Skip to main content
Skip to acknowledgement of country
Skip to footer

Australian Museum Australian Museum website
  • What's On
  • AM Shop
  • Join & Give
  1. Home
  2. About the Museum

About the Museum

Our mission is to be the leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth, and culture in Australia and the Pacific.


The Australian Museum

Our Organisation

We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation, to prioritise First Nations cultures, and to continue to develop world leading science, collections, exhibitions, and education programs. Learn more about Australia’s first museum.

Mission & Vision
Governance
Polices & Reports
Read More

The Australian Museum

Visit & Book

Experience science, culture and nature in the heart of Sydney at the Australian Museum. Visit today with free general entry!

Getting here
Exhibitions and events
Food and venues
Plan your visit

Couple with Asaro Mud Masks

Get involved

Make a donation. Become a member or volunteer. Or put your passion into practice on a citizen science project. Find out how you can get involved with the Australian Museum.

Join & Give
Citizen Science
Volunteer & Work
Find out more

Australian Museum Archival images 200 Treasures

History of the Australian Museum

For two centuries, the Australian Museum has been the leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth, and culture in Australia and the Pacific — through world-leading scientific research, education, and First Nations engagement.

Timelines
Past exhibitions
Museum people
Read More

Collections Enhancement Project (CEP) - Entomology

Australian Museum Collections

The Australian Museum has a vast collection of over 22 million objects and specimens alongside an enviable reputation for world-leading science.

Cultural Collections
Life & Geo Sciences
Archive & Library
Learn more

Matthew McCurry on field work

Media Centre

Discover the latest news about the Australian Museum and Australian Museum Research Institute. The Media Centre also provides information, images and expert comment on scientific and cultural research, exhibitions and wider Museum activities.

Media releases
Photography & filming
Media contact
Find out more

Sheldon with Eric Pliosaur

Work at the Museum

Discover the exciting roles in research, exhibitions, education and communicating the relationship between people, culture and the natural environment.

Research
Exhibitions
Communication
Scholarships
Find out more

C&R building

Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI®)

AMRI® brings together scientific expertise and world-class research infrastructure to increase our knowledge of the world around us and inform environmental decision-making for a better future.

Biodiversity & geodiversity
Collections-based research
Discover more

Early Birds quiet room

Become a Member

With unique benefits, special events and exclusive access, an Australian Museum Membership unlocks even more wonder.

Membership packages
Australian Museum discounts
Join and save today

Burra Photoshoot July 2022

Donate to the Museum

Help finance the exceptional work of our inspiring scientists, explorers and educators as they help to protect Australia’s and the Pacific’s vital natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.

Giving programs
Major donations
Bequests
Find out more

Sir David Attenborough at the AM

Staff profiles

Discover the team delivering visitor experiences and collection research at the Australian Museum.

Find out more

Australian Museum staff

Contact us

Contact information for customer feedback, members team, school and group visits, website feedback, booking venues and functions, touring exhibitions and media contacts.

General enquiries: +61 2 9320 6000
Media: +61 2 9320 6181
More information


You may also be interested in...

You may also be interested in...

Tommy Misa (he/they) is a Samoan (Toamua) Australian Fa'afafine artist, living on Gadigal Country

Pasifika Pride: A Talanoa with Tommy Misa

What does it mean to be Pasifika and Queer in contemporary Australia? Samoan-Australian Fa'afafine Artist, Tommy Misa, shares their unique view of the world: Who we were, who we are and where we’re going.

Discover more

Visitors at Crystal Hall admissions desk

Customer feedback

We would love to hear about your experience and how the Australian Museum can do better in the future.

Find out more

The Australian Museum

Our Organisation

We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation, to prioritise First Nations cultures, and to continue to develop world leading science, collections, exhibitions, and education programs. Learn more about Australia’s first museum.

Mission & Vision
Governance
Polices & Reports
Read More

Frog sitting on a mobile phone

Museum mobile apps

From our citizen science to augmented reality games, treasure hunts and audio exhibition tours, discover our mobile apps.

Audio guide tours
Augmented reality games
Citizen science
Download free apps

Ita Buttrose

Trailblazers and allies of the Australian Pride movement

Find the trailblazing Australian LGBTQIA+ icons and allies, honored within the Museum's 200 Treasures exhibition.

Discover more

Explore podcast banner

Explore magazine

The Australian Museum's biannual Members' magazine 'Explore' continues a 100-year tradition of publishing behind-the-scenes news and features an Explore podcast series.

Digital and print editions
Read now

2017 Volunteer Appreciation Presentations

Volunteer at the Australian Museum

Discover our exciting volunteer programs and how you can contribute to science research, the environment and culture at the Australian Museum.

Behind-the-scenes
Front-of-house
Citizen science
Find out more

Three sista girls ready to party at the 2013 Mardi Gras in Sydney, New South Wales. Barbara McGrady Photo acquisition

First Nations Pride and a retrospective on LGBTQIA+ celebration at the Australian Museum

Learn more about Aunty Barbara McGrady's photography of First Nations Sistagirls at Sydney Mardi Gras, relive the iconic 1994 exhibition 'Prejudice & Pride' and meet Progress Shark.

Discover more

Balls Pyramid expedition March 2017

Curated for the curious

Be inspired by our expeditions and the Australian Museum’s long history of research and discovery over the decades.

Expedition videos
Online exhibitions
Podcasts
Find out more

Media conference for new Pacific Gallery, Wansolmoana

Pasifika cultures and history

Learn more about the dynamic cultures of Pasifika peoples through stories and objects from across the region.

Collections
Knowledge
Exhibitions
Find out more

Barbara McGrady Photo acquisition

First Nations cultures and history

Learn more about this land’s First Nations peoples and cultures.

