Museum news

Scientific discoveries, ground-breaking expeditions, jaw-dropping exhibitions and Australia's biggest museum collection.

The discovery of an exceptional new fossil site offers a glimpse into Australia’s ancient rainforests

New fossil site offers unprecedented insight into Australian landscape, approximately 15 million years ago.

10 January 2022

Truth-telling, as old as the hills

Another ‘Australia Day’ will be celebrated by some on 26 January, and with it undoubtedly a polarising debate on Australia’s founding story.

11 January 2022

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Melissa Malu, Pasifika Collections & Engagement Manager

Pasifika greetings from Melissa Malu, our new Pasifika Collections & Engagement Manager

Melissa Malu will strive to ensure our Pasifika Collection and its links to culture, heritage, history, tradition, truth and community both in the Pacific and diaspora are strengthened.

19 November 2021

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Coming soon: Burra Learning Place

Burra Learning Place – the AM’s upcoming, interactive children’s exhibit – is due to open in July 2022. Burra Learning Place offers a ‘many-ways’ experience where First Nations and western knowledges are brought together in layers of learning that promote living well with Country and each other.

24 January 2022

Hemitelsella mutilloides Smith & Mitchell, 2021.

The world’s most colourful silverfish!

Australia has more described silverfish species than any other country, but even our entomologists were amazed when they discovered these species online – and were amazed at just how colourful these two new species are!

18 January 2022

Head to toes: the treatment undergoes!

In Part 2 of this special AM blog series, Melissa Holt tells us about the treatment process for two of the Egyptian cartonnage objects which includes x-ray analysis and tear repairs!

13 January 2022

Fossils of a Prehistoric Rainforest Hide in Australia’s Rusted Rocks The New York Times
8 Jan 2022
‘A Rosetta Stone’: Australian fossil site is a vivid window into 15m-year-old rainforest The Guardian
8 Jan 2022
Gulgong farmer’s fantastic fossil find uncovers unknown ancient species The Sydney Morning Herald
8 Jan 2022
Early birds find museum welcomes those on autism spectrum The Sydney Morning Herald
14 Dec 2021
Start croaking the news: Loudest frog in Australia is not one but three species The Sydney Morning Herald
22 Nov 2021

Australian Museum Research Institute

Discoveries and disruptions: 2021 in AMRI

2021 was an unprecedented year for many: despite COVID-19 disruptions and restrictions, AMRI scientists discovered an unprecedented number of species, published at a new record, carried out fieldwork, and engaged with the public in our citizen science programs.

20 December 2021

News from LIRS: Marine pollution research

Each month, a selected blog from Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation (LIRRF) is featured at the AM. LIRRF supports scientific research & education at the AM’s Lizard Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef. For this month, we feature: Marine pollution research.

16 December 2021

Celebrating a decade of DigiVol!

DigiVol, the World’s first citizen science website for digitising museum collections, turns 10! Today we celebrate our volunteers, staff and all the brilliant collections that make this project so unique.

9 December 2021

Coming soon: Burra Learning Place

24 January 2022

Pasifika greetings from Melissa Malu, our new Pasifika Collections & Engagement Manager

Melissa Malu will strive to ensure our Pasifika Collection and its links to culture, heritage, history, tradition, truth and community both in the Pacific and diaspora are strengthened.

19 November 2021

Lunchtime Conversation 2021: Wesley Enoch and Rhoda Roberts AO

Arts leaders Wesley Enoch and Rhoda Roberts AO reflect on the legacy of writer Oodgeroo Noonuccal and activism in the arts.

Live at the AM
8 June 2021

This figure shows the diversity of seaweed in the GSR

How to hijack climate change: Tips from vagrant fish

Hotter and drier summers in Australia bring with them massive fires, successive bleaching on coral reefs and widespread die-offs of our valuable kelp forests. Although all may seem doom and gloom in our oceans, some species are surprisingly resourceful and can even take advantage of warmer waters.

29 November 2021

Counting frogs counts as critical climate action

Something remarkable happens when we see another species’ predicament with the same compassion as we might see our own.

23 November 2021

The Climate Cure: The inaugural Talbot Oration

Professor Tim Flannery outlines his manifesto for humanity’s survival of the “climate emergency” in the Australian Museum’s (AM) inaugural Talbot Oration.

Live at the AM
3 June 2021

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