Melbourne Museum Museum

Address: 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Website: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mondays (check website for holiday variations)

Admission: General admission: AUD 20-25 (adult), concessions and free entry for children vary; check museum site for current ticketing and special exhibitions.

Melbourne Museum is a large public museum located in Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Victoria, adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building. It opened in the late 20th century as a modern museum complex housing natural history, cultural and social collections.

The museum’s permanent displays cover natural history, Indigenous cultural exhibits, and the story of Melbourne and Victoria; it also hosts temporary exhibitions and public programs. Galleries include dedicated spaces for Indigenous culture, natural science and the city’s history.

The museum’s collections are used for research, education and public display and the complex includes learning spaces and visitor facilities. It forms part of a cultural precinct that includes the Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding gardens.

The museum sits in central Melbourne’s Carlton precinct, a short distance north-east of the central business district and readily accessible by public transport.

• Location and setting: Located within Carlton Gardens adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building, which provides a combined historic setting for visitors.

What to See#

• Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre: An Aboriginal cultural centre that presents Indigenous histories, languages and living cultures through exhibits and programs within the museum complex.
• Science and Life Gallery: A major natural history gallery that displays specimens and exhibits on biodiversity, geology and dinosaurs as part of the museum’s permanent collections.
• Melbourne Gallery: A gallery focused on the history and development of Melbourne, including urban and social history displays and rotating exhibitions.

Melbourne Museum is a short walk from Melbourne Central and Parliament stations. Trams (routes 86, 96) stop close by along Nicholson Street. Street parking is limited; public transport is recommended.

• Allow at least 2-3 hours to see permanent exhibitions and the Melbourne Story galleries in depth.
• Check the events calendar-temporary exhibitions and late-night openings change frequently and can be worthwhile.
• The museum offers lockers and is accessible by tram; enter via Nicholson Street near the Carlton Gardens for the main entrance.