Australian Museum

Saturday 18 February - Saturday 4 March, 2023

Celebrate Pride at the AM

Wednesday 5 October, 2022 - Wednesday 5 April, 2023

Renowned marine photographer and filmmaker, Valerie Taylor.

Twilight Bites

Join us for a monthly after-hours, canapes and conversation series with renowned shark scientists and cultural experts.

Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays
11.30am, 1pm

Waranara tour guide in the Garrigarrang Gallery

Waranara Tours

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

25 & 26 February
10.30am-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm

Recycled Art Weaving workshop

Discover creative solutions to reducing waste and understand the importance of caring for Country in these in-depth, hands-on weaving workshops.

View details

Early Birds: Autism and sensory-friendly mornings

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

Saturday 11 February, 2023
8am-10am

Virtual excursions
Educator-led tours

School programs and excursions

Book school excursions at the Australian Museum, Sydney, that inspire and engage students of all ages.

Book now

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
Open daily

Permanent education space
Open daily

Burra

Be transported on an immersive journey through the eyes of burra (eel) in the Australian Museum’s new learning and play space.

Minerals

Be dazzled by over 1800 spectacular rocks and minerals in our new Minerals Gallery.

Permanent exhibition

Special exhibition
Extended to 25 April 2023

Wild Planet

Delve into this audio guide of Wild Planet and learn about extraordinary animal adaptations and the importance of preserving Australia's biodiversity.

Audio guide

Play now

Sharks

Season extended due to popular demand – visit now.

Located at the entrance to the Australian Museum

Museum Shop

Come and explore our exciting range of products inspired by the Museum's collections. All proceeds help fund our science, education and exhibitions programs.

Shop for beautiful objects

Bayala Nura: Yarning Country

Explore and celebrate Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through a rich diversity of objects and stories of living culture. See more than 250 fascinating objects from Indigenous communities around Australia.

Permanent exhibition
Open daily

Highlights of exhibits
Accessible audio description

Audio guides of exhibitions

Delve into the Australian Museum exhibitions and enrich your understanding of our collection on display through our self-guided audio guides.

Listen now

Australian Museum news

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

Read our News Stories Listen to our Podcasts Visit the Media Centre

Spiny Crayfish, Euastacus australasiensis, Heathcote National Park.

New acquisition: The Coughran Crayfish Collection

The Coughran Crayfish Collection, containing many specimens from remote and very difficult-to-access rainforest localities was recently acquired by the Australian Museum.

6 February 2023

Marphysa banana, anterior end. lateral view.

Banana blood worms invade the deep sea

Blood worms occur in estuarine areas and are commonly used for bait by recreational fishers all around the world. In a world first, three new species of blood worm have been found in deep sea sunken vegetation, off the coast of Papua New Guinea. So how did these species evolve?

31 January 2023

Dr Dana M. Bergstrom, Australian Antarctic Division and University of Wollongong

Delivering innovative options for modern conservation

In conversation with Dr Dana M. Bergstrom, winner of the 2021 Eureka Prize for Leadership in Innovation and Science.

30 January 2023

Sharks exhibition Whale Shark creative, 2022

Why sharks? Why now?

By learning a little about sharks, we’re better equipped to take care of Earth’s biodiversity.

30 January 2023

Our time at sea: Discovering the biodiversity of the Indian Ocean Territories

A team of scientists from the Australian Museum, CSIRO, Museums Victoria Research Institute and Western Australian Museum have recently completed their voyage on CSIRO’s research vessel (RV) Investigator. Find out how this expedition helped uncover secrets of the deep seamounts of the IOT.

30 January 2023

New acquisition: Papa He’e Nalu Hawaiian surfboards

The Australian Museums new acquisition of Papa He’e Nalu Hawaiian surfboards provides the opportunity to create a dialogue and enhance interest around surfing, and a unique way to contextualise Australian surfing culture and history.

