Melbourne Museums

(Melbourne, Victoria - VIC, Australia)



Melbourne MuseumsMelbourne is a large and important city, and as such comes with a selection of important museums, showcasing everything from science and technology, to the history of Australian immigration, wool farming and the performing arts.

The Melbourne Museum is one of the most popular is the city and is located in the Carlton district, opposite the old Royal Exhibition Building and within the Carlton Gardens. Built between 1998 to 2000, at a cost of more than 300 million Australian dollars, the building itself is a striking attraction in its own right, with an enormous blade and sharp angles.

Popular with all ages, the Melbourne Scienceworks Museum has an industrial appearance and opened in 1992. Many displays and hands-on activities are available, while the 'Lightning Room' is a real highlight. This large auditorium offers regularly demonstrations explaining everything you could every wish to know about electricity.


Melbourne Museums

Melbourne Museum

Address: Carlton Gardens, Nicholson Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3053, Australia
Featuring vast galleries and large exhibition spaces, the Melbourne Museum is subdivided into separate exhibition areas. These spaces include information about the city's rich Aboriginal past, the indigenous wildlife in Victoria, and a children's attraction, full of state-of-the-art, interactive displays. The Science and Life Gallery is especially noteworthy and filled with impressive dinosaur skeletons and fossils. Also available are guided tours, temporary exhibitions, a café area and a popular gift shop, selling souvenirs.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children and families

Melbourne Museums

Immigration Museum

Address: Old Customs House, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9927 2700
The Immigration Museum occupies the centrally located Old Customs House and explains the poignant history of how the city's diverse and vibrant community evolved. Filled with true stories, displays, interesting information and much more besides, the Immigration Museum also features a café area and a popular gift shop. The Old Customs House is a particularly beautiful building and is easy to find, standing close to the jetty where the Yarra River Cruises are based.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children and families

Scienceworks Museum

Address: 2 Booker Street, Sportswood, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3015, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9392 4800
The Scienceworks Museum is sited within the Sportswood district. Built on the site of the Sportswood pumping station, the Scienceworks incorporates the old historic buildings, which also house the city's Planetarium. With an enormous array of fascinating scientific instruments, interactive displays and impressive exhibits, the Scienceworks is particularly popular with children and families visiting this part of Victoria. Close by you will find the Memorial Park and the Donald Mclean Reserve.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children and families

Museum of Chinese Australian History

Address: 22 Cohen Place, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9662 2888
Situated within the city's vibrant Chinatown district, the impressive Museum of Chinese Australian History is dedicated to Australia's Chinese communities and their rich past. With many historic Chinese artefacts, antiques, guided tours, large exhibitions and important collections, this oriental feast also contains a number of events and changing displays throughout the year.
Open hours: Sunday to Friday - 10:00 to 16:30, Saturday - 12:00 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and families

Melbourne Museums

Williamstown Railway Museum

Address: Champion Road, Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 2003, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9397 7412
Located within the westerly Williamstown suburb, the Williamstown Railway Museum is operated by the Australian Railway Historical Society. Boasting a fine collection of old steam locomotives, engines, carriages, wagons and railroad memorabilia, the rides on the mini-steam train are a particular highlight for families.
Open hours: Saturday and Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00, Wednesday during school holidays
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum

Address: Cricket Ground, Jolimont Parade, Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3121, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9657 8879
The Australian Gallery of Sport stands in the city centre and within the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, being close to the Fitzroy Gardens. Celebrating the exciting history of many of the city's most outstanding sporting events, victories and passions, including the 1956 Olympic Games, the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum has a number of interesting displays, halls of fame, photographs, artefacts, topical exhibits and an excellent gift shop, spread over three levels.
Open hours: daily - 09:30 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and families



Gold Treasury Museum

Address: Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9651 2233
The Gold Treasury Museum is situated in the city centre and dates back to the historic days of the 'Gold Rush'. Housed in a stunning building, top attractions include a number of permanent exhibitions, temporary displays, interesting artefacts and of course, the import vaults, which were once used to store the city's gold. There is also a popular gift shop selling touristy souvenirs.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children and families

