Australian Museum

Museum Australia's oldest museum, natural history and anthropology.

In central Sydney, the Australian Museum houses natural history and anthropological collections, with exhibits on dinosaurs, Indigenous Australian cultures and regional biodiversity; families and school groups are frequent visitors.

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The Australian Museum in Sydney is the country’s oldest museum, founded in 1827, and is located on College Street beside Hyde Park in the central business district. It specialises in natural history, geology and anthropology collections.

The museum’s displays cover paleontology, zoology, earth science and cultural collections, including significant material relating to Indigenous Australian and Pacific cultures. It operates permanent galleries and rotating temporary exhibitions that present research collections to the public.

Over its history the institution has expanded its collections and exhibition spaces and now combines research, public galleries and education programmes. The museum also runs outreach and scientific research activities linked to its collections.

Situated in Sydney’s CBD beside Hyde Park, the museum is easily reached from central transport hubs and is a short walk from Museum train station and several bus routes.

  • Location: Located adjacent to Hyde Park on College Street in Sydney's CBD, the museum is a short walk from Museum railway station and other central transport links.
  • History: Founded in 1827, it is one of Australia's oldest museums and specialises in natural history and anthropology collections.

What to See #

  • Natural history galleries: Permanent natural history galleries that cover topics from paleontology and vertebrate zoology to earth sciences, with specimens and interpretive displays.
  • Cultural and temporary exhibition galleries: Galleries and displays covering Indigenous Australian and Pacific cultures, alongside rotating temporary exhibition spaces for changing displays and research-led shows.
Australian Museum
1 William Street (corner of College Street), Sydney NSW 2010, Australia
-33.8741, 151.2132
Daily 10am-5pm

How to Get to Australian Museum #

The Australian Museum sits in central Sydney opposite Hyde Park on College/William Street. Take Sydney Trains to Museum Station (City Circle network) and it’s a very short walk (a few minutes) from the station concourse; many city buses run along William and College Streets and drop nearby. If driving, the museum is in the CBD with limited street parking and nearby paid parking garages; it’s within easy walking distance of Town Hall and St James.

Tips for Visiting Australian Museum #

  • Use Museum Station (Sydney Trains) and the College Street exit for the shortest walk to the main entrance and to avoid crossing busy roads.
  • If you want to see special exhibitions, check the museum's website and book timed-entry tickets in advance-major exhibits can sell out on weekends.
  • To avoid school group crowds and get quieter galleries, visit on weekday mornings or late afternoons; weekends and school holidays are noticeably busier.

Best Time to Visit Australian Museum #

Visit on weekday mornings during school terms to avoid crowds; the museum is open year-round but is busiest during school holidays and weekends.

Off-peak weekdays (best time)
All year (especially school term weekdays) · N/A (indoor)
Mornings on weekday school terms tend to be least crowded, giving best access to exhibits and galleries.
Peak periods
December holidays, April, July school holidays · N/A (indoor)
Weekends and school holidays are busiest; expect queues for special exhibits and crowded galleries.
Evenings and quieter months
Late winter (June - August) outside school holidays · N/A (indoor)
Some quieter stretches occur outside major holiday periods-check museum opening hours and special-event schedules.

Weather & Climate near Australian Museum #

Climate

Australian Museum's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in February) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 8°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1261 mm/year), wettest in March.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
26°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. Significant rainfall (135 mm).

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
19° 26°

Weather

135 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

February

February is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (132 mm).

Comfort

23°
Feels Like Mild
23°C
Temperature
19° 26°

Weather

132 mm
Rainfall
4.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

March

March is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 17°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (153 mm).

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
17° 25°

Weather

153 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

April

April is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (128 mm).

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
14° 23°

Weather

128 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

May

May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm).

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
12° 20°

Weather

106 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

June

June is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (118 mm).

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
17°

Weather

118 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

July

July is the coolest month with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm).

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
17°

Weather

71 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

August

August is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm).

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
18°

Weather

85 mm
Rainfall
4.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

September

September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm).

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
11° 20°

Weather

73 mm
Rainfall
4.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

October

October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
13° 22°

Weather

84 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

November

November is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
15° 23°

Weather

95 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

December

December is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm).

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
17° 26°

Weather

81 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

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