24 January 2023

Out now! New book to identify abundant, diverse and striking decapod crustaceans

Crabs, lobsters and prawns are familiar to most people as seafood but are also very important at all steps in the food chain. Few realise just how many different types there are and how difficult it can be to identify them. A newly published book with provides tools for the task!

23 January 2023

The many marine invertebrates found on the RV Investigator

Catching prawns in the abyss

The deep sea is the most common habitat on our planet – but we know more about the moon than our own ocean. Dr Penny Berents, Senior Fellow at the Australian Museum, who was recently onboard the CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator, delves into the complexities of sampling in the deep sea.

20 January 2023

Entomologists Dr Helen Smith and Natalie Tees studying Norfolk's insects and spiders

Norfolk Island expedition: Understanding a South Pacific jewel

Norfolk Island, a small island with a big history and unique biodiversity, was chosen by the Australian Museum for its 2022-2024 expedition.

19 January 2023

Australian Museum welcomes its one millionth visitor for 2022

Australian Museum celebrates one million visitors!

The Australian Museum welcomed its one millionth visitor just in time for the end of 2022.

31 December 2022

Reflections on Global Conferences: COP15 & COP27

At the Australian Museum’s Climate Solutions Centre we are delighted by the historic outcome of the global summit for nature, Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) , just concluded in Montreal.

21 December 2022

Leopard caught on camera at a sanctuary in South Africa.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Photos and videos are a powerful tool when documenting the natural world where often, there is an awful lot to say. But once we capture the moment, how do we use images effectively for science? And why should we collect them?

19 December 2022

Professor Kris Helgen and Professor Tim Flannery studying various mammal specimens.

An Australian origin story? Turning mammalian theory on its head

It has long been asserted that ancestors of the placental and marsupial mammals originated in the northern hemisphere – but a new study by Prof Tim Flannery and Prof Kris Helgen at the Australian Museum has rewritten the origin story of modern mammals.

16 December 2022

News from LIRS: Big coral spawning event in 2022

Each month, a selected blog from the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation (LIRRF) is featured at the Australian Museum. LIRRF supports scientific research and education at the AM’s Lizard Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef. This month, we feature: Big coral spawning event in 2022.

15 December 2022

FrogID, Atlassian Foundation and Engage4Good

The Australian Museum collaborated with Atlassian Foundation through the Engage4Good program, a program designed to connect subject matter experts with a real-world challenge.

Where nature, science and culture intersect

We are Australia’s first museum, and have over 21 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.

Discover & Learn Animal Factsheets Journals & Publications

Sharks exhibition hero marketing creative, 2022

Sharks online publication

Having swum in the world’s oceans for over 450 million years and survived five global mass extinctions, sharks are now under threat. Global warming, industrial fishing and pollution are damaging our oceans.

Object and species identification

Use our enquiry form for help with Australian animal identification, natural history and cultural object enquiries.

Identify an animal
Cultural objects
Fossils and minerals

Ask an expert

For teachers and students

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

Virtual excursions
Educator-led tours
Learning journeys

Collections
Knowledge
Exhibitions

First Nations

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

What are we doing?
What is climate change?

Climate change

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

Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Extinct animals

Animal factsheets

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

Why we collect
Research areas

Natural Sciences

Discover the AM's extensive collections and research areas, including the name-bearing type specimens held at the Museum.

Megafauna
Fossil sites in Australia
Geological time scale

School girl looking at megafauna display

Australia over time

Learn about our evolving landscape, Australian megafauna and other extinct animals and how we use fossils to relate the animals of the past with those of today.

The Mesozoic era
Dinosaur factsheets
Australian dinosaurs

Dinosaurs and their relatives

Discover the Mesozoic era of the dinosaurs! Dinosaurs are classified as a group of reptiles, although some of their features are found in mammals and birds living today.

Stages of Decomposition
The Human story
Virtual Autopsy

Science of life

Learn about biodiversity, the scientific study of life and organisms, and the story of human evolution.

