COVID-19 closure

We are temporarily closed to the public in line with the stay-at-home orders issued by the NSW Government.

We plan to reopen on 28 August (subject to health advice).

Find out more
Opening Hours
Temporarily closed
Where to find us
1 William Street
Sydney NSW 2010
Australia

AM Inside Out

Deep dive into fascinating stories and learning materials for inquisitive minds, everywhere.

Curated for the curious
Activities for kids at home

First Nations

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

Collections
Knowledge
Exhibitions

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?

COVID-19 safety alert

The Australian Museum (AM) is committed to protecting the health of visitors and staff and minimising the spread of COVID-19. In line with the stay-at-home orders issued by the NSW Government, the AM will be temporarily closed to the public from Saturday 26 June and plans to reopen Saturday 28 August 2021.

Admission guidelines and FAQ

Museum news

Read about our latest discoveries, research expeditions and collection objects on display.

Latest news articles
Podcast series

Australian Museum Shop

Advocating for the richness of life, the earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific, the Australian Museum Shop aims to ignite wonder through thinking, learning and play.

AM Member discount

Why not join the family?

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.

Become a Member

Plan your visit

In line with the stay-at-home orders issued by the NSW Government, the AM will be temporarily closed to the public from Saturday 26 June to protect the health of visitors and staff and minimise the spread of COVID-19. We will plan to reopen on Saturday 28 August 2021 (subject to health advice).

Admission Information COVID-19 Safety Location & Access
Sydney Science Trail link tile

Sydney Science Trail live streaming events

Join us for a free online adventure filled with family-friendly science programs, presented in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

13 August - 13 September 2021
Register now
Adorned workshop

What's on

Discover our exciting exhibitions and program of events including Prehistoric Playground for kids and First Nations cultural programs.

Permanent exhibitions
Special exhibitions and events
Find out more
Visitors at the Australian Museum Shop

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.

Located at the entrance to the Australian Museum
Shop for beautiful objects
Lunchtime Conversation Series Sport: Levelling the Playing Field

Listen to our recent Lunchtime Conversation Series

Listen to talks exploring the stories and pioneering work of First Nations trailblazers and visionaries.

Conversations with First Nations visionaries
Live talks
Listen now
Unsettled exhibition tour

Unsettled program series

Experience First Nations culture and histories through this immersive events program. Gain a deeper understanding of the groundbreaking Unsettled exhibition through tours, talks, films, workshops, meditation, weaving and much more.

22 May - 10 October
Find out more
Kids in Prehistoric Playground

Prehistoric Playground

An interactive stomping ground for dinosaur buffs.

Open daily
10am – 4.30pm
Learn more
Mum and Daughter with T.Rex

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
10am - 5pm
Find out more
Birds of Australia

Birds of Australia

Meet some of Australia’s most famous and fascinating feathered residents and learn about the ingenious ways they have adapted to life on the continent they call home.

Permanent exhibition
Open daily
10am - 5pm
Find out more
Nights at the Museum 18 February 2021

Wild Planet

Welcome to life on Earth. Every one of Earth’s millions of species is unique, but they are all connected through evolution. Come and see life in all its glorious diversity – over 400 animals under one roof!

Permanent exhibition
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Find out more
The Australian Museum

More visitor information

Discover the richness of life, the Earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific at Australia's first museum in Sydney.

What's on calendar
Getting here
Functions and venues
Plan your visit

Australian Museum news

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

News highlights Listen to our Podcasts Visit the Media Centre
Peregrine Falcon

Swifter, Higher, Stronger: What makes Australia’s Olympic team names so extraordinary

We ask our scientists from the Australian Museum Research Institute to give us an insight into why Australia's Olympic team names represent the best of the best.

2 August 2021
Find out more
Helicopter on Groote Eylandt.

Much to discover: Collaborative biodiversity surveys in northern Australia

The latest Bush Blitz expedition brought together teams of biologists, including AMRI scientists, and community to better understand the biodiversity of Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory. Dane Trembath and Dr Jodi Rowley tell us more about the amazing biodiversity in northern Australia.

3 August 2021
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The Beam Trawl emerges from the deep – what will it bring up?

The quest for deep sea critters

Although the recent Indian Ocean Territories expedition has been suspended, we found many fascinating deep sea animals during our 19 days at sea. Dr Ingo Burghardt, AMRI scientist on board the CSIRO research vessel Investigator, shares the latest findings.

28 July 2021
Read more
Jeremy Horowitz and Kristina Pahang working on the Australian Museum black coral collection.

Australian Museum’s 130-year-old black coral collection reveals hidden Australian biodiversity

Black corals in the Australian Museum represent a treasure trove of biodiversity information – including undescribed species and new species records for Australian waters!

27 July 2021
Read more
A sulphur-crested cockatoo opening the lid of a household waste bin.

Contact-tracing of Cockatoos reveals spread of foraging culture

It may seem as though the action of a cockatoo flipping a bin-lid is a simple one – but world-first research by a team including Australian Museum Research Institute Ornithology expert Dr Richard Major has revealed that this behaviour is far more significant than first thought.

23 July 2021
Read more
Matthew McCurry and baby Diprotodon jaw

More from our blog

Read about our latest discoveries, research expeditions or discover our interesting archive of blog posts.

Science news
What's new at the Museum
Educational insights
Read our blog posts!
The Climate Cure: The inaugural Talbot Oration and the launch of Spark: Australian innovations tackling climate change

The Climate Cure: The inaugural Talbot Oration

Professor Tim Flannery outlines his manifesto for humanity’s survival of the “climate emergency” in the Australian Museum’s (AM) inaugural Talbot Oration.

