Australian Museum

Bloodsuckers

FREE ENTRY on 8-10 May to celebrate Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday! Limited spots available - book now.

Now open

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

Visit the new Surviving Australia exhibition and discover what Australia's most fascinating creatures teach us about survival on this unique continent.

Permanent exhibition
Free entry
Now open

Environment news from Australian Associated Press

Latest Headline: Garbage to glass: larvae helps turn waste into wine

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

Mother’s Day at Bistro Gadi

Enjoy a special Mother’s Day lunch at Bistro Gadi the Australian Museum with stunning views over St Mary’s Cathedral and the City.

Sunday 10 May: 11am - 3pm

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

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

View now

Jurassic Lounge - 18 February 2023 - Dinosaurs

Night Owls: an Autism and Sensory-Friendly Night Out for Adults

Dress up and visit the Australian Museum after hours in a relaxed, low-sensory and supportive environment.

Friday 8 May
6pm - 9pm

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Terry Garcia, President of Exploration Ventures, named as the 2026 Talbot Oration speaker.

The Talbot Oration: Our Ocean, Our Lifeline

The ocean sustains all life on Earth, yet we know remarkably little about it. In the sixth annual Talbot Oration, Terry Garcia explores the threats, the solutions, and the pathways to protect it.

Thursday 4 June
6.30pm - 8pm

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Environmental Film Festival

Six films. Three Australian premieres. One unmissable weekend of cinema.

Friday 5 - Sunday 7 June

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Early Birds: Autism and Sensory-friendly Mornings

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

Selected Saturdays 6 June -12 December
8am - 10am

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Sydney Science Trail

Celebrate National Science Week in August with a jam-packed program of science excursions for primary and secondary students presented in collaboration with Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

Saturday 15 - Saturday 22 August

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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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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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FrogID touring exhibition

Explore the amazing frogs of Australia and the essential role they play in local environments in this engaging and interactive exhibition.

Touring exhibition
Free entry
7 March - 17 May

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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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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.

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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Latest news

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

News Articles Listen to Podcasts Visit the Media Centre

Hidden in plain sight: Meet Australia’s newly identified skink species

A lizard known to Wiimpatja Aboriginal Owners as Kungaka “the Hidden One” has been formally described as a new species, acknowledged in research published today in Zootaxa.

14 April 2026

Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Ms Kim McKay AO opens Bloodsuckers: Nature's Vampires exhibition

Bloodsuckers: Nature's Vampires opens at the Australian Museum

The international award-winning exhibition, Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires, opens today at the Australian Museum (AM) for a six-month run, exploring the remarkable creatures that have inspired centuries of mythology and impacted global populations, shaping modern medicine.

2 April 2026

Kim McKay AO, Director and CEO of the Australian Museum

Council Of Australasian Museum Directors appoints Kim Mckay AO, as new chair

Ms Kim McKay AO, Director & CEO of the Australian Museum (AM), has been appointed Chair of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors (CAMD), the peak body representing 24 major museums across Australia and New Zealand.

31 March 2026

$1 Million raised for the Australian Museum’s first Giving Day appeal

$750k goal exceeded by $250k with donors tripling all public donations.

13 March 2026

Ring-tailed Glider (Tous ayamaruensis), subadult, South Sorong area, Vogelkop Peninsula

Marsupials found alive after 6,000 years of extinction

Australian Museum Scientists discover Lazarus taxa alive in Papuan Indonesia rainforests.

6 March 2026

Islands off the coast of Peru are home to millions of seabirds. Their droppings were an important fertiliser for Indigenous people in the Andes.

How bird poo fuelled the rise of Peru’s powerful Chincha Kingdom

In 1532, as the Inca ruler Atahualpa was captured at Cajamarca, one figure stood out: the Lord of Chincha. New research uncovers how bird droppings may have shaped his extraordinary power.

12 February 2026

70 years of bushfire history in the Adelaide Hills on a map of the area.

Spotlighting the leaders in data platform excellence with ARDC

The inaugural Eureka Prize for Excellence in Data Platforms will be awarded for the development, maintenance or extension of a data platform that has enabled significant new scientific research.

12 February 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Learn & Connect Our Collections Journals & Publications

Education

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

Learning resources
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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
Fossils and minerals
Common enquiries

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First Nations cultures and history

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

Collections
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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.

First Nations
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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.

Why we collect
Research areas

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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
Archives
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Explore our history

Bleached and fluorescing Acropora corals on the reef crest near South Island, Lizard Island Group, on 25 Feb 2024.

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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Animal factsheets

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

Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Extinct animals

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About the AM

The Australian Museum has been inspiring exploration of nature and culture since 1827. Learn more about what we do, our extraordinary collections or our fascinating history.

Organisation & Governance Our History Venue Hire

Australian Museum from Prince Alfred Park

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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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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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

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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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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

More information

Surviving Australia

Environment news from Australian Associated Press

Dinosaurs

Mother’s Day at Bistro Gadi

Become a Member

Visit the Australian Museum in Sydney

What's on at the Australian Museum

Night Owls: an Autism and Sensory-Friendly Night Out for Adults

The Talbot Oration: Our Ocean, Our Lifeline

Environmental Film Festival

Early Birds: Autism and Sensory-friendly Mornings

Sydney Science Trail

Waranara Tours

Members events

FrogID touring exhibition

200 Treasures of the Australian Museum

Visitor guides and maps

Touring exhibitions

Latest news

Hidden in plain sight: Meet Australia’s newly identified skink species

Bloodsuckers: Nature's Vampires opens at the Australian Museum

Council Of Australasian Museum Directors appoints Kim Mckay AO, as new chair

$1 Million raised for the Australian Museum’s first Giving Day appeal

Marsupials found alive after 6,000 years of extinction

How bird poo fuelled the rise of Peru’s powerful Chincha Kingdom

Spotlighting the leaders in data platform excellence with ARDC

Science solves South Australia’s koala dilemma

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tips and tricks for a frog-friendly backyard

Australian Museum appoints first young person to its board

Read more news

Where nature, science and culture intersect

Education

Object and species identification

First Nations cultures and history

Cultural collections

Life & Geo Sciences Collections

Museum Archives and Research Library

Climate change

Animal factsheets

About the AM

Our Organisation

Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI®)

Climate Solutions Centre

Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station

Citizen science projects

Touring exhibitions

Contact us

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Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI^®)