Burra: supporting partners' virtual content hub

The Australian Museum (AM) is pleased to offer partners of Burra access to digital content related to this ground-breaking new learning space and First Nations cultures at the AM. Delve into the themes of Burra learning space and learn more about First Nations cultures and the importance of caring for Country and each other.

In July 2022 the AM opened Burra, a new ground-breaking, interactive learning and play space. The Burra build is supported by the NSW Government as part of the Australian Museum’s major transformation, Project Discover. Burra is also funded by the Australian Museum Foundation through a bequest from the estate of the late Patricia McDonald, former AM educator.

The programming and education in Burra space is made possible thanks to the generous support of donors and partners including: Wollemi Capital Group, Charles Warman Foundation, Vanessa Tay and Alex Ding, WPP, IAS Fine Art Logistics and Westpac. Strategic partners, Reconciliation Australia will be working with the AM to promote Burra’s educational programs to schools and early learning services across the country.

Support of Burra donors, partners and supporters will enable over 1 million children over a 10-year period access to STEM education through a new and exciting learning model and support the funding of Australian Museum educators to activate Burra with learning activities, talks and classes. Partners and donors’ contributions also support A Day at the Museum program, which provides transportation and access to the AM’s educational programs for children from disadvantaged areas of NSW.

We hope that you will enjoy learning more about Burra and First Nations culture through Australian Museum’s exhibition, program and education content featured in this hub.

Burra offers a ‘many-ways’ learning experience where First Nations and Pasifika knowledge systems and Western science are brought together in layers of learning that promote living well with Country and each other. When the Australian Museum First Nations team was tasked with creating a new education space that would represent Pacific, south-east First Nations and Western ways of knowing, local First Nations custodians kept returning to one animal teacher: burra, the Eel.

Burra takes visitors on a fascinating learning journey through Country in an exciting new state-of-the-art education space that immerses visitors in Western science and First Nations knowledges.

This learning and play space traces the incredible migration of burra (eel) along estuaries and rivers, across rockpools and out to sea. Visitors follow the life-cycle of this surprisingly resilient fish, teaching families about our environment, the Australian Museum’s science, and the importance of caring for Country and each other.

Burra is a truly unique experience in the heart of Gadigal Country, and features artwork by Jasmine Miikika Craciun, Barkindji, Malyangapa. Children are invited to touch, listen and see while exploring the giant burra, sensory walls and interactive play zones.

First Nations people don’t always think about things in timelines with set starting and finishing spots. Burra starts with the Gadi grass trees of Gadigal Country, because this is where the Australian Museum stands and where visitors to the Museum start their learning journey with Burra.

No matter where you start, eventually you will hear the whole story; and where the story starts depends on the perspective and context of the storyteller.

Australian Museum's Explore podcast and magazine takes you behind the scenes of expeditions and exhibitions to show you the world of Australia’s first museum.

Discover the Unsettled exhibition in virtual reality! This 360-degree immersive experience showcases the exhibition's significant cultural objects, historical documents and contemporary artworks, providing access to label text and audio/visual recordings. There are even introductions to each section read out by the exhibition curator.

The virtual tour is ideally viewed via high speed internet connections. Users in the virtual tour with an Oculus headset can trigger an immersive VR enabled experience. Simply access the tour on your preferred device (Recommended for Oculus Quest 2), click on the VR icon down the bottom right of the screen and select Enter VR.

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