November 2025
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Frog on a branch

Hop to it! Create a frog-friendly backyard this FrogID week

Join the World’s Biggest Frog Count from Friday 7 – Sunday 16 November 2025.

7 November 2025
Read more
A frog-friendly pond in Queensland, where a Tusked Frog was recorded with FrogID. Rocks, vegetation and hessian material help frogs and other wildlife safely navigate steep, smooth edges.

Tips and tricks for a frog-friendly backyard

Create a frog-friendly habitat and contribute to frog conservation during FrogID Week!

5 November 2025
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From left to right: Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay AO, Melissa Sina Applin (first young leader appointed to AM Trust), and AM Trust President Brian Hartzer.

Australian Museum appoints first young person to its board

Melissa Sina Applin brings unique blend of Pasifika heritage, archaeology, museum education and performing arts expertise to landmark governance role.

30 October 2025
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2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year. Overall Winner: Fractal Forest by Ross Gudgeon

Crocodiles, coral and kangaroos…free nature photography exhibition opens at the Australian Museum

The 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer Exhibition shines a light on remarkable moments in the natural world.

22 October 2025
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Bush Blitz, Coonabarabran Local Aboriginal Land Council and Australian Museum scientists

First Nations leaders and scientists uncover biodiversity treasures in NSW's Pilliga

First Nations leaders, scientists and researchers joined forces for a two-week Bush Blitz biodiversity survey on Gamilaraay, Gamilaroi and Gomeroi Countries in the Pilliga, NSW – the largest remnant semi-arid woodland in the state.

22 October 2025
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Nights at the Museum 20 May 2021

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Learn about our most recent scientific discoveries, research expeditions, events and exhibitions.

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Where nature, science and culture intersect

We are Australia’s first museum, and have over 22 million scientific specimens and cultural objects in our collections. Learn more from First Nations people, discover thousands of animal factsheets and explore our online education resources.

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Primary school excursion

Education

Our education programs and resources spark curiosity, develop scientific understanding and enhance cultural awareness in students of all ages.

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Southern Boobook Owl

Object and species identification

Curious about objects or specimens you've discovered? Identify Australasian animal life, geology and cultural objects through our Ask an Expert enquiry form, common enquiries webpages or discover species with our interactive Identification Key.

Identify an animal
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Common enquiries
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Barbara McGrady Photo acquisition

First Nations cultures and history

Learn more about this land’s First Nations peoples and cultures.

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Cultural collections

Learn about the Australian Museum's cultural collections and our engagement with communities to activate stories of living culture.

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Entomology Collection Area

Life & Geo Sciences Collections

Discover the Australian Museum's extensive Life and Geo Sciences collections and research areas, including the name-bearing type specimens held at the museum.

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Capturing Nature book

Museum Archives and Research Library

The Museum Archives and Research Library cares for the Museum’s institutional memory and its historic natural history book and journal collections dating from 1836.

History of the Museum
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Coral Bleaching Lizard Island

Climate change

The Australian Museum has been involved in raising awareness and researching impacts of climate change for over a decade.

What are we doing?
What is climate change?
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Feathertail glider

Animal factsheets

Discover the astonishing variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, marine life and more in the Australian Museum collections.

Invertebrates
Vertebrates
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About the AM

The Australian Museum has been inspiring exploration of nature and culture since. Learn more about what we do, our extraordinary collections or our fascinating history.

Organisation & Governance Our History Venue Hire
The Australian Museum

Our Organisation

We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation, to prioritise First Nations cultures, and to continue to develop world leading science, collections, exhibitions, and education programs. Learn more about Australia’s first museum.

Mission & Vision
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C&R building

Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI®)

AMRI® brings together scientific expertise and world-class research infrastructure to increase our knowledge of the world around us and inform environmental decision-making for a better future.

Biodiversity & geodiversity
Collections-based research
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Future Now diorama in Hintze Hall - Feb 2023

Climate Solutions Centre

Bringing diverse voices together to inform and inspire more Australians to support climate solutions.

Climate change insights
Cutting-edge research
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Lizard Island

Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station

The Lizard Island Research Station is a world-leading supplier of on-reef facilities for coral reef research and education. Located on the northern Great Barrier Reef, 270 km north of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.

Reef research
Planning a trip
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Andrew Trevor-Jones, citizen scientist for Australasian Fishes

Citizen science projects

Discover our citizen science projects and discover how you can get involved and contribute to the Australian Museum.

DigiVol
FrogID App
Australasian Fishes
Get involved
Scott Sisters Exhibition Documentation 2017

Touring exhibitions

Increase visitation, appeal to a new demographic or simply complement existing attractions at your venue with one of the Australian Museum’s unique natural history or cultural exhibitions.

Life-size models
Scientific illustrations
Multimedia
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Australian Museum staff

Contact us

Contact information for customer feedback, members team, school and group visits, website feedback, booking venues and functions, touring exhibitions and media contacts.

General enquiries: +61 2 9320 6000
Media: +61 2 9320 6181
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