Shaping the Earth
Minerals
Fossils

Earth science

The Mineralogy and Palaeontology collections include rocks, minerals, gemstones and fossils, and reveal how the earth was formed.

Museum news
Education programs
Collection information

Westpac Long Gallery Level 1 Collection Cases

Discover & Learn

We are Australia’s first museum, and have over 21.9 million scientific specimens and cultural objects in our collections. Learn more about our latest discoveries, animal factsheets and education programs.

Get involved

Make a donation. Become a member or volunteer. Or put your passion into practice on a citizen science project. Find out how you can get involved with the Australian Museum.

Become a Member Make a Donation Contact Us

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

Ways to join the Foundation
Our supporters

Donate to the Australian Museum Foundation

The Australian Museum Foundation relies on your donation to help invest in the future of Australian Museum research, education and programs.

Donate now

FrogID

FrogID is a national citizen science project that is helping us learn more about what is happening to Australia’s frogs.

Free mobile app
Record frog calls

Key 2023 Dates
Award Ceremony
Frequently Asked Questions

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

Rewarding excellence in Australian research & innovation, leadership, science engagement, and school science

Support our research
Help save the reef

Life at Lizard: Waging war on the Crown-of-Thorns starfish

Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation

Proudly supporting science at the Australian Museum's Lizard Island Research Station and elsewhere on the Great Barrier Reef.

Get involved

Work at the Museum

Discover the exciting roles in research, exhibitions, education and communicating the relationship between people, culture and the natural environment.

Research
Exhibitions
Communication
Scholarships

DigiVol
FrogID mobile app
Australasian Fishes

Andrew Trevor-Jones, citizen scientist for Australasian Fishes

Citizen science

See our citizen science projects and discover how you can get involved and contribute!

Get involved

Awards & Fellowships

The Australian Museum Foundation & Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) offers several different fellowships to visiting researchers.

Postgraduate Awards
Research
Fellowship

Media releases
Photography & filming
Media contact

Media Centre

Discover the latest news about the Australian Museum and Australian Museum Research Institute. The Media Centre also provides information, images and expert comment on scientific and cultural research, exhibitions and wider Museum activities.

Organisation
Governance
Our history
Future plans

About the Museum

The Australian Museum has been inspiring exploration of nature and culture for more than 190 years. Learn more about what we do, our extraordinary collections or our fascinating history.

Our Organisation Our History Museum Collections

About the Museum

Learn more about our organisational structure, what we do, the passionate people who work at the Australian Museum and our fascinating history.

Biodiversity & geodiversity
Collections-based research

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.

Reef research
Planning a trip
Fellowships and grants

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.

Aviation wildlife strike
Conservation genomic projects

Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics

Our primary focus is on ecological applications such as species identification, individualisation, conservation and small population management.

Lord Howe Island
Solomon Islands
Historic expeditions

Expeditions and fieldwork

Learn about past Australian Museum expeditions and field work from around the globe that have contributed to our collections and research.

What are we doing?
Achieving climate neutral

Sustainability

As a leading natural history and cultural institution, the Australian Museum (AM) has a responsibility to educate, inspire and act on environmental sustainability.

Strategic plans
Annual reports
Protected loans

Policies and Reports

Review the Australian Museum's policies, plans and publications.

Future plans

The AM has an ambitious vision for the future with new galleries, blockbuster exhibitions and transformations scheduled over the coming years.

Visit the Australian Museum in Sydney

Visit Australia’s first museum in the heart of Sydney to discover Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, our collection of Australian dinosaurs, and the deadliest of down under animals. See you at the Australian Museum.

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

Contact us

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

More information

Australian Museum collections

The Australian Museum has spent more than 190 years building a vast collection of over 21.9 million objects and specimens alongside an enviable reputation for world-leading science.

Natural Sciences
Cultural collections
Museum Archives