Collections
Knowledge
Exhibitions
Find out more

Bleached and fluorescing Acropora corals on the reef crest near South Island, Lizard Island Group, on 25 Feb 2024.

Climate change

The Australian Museum has been involved in raising awareness and researching impacts of climate change for over a decade.

What are we doing?
What is climate change?
Learn more

You have reached the end of the main content.
Go back to start of main content
Go back to top of page

The Australian Museum acknowledges that we operate on the lands, waters and skies of many First Nations Peoples. As Australia's first museum, we share the responsibility of advocating for Country and honouring First Nations Peoples and knowledges. This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Go back to top of page
Australian Museum Logo
Opening Hours
Open Daily 10am - 5pm
Closed Christmas Day
Free General Entry
Address
1 William Street
Sydney NSW 2010
Australia
Phone
+61 2 9320 6000
www.australian.museum
Copyright © 2026 The Australian Museum
ABN 85 407 224 698
View Museum News
Skip Footer Navigation
  • Visit & Book
    • What's on at the Australian Museum
    • Admission information
    • Accessibility and inclusion
    • Membership
    • Location and access
    • Parking and public transport
    • Food and drinks
    • Museum Shop
    • Education and group bookings
    • Multilingual visit information
    • Australian Museum venue hire
    • Australian Museum Visitor Map
    • Audio guides for exhibitions
  • Learn & Connect
    • Latest news
    • For teachers and students
    • Australian Museum Collections
    • First Nations cultures and history
    • Pasifika cultures and history
    • Climate change
    • Sustainability
    • Expeditions and fieldwork
    • Animal factsheets
    • Australia over time
    • Dinosaurs and their relatives
    • Science of life
    • Earth science
    • Journals & Publications
    • Research Library
    • Object and species identification
  • Get involved
    • About the Australian Museum
    • Become a Member
    • Donate to the Museum
    • Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI®)
    • Australian Museum Eureka Prizes
    • Work at the Museum
    • Student opportunities
    • Citizen science projects
    • Volunteer at the Australian Museum
    • Partnerships
    • Commercial services
    • Touring exhibitions
    • Media Centre
    • Contact us
  • About
    • Our Organisation
    • Our history
    • Media Centre
Connect with us
  • The Australian Museum Facebook page
  • The Australian Museum Twitter/X account
  • The Australian Museum on Instagram
  • The Australian Museum Linkedin profile
  • The Australian Museum YouTube channel

Join our Newsletter

Receive the latest news on events, exhibitions, science research and special offers.

  • Site map
  • Privacy
  • Cookie Declaration
  • Social Media Guidelines
  • Terms of Entry
  • Copyright © 2026
The Australian Museum is a New South Wales Government funded cultural institution.

NSW Government logo Australian Museum logo
Back to top

You have reached the end of the page. Thank you for reading.
Website Navigation Dialog Modal
  • What's On
  • AM Shop
  • Join & Give
  • Visit & Book
      • What's On Calendar
      • Location & Transport
      • Admission information
      • Food & Dining
      • Access & Inclusion
      • Become a Member
      • Members-only events
      • Member login
      • Explore magazine
      • Gift Membership
    • Group Bookings
    • Visitor Guides & Map
    • Museum Shop
  • Learn & Connect
      • Latest news
      • Read our articles
      • Listen to podcasts
      • Exhibition publications
      • Media Centre
      • Education programs
      • School excursions
      • First Nations learning resources
      • Science learning resources
      • History learning resources
      • First Nations cultures and history
      • First Nations Collections
      • Pasifika cultures and history
      • Pasifika Collections
      • World Cultures
      • Cultural Collection Enhancement Project
      • Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI®)
        • Lizard Island Research Station
        • Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics
        • AMRI Seminars and Lectures
        • Collection Care and Conservation
        • Citizen science projects
        • Expeditions and fieldwork
      • Life & Geoscience Collections
        • Archaeology
        • Arachnology
        • Entomology
        • Herpetology
        • Ichthyology
        • Malacology
        • Mammalogy
        • Marine Invertebrates
        • Mineralogy
        • Ornithology
        • Palaeontology
        • Frozen Tissue
        • AMRI Collection Enhancement Project
      • Learning resources
        • Australia over time
        • Earth Science
        • Dinosaurs and their relatives
        • Human evolution
        • Biodiversity
        • Education resources
      • Search our Science Journal
      • Australian Museum Eureka Prizes
      • Animal factsheets
        • Spiders
        • Native frogs
        • Reptiles
        • Worms
        • Molluscs
        • Sea squirts and sea tulips
        • Jellyfish, anemones and corals
        • Mammals
        • Australian Bats
        • Fishes
        • Birds
        • Insects
        • Plankton
        • Sea stars and sea urchins
        • Centipedes and millipedes
        • Crustaceans
        • Dangerous Australian animals
        • Australia’s extinct animals
      • Learn about climate change
      • Impacts of climate change
      • Climate change solutions
      • Stories of our changing environment
      • Climate Solutions Centre
  • About Us
      • Organisation & Governance
      • Australian Museum Collections
      • Archives & Research Library
      • History of the AM
      • Visitor information
      • Australian Museum Foundation
      • Donate to the Museum
      • Partnerships
      • Become a Member
      • Venues & Functions
      • Touring Exhibitions
      • Staff profiles
      • Work at the Museum
      • Awards & Fellowships
      • Student opportunities
      • Volunteer at the Australian Museum
      • Contact List
      • Ask an Expert
      • Ask an Elder
      • Subscribe to our eNewsletter
      • Search our Website
Website Search Dialog Modal
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