Live at the AM
3 June 2021
Find out more
Some of the new solar panels on the roof of the Kalkhoven Wing and the aquarium

News from LIRS: Solar power upgrade - towards zero

Each month, a selected blog from Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation is featured at the AM. For this month, we feature the solar power upgrade at LIRS.

19 July 2021
Read more
A black-footed rock-wallaby from Townsend Ridges, WA

A classification conundrum or a new subspecies in the making? Perhaps, it’s both.

AMRI scientists have found an unusual population of black-footed rock-wallabies from the central deserts of Western Australia – and surprisingly, the population didn’t seem to belong to any known subspecies…

16 July 2021
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From the deck of CSIRO research vessel Investigator.

Voyage to the deep sea – Destination Unknown

Five AMRI scientists voyage into the deep sea on board the CSIRO research vessel Investigator. Between laboratory preparations and star gazing, excitement builds en route to their destination – a destination that is largely unknown. Alice Yan tells us more about the voyage journey.

13 July 2021
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Project Discover AIA NSW Architecture Award photo submissions

“A singular civic space” Australian Museum’s Project Discover awarded highest honour at the 2021 AIA NSW Architecture Awards

Project Discover has received three major gongs at the 2021 Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) NSW Architecture Awards, including its top honour, the NSW Architecture Medallion.

8 July 2021
Read more

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 Learning Resources
Museum in a Box

For teachers and students

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

Video conferences
Educator-led tours
Learning journeys
Learn more
Feathertail glider

Animal factsheets

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

Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Extinct animals
Find out more
Southern Boobook Owl

Object and species identification

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

Identify an animal
Cultural objects
Fossils and minerals
Ask an expert!
Students from Greenpoint Christian School participate in an Educator led session on Climate Change and Biodiversity.

IBM EdTech Youth Challenge

Join the IBM EdTech Youth Challenge and help impact what matters to you in our world.

Competition dates
Judging criteria
Themes and resources
Find out more
Westpac Long Gallery

AMRI Seminars and Lectures

Leading Australian Museum scientists, affiliates and associates present their latest research and findings.

Seminars
Lectures
Video recordings
Read more
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?
Learn more
Barbara McGrady Photo acquisition

First Nations

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

Collections
Knowledge
Exhibitions
Find out more
Tyrannosaurs

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.

The Mesozoic era
Dinosaur factsheets
Australian dinosaurs
Find out more
Light Microscopy - Mark McGrouther

Science of life

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

Stages of Decomposition
The Human story
Virtual Autopsy
Learn more
Mineral specimen

Earth science

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

Shaping the Earth
Minerals
Fossils
Discover more

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
FROG ID app in the field

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
Find out more
Sustainable living

Sustainability at home

Leading a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle and saving money in the process is easy with these helpful factsheets.

Cut down on waste
Worm farming
Read more
Asaro - Komunive village

Support the Australian Museum Foundation

The Australian Museum Foundation relies on your donation to help invest in the future of the Australian Museum

Ways to join the Foundation
Our supporters
Donate now
Andrew Trevor-Jones, citizen scientist for Australasian Fishes

Citizen science

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

DigiVol online
FrogID mobile app
Australasian Fishes
Get involved
Australian Museum Eureka Prizes trophy

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

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

Key 2021 Dates
School Science
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more
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.

Support our research
Help save the reef
Get involved
Early Birds quiet room

Become a Member

With unique benefits, special events and exclusive access, an Australian Museum Membership unlocks even more wonder.

Membership packages
Museum discounts
Join and save today
Sheldon with Eric Pliosaur

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
Find out more
ACWG DNA Labs 2015

Awards & Fellowships

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

Postgraduate Awards
Research
Fellowship
Find out more
Frog sitting on a mobile phone

Museum mobile apps

From our citizen science to augmented reality games, treasure hunts and audio exhibition tours, discover our mobile apps.

Audio guide tours
Augmented reality games
Citizen science
Download free apps
Balls Pyramid expedition March 2017

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.

Media releases
Photography & filming
Media contact
Find out more

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
AM Aerials - August 2017

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.

Organisation
Governance
Our history
Future plans
Find out more
Lizard Island Research Station 2017

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
Fellowships and grants
Discover more
Australian Museum Archival images 200 Treasures

The Australian Museum’s statement of reflection

Cultural institutions have a responsibility to critically reflect on history and how it influences the present.

By Nathan mudyi Sentance
Read More
Entomology Collection Area 2018

Museum collections

Why do we collect things? Discover the history and future of our millions of collection treasures and research areas.

Natural Sciences
Cultural collections
Museum Archives
Learn more
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
Discover more
ACWG DNA Labs

Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics

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

Aviation wildlife strike
Conservation genomic projects
Learn more
Scientists on Lord Howe Island

Research and expeditions

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

Lord Howe Island
Solomon Islands
Historic expeditions
Discover more
Ramses the Great exhibition

Future plans

As part of a $40M Blockbuster Funding agreement created by the NSW Government, the Australian Museum will be able to host and tour major exhibitions over the next four years including: Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs and SHARKS.

Read More
historic books, Research Library

Policies & Reports

Review the Australian Museum's policies and publications.

Strategic plans
Annual reports
Protected loans
Read more
The Australian Museum

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.

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Keep up to date on events, special offers and scientific discoveries with our What's On eNewsletter. Receive the latest news on school holiday programs and much more!

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