The Australian Museum closed its doors for 15 months in order to complete the biggest renovation project in its 190-years history. When visitors returned, they found an extra 3000-square-metres of space, which included the new Grand Hall, a second cafe, bathrooms on every level and, most importantly, the principal reason for the revamp—the almost doubling in size of the Touring Exhibition Hall.
At 1500-square-metres, the new Touring Exhibition Hall is intended to elevate the status of the museum and, along with the entire top-to-bottom reno, make the Australian Museum one of the best natural history museums anywhere in the world. Post-renovation, the Touring Exhibition Hall was meant to display the touring Treasures of King Tutankhamun exhibition.
That didn’t happen. But since reopening, the Australian Museum has hosted a couple of spectacular exhibitions including the return of the blockbuster exhibition Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family.
Currently, visitors to the Australian Museum can find on display an exhibition that dives to the depths of the ocean and back in time to bring us a hands-on, family-friendly exhibition titled Sharks.
Australian Museum permanent exhibitions
There are several permanent exhibitions on display at the Australian Museum, including:
- 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum: In the Westpac Long Gallery, 100 of the most-valued objects from the Australian Museum’s collections are on display alongside the stories of 100 extraordinary people who have shaped Australia.
- Bayala Nura – Yarning Country: Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a long and storied history, and their culture is still very much alive today.
- Birds of Australia: Australia has more birds than just magpies. We’re actually home to one of the most diverse and abundant bird populations.
- Wild Planet: See nature’s giants up close as well as learn all about the animal kingdom including extinct species.
- Pacific Spirit: Ceremonial objects, artworks, and everyday items from cultures found in the Pacific are on display showcasing the skill, creativity and spiritual complexity of a myriad of peoples.
- Surviving Australia: Australia has unique wildlife, and a lot of it is trying to kill you.
- Dinosaurs: The prehistoric world rises up around you with real dinosaur skeletons and life-size models, as well as the fossil teeth, skulls and claws of these out-of-this-world creatures.
The Australian Museum disposes of audio guides to enrich your experience as well as a range of self-guided audio description tours for low-vision visitors.
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
The exhibition showcases 00 photographs by 74 photographers of animals and landscapes from the bioregion of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea. Photo categories include Urban Animals, Threatened Species, Our Impact, a new category Astrophotography and one of Junior photographers.
The South Australia Museum exhibition typically comes to the Australian Museum every year around spring to showcase the magnificent ability of wildlife photographers to capture animals and nature in the wild.
The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition is on now and runs alongside Sharks.
Australian Museum’s future plans
Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs is planned to arrive in time for summer 2023 and will showcase 180 rare artifacts in what will be the largest collection of Ramses II items to ever leave Egypt. From animal mummies to spectacular royal masks, exquisite amulets, and ornate golden treasures of the tomb, it will be a must-see exhibit.
However, Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs will also feature a first-ever virtual walkthrough of Ramses II’s famous temples and the first full-length documentary ever produced on Ramses II’s tomb. Stay tuned for more details.
Australian Museum Opening Times
The Australian Museum is open all year long, except for Christmas Day.
Opening hours are:
- Monday to Sunday: 10am – 5pm
- Wednesdays until the end of January 2023: 10am – 9pm
For a limited time, General Admission to the permanent exhibitions is free for all visitors. Sharks requires a paid-for ticket.
See the Australian Museum website to find out everything else you need to know.