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

Discover more

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

Discover more

Collections & Research Building

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

Discover more

Historical expeditions

Expeditions have been key to the Australian Museum's collections and research activities since its foundation. Look back at the most important (and sometimes disastrous!) historical expeditions from the past two centuries.

Learn more