History of the Australian Museum collections

Australian Museum timeline

The Australian Museum has undergone some turbulent times since it was established in 1827.

The Museum's Early Days

Australia's oldest museum was founded in 1827. Under the dedicated curatorship of German emigrant Gerard Krefft in the 1860s, the Museum came to be recognised as a truly 'scientific' establishment.

Establishment
Becoming scientific

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A Brief History of the Collections

The Australian Museum is Australia's first museum with a remarkable collection of over 21 million specimens and objects.

Collectors
Registrars

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Collections & Research Building

The Research & Collections Building brings together much of the natural history collection in a purpose-built facility.

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Historic expeditions

Curiosity and adventure have inspired our field trips since our first organised expedition in 1831.

Lord Howe Island
Pacific & Polar expeditions

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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

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