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  • In this section, find out everything you need to know about visiting the Australian Museum, how to get here and the extraordinary exhibitions on display. Check out the What's On calendar of events, workshops and school holiday programs.

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  • In this section, there's a wealth of information about our collections of scientific specimens and cultural objects. Come and explore what our researchers, curators and education programs have to offer.

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  • In this section, explore all the different ways you can be a part of the Museum's groundbreaking research, as well as come face-to-face with our dedicated staff. Join us, volunteer and be a part of our journey of discovery!

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  1. Homepage
  2. About the Museum
  3. Our history
  4. Stories

Stories

In 1827, Governor Darling allocated £200 to the establishment and running of a museum, the Colonial Museum, which was subsequently renamed the Australian Museum. Discover some of the stories.

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Australian Museum Archival images 200 Treasures

Bathurst's Letter

Foundation document for the establishment of the Australian Museum.

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Collectors Certificate 1868

A Favourite - George Masters Collection Certificate

George Masters Collection Certificate - one piece of paper that evokes a lot of history.

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Sperm Whale Skeleton

A Whale of a Story

Suspended above the College Street entrance for 100 years, the Museum's largest specimen is hard to miss.

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Carved arrows

Garden Palace Survivors

In 1879 the Australian Museum exhibited its Anthropology collections in a Sydney International Exhibition building called the Garden Palace.

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Garden Palace 1882 - J. C. Hoyte

A Garden Palace Survivor: Our first Ethnology Catalogue

Our first Ethnology listing is a rare surviving witness to the Garden Palace Ethnology Court.

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Sunfish - Mola alexandrini

Past exhibitions

The Australian Museum has long been known for its diverse and fascinating exhibitions. Discover our past exhibition resources online.

Indigenous Australians
Death: the last taboo
Trailblazers
Learn more

Chusan Ball

The Chusan Ball

In a time before the Internet and text messages, the arrival of the first British mail steam ship was cause for celebration in the colony.

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Australian Museum Archival images 200 Treasures

History

Find out about the history of the Museum’s zoological and anthropological collections, its historic and contemporary buildings and the people who have worked here over nearly two centuries.

Museum by the decade
Past exhibitions
Museum people
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an_90_13_065

Ethel King's Snake Watercolours

A collection of watercolours by Ethel King for the 'Snakes of Australia' book by J.R. Kinghorn.

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Marine invertebrate glass model

Identifying the Museum’s Blaschka glass models

In 2009 archivist Patricia Egan demonstrated that the fragile glass models in the Museum's Archives were made by famous 19th-century German glass makers Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka.

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Charles Anderson at the Australian Museum

Museum people

Discover stories from and about the amazing people who’ve worked at the Australian Museum from 1827 until present day.

Curators timeline
Museum Directors
Staff stories
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Windurndale Dam wall

A Tale of Climbing Galaxias

Over a three-day period in late January 1993, Ranger Ian McArtney observed thousands of Galaxias (probably Mountain Galaxias) climbing the wall of Winburndale Dam, near Bathurst, New South Wales.

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Discover our collections

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.

History of the Museum
Archives
Rare books
Photography
Explore our history

People in traditional dress

Cultural Collections

Learn about First Nations cultural material in our collections and our engagement with communities to activate stories of living culture.

First Nations
Pacific
World Cultures
Find out more

Entomology Collection Area

Natural Sciences

Discover the AM's extensive collections and research areas, including the name-bearing type specimens held at the Museum.

Why we collect
Research areas
Find out more


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Sydney Science Trail

Bringing you a jam-packed program of events during National Science Week.

12 – 27 August 2024
Stages 2– 6
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Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Sharks competition

Answer this question to enter the draw to win a $30,000 holiday for two to the Kimberley.

Enter now
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Australian Museum statement on 2019/2020 bushfires

The Australian Museum team is devastated by the impact of the fires ravaging our communities and our wildlife.

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Schools Reconciliation Challenge 2022: High School finalists

High School finalists from the 2022 Schools Reconciliation Challenge, share their artworks and stories inspired by the theme From River to Sea: Our Island Home.

High school finalists
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Schools Reconciliation Challenge 2022: Art Collaboration finalists

Art Collaboration finalists from the 2022 Schools Reconciliation Challenge, share their artworks and stories inspired by the theme From River to Sea: Our Island Home.

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Schools Reconciliation Challenge 2023: Primary School finalists

Primary School finalists from the 2023 Schools Reconciliation Challenge, share their artworks and stories inspired by the theme 'What stories will you dream?'.

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Pullman Sydney Hyde Park

Ramses and Pullman Sydney Hyde Park exclusive accommodation package

Enjoy tickets to Australian Museum Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition, breakfast, activity packs and plush accommodation at Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.

Pullman accomodation package
Book now

In Those Days by Evie McKechnie, Schools Reconciliation Challenge 2023, High School finalist

Schools Reconciliation Challenge 2023: High School finalists

High School finalists from the 2023 Schools Reconciliation Challenge, share their artworks and stories inspired by the theme 'What stories will you dream?'.

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News from the Australian Museum

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

Read our latest News Stories
Listen to Podcasts
Find out more

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Schools Reconciliation Challenge 2023

'What stories will you dream?' is the theme for the 2023 Schools Reconciliation Challenge, an annual writing and art program for young people across NSW and the ACT, conducted by Reconciliation NSW.

Primary school
Secondary school
Read more

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Research Library

Discover our historic natural history book and journal collections.

Rare books
Scientific publications
Journals
Read more

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Adventure World Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition competition

Answer this question to enter the draw to win a $20,000 adventure of a lifetime to Egypt!

Enter now
Read more

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.
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We pay our respect to Aboriginal Elders and recognise their continuous connection to Country.
This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Photo of two painted shields

The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.

Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden