Tails from the Coasts

Presented with the National Museum of Singapore, this culturally significant collection of watercolours brings to life extraordinary species and captivating stories.

Now open

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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

Burra

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

Permanent education space
10am - 4.30pm

Minerals

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

Permanent exhibition
Open daily

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.

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

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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 entry to the museum.

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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.

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The original scouts of country by Coffin Birth

Ngalu Warrawi Marri (We Stand Strong)

This Reconciliation Week, come together for a free after-hours event at the Australian Museum featuring live music, workshops, tours and performances that celebrate and honour the ongoing resilience and reclamation of First Nations cultures.

Wednesday 28 May
5.30pm - 9pm
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Firestarter - The Story of Barangaroo, directed by Nel Minchin and Wayne Blaire

Ngalu Warrawi Marri Film Series

This Reconciliation Week, join us for a showcase of First Nations cinema, featuring compelling stories of kinship, activism, resilience and cultural legacy.

Saturday 31 May 2025
10.30am - 4.15pm
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Balls Pyramid expedition March 2017. Environmental Film Festival 2025 hero image.

Environmental Film Festival

Be inspired by a weekend of powerful films highlighting the delicate relationship between humans and nature, and the passionate sustainability and conservation movements shaping our future.

Friday 6 June - Sunday 8 June
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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
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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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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
10am - 5pm
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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
Open daily
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Visitors to Wansolmoana exhibition

Wansolmoana

Experience the diverse and dynamic cultures of Pasifika peoples through stories and objects from across the region.

Permanent exhibition
Open daily
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Latest news

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

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Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) in the leaflitter

Toad-ally understandable: Unravelling the secrets of Cane Toad calls

Help us understand how Cane Toad calls differ across Australia and around the world. By studying these differences, we can learn more of how they have been able to spread so successfully!

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Preserved polychaete specimens borrowed from AM and provided to practise identifications.

How to know your worms: A workshop run by AM worm wizards

AMRI researchers ran a two-day workshop (11–12 March 2025) at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, aimed to provide the skills required to recognise Australian polychaete families.

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Male Sydney Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri

Museum collections show us how diversely biodiverse Gamay (Botany Bay) really is

Savvy travellers will tell you that the best seat to sit in when you fly into Sydney is the window seat on the left-hand side of the plane.

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LIRS Co-Directors Dr Emily Howells and Dr David Abrego

Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station welcomes new Co-Directors Dr Emily Howells and Dr David Abrego

Outgoing Co-Directors Dr Anne Hoggett AM and Dr Lyle Vail AM retire after 35 years of service.

23 March 2025
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15-million-year-old fossilised freshwater fish. Stomach contents of fish showing that that it fed predominantly on phantom midge.

Last supper of 15-million-year-old freshwater fish

Australian scientists discover ancient freshwater fish fossil with preserved stomach contents.

18 March 2025
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Her Excellency, the Hon Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia

Her Excellency, the Hon Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, appointed as Patron of the Australian Museum

The Australian Museum is pleased to announce that Her Excellency, the Hon Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, has been appointed as Patron of the Australian Museum.

7 March 2025
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A young adult Coral Grouper (genus Plectropomus) on North Reef, Lizard Island, GBR.

No-fishing zones on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) increase fish for fishers

New research shows that keeping fishers away from some reefs increases their catch of Coral Groupers (aka Coral Trout) on other reefs.

5 March 2025
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2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Awards night. Atmos shots and images of winners accepting their award

The 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes now open

The 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (AMEP), the nation’s most prestigious science awards, open for entries today.

11 February 2025
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Chimu imperial burial regalia in the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition.

The Australian Museum announces Machu Picchu exhibition extension and two-day Fiesta de Perú celebration

The Australian Museum announces the extension of its major summer exhibition, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, until Sunday 11 May 2025.

4 February 2025
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Male Newcastle funnel-web, Atrax christenseni, ‘Big Boy’

Scientists resolve “identity crisis” for Australia’s deadliest spider

Sydney Funnel-web shown to be three different species, with the largest dubbed “Big Boy”.

13 January 2025
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The pūpū or yellow necklace-shell (Orobophana pacifica).

Searching for snails across the Pacific, part 1: Rarotonga, Cook Islands

After years of studying snails on Australia’s Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, Drs Isabel Hyman and Frank Köhler began to cast their net wider in search of closely related species.

18 December 2024
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Simpson Desert Expedition 2015

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Hear behind-the-scenes stories and read about our latest discoveries, research expeditions and collection objects on display.

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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.

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For teachers and students

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 Identification key.

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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.

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Barbara McGrady Photo acquisition

First Nations

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

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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.

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Entomology Collection Area

Natural Sciences

Discover the AM's extensive 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.

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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.

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Australian Museum Eureka Prizes trophy

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

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

Key 2025 Dates
Award Ceremony
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Barka - Kinchega National Park - 6 December 2022

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Ask an Elder your question about First Nations or Pasifika histories, cultures or objects.

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Development Photoshoot - 03 April 2024

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By making a tax-deductible donation, you can help us share the joy of discovery with the next generation.

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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
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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.

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ACWG DNA Labs 2015

Awards & Fellowships

The Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI®) offers several different and exciting fellowships to visiting students and researchers.

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Matthew McCurry on field work

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.

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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.

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About the AM

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.

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AM Aerials - August 2017

About the Australian Museum (AM)

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

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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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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
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Climate Solutions Centre

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

Climate change insights
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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
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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
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