HMAS Castlemaine Maritime Museum

Address: Gem Pier, Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3016, Australia
Tel: +61(0)3 9397 2363
The HMAS Castlemaine Maritime Museum can be found on board the impressive warship itself, in the Williamstown district and next to the Commonwealth Reserve. Dating back to the mid-20th century, the HMAS Castlemaine is full of interesting displays, maritime memorabilia, historic artefacts and impressive weaponry. Other attractions include guided tours and a gift shop area.
Open hours: Saturday and Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and families

Victoria Fire Services Museum

Address: Victoria Parade, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3002, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9662 2907
Located within the city centre and sandwiched between the Carlton Gardens and the Fitzroy Gardens, the Victoria Fire Service Museum is home to a wealth of local firefighting history. Highlights include early examples of fire engines, uniforms and equipment, right up to the latest modern day vehicles, pumps and information.
Open hours: Friday - 09:00 to 15:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Jewish Museum of Australia

Address: 26 Alma Road, St. Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3182, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9534 0083
Situated within the St. Kilda district, the important Jewish Museum of Australia contains a wealth of information relating to the city's Jewish community, history and events. With many colourful displays and exhibits, guided tours are available and provide one of the best ways to gain a real insight into the Jewish heritage of Victoria. During significant Jewish holidays, such as the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah) and Passover (Pesach), large celebrations are often staged here.
Open hours: Tuesday to Thursday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children and families

National Wool Museum

Address: 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3220, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 5227 0701
The National Wool Museum, in the Country Victoria district, provides a real insight into the city's important wool industry past, which dates back to the early 19th century. One of the major tourist attractions in Geelong, the National Wool Museum features a number of well-designed, fascinating displays about the many processes involved in the past wool industry, from farming and shearing, to spinning and weaving. Also expect to find numerous temporary exhibitions, seasonal events and a gift shop.
Open hours: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children and families

Performing Arts Museum

Address: 100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9281 8569
The Performing Arts Museum is sited within the heart of the city, close to the St. Kilda district and alongside the Queen Victoria Gardens, on the ground level of the Melbourne Concert Hall. This is a leading centre for performing arts in Victoria and features many impressive artefacts, displays and costumes from some of Australia's leading performers, celebrities, rock musicians and the Australian circus and theatre industry in general. Of note, the National Gallery of Victoria is just a short walk away, as is the Alexandra Gardens and the Eureka Tower skyscraper, where the Eureka Skydeck 88 boasts stunning city panoramas.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 23:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Polly Woodside Maritime Museum

Address: Lorimer Street, Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3006, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9699 9760
The Polly Woodside Maritime Museum stands on the Yarra riverfront, next to the Melbourne Exhibition centre and the Mazda Reserve. Originally built in Belfast in 1885, the Polly Woodside is an old iron-hulled sailing ship with three masts and has famously sailed around Cape Horn no less than 16 times. Now standing in the centre of a maritime museum park, the Polly Woodside has been lovingly restored by volunteers of the National Trust. Other attractions include historic listed cargo sheds, important relics, video films, an old boiler house and a popular gift shop, selling nautical souvenirs.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, children and families

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Museum

Address: RAAF Base Williams, Point Cook Road, Point Cook, Victoria, 3027, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9256 1300
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is located on the outskirts of the city and within the suburb of Point Cook, where it is full of important historic aircraft, planes, equipment, memorabilia and artefacts. Other aviation attractions here include seasonal flying demonstrations and regular guided tours of the exhibits. Particularly interesting is a diving tank that once featured in the past TV series 'Moby Dick and Noah's Ark'.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 15:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Victoria Police Museum

Address: 637 Flinders Street, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3005, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9247 5216
The central Victoria Police Museum recounts the early days of the city's police force to the modern day, covering more than 150 years. With interesting displays, historic equipment, important artefacts, one of the original sets of the Kelly Gang's armour, and information about the latest technology used by the Aussie police force, there is also a gift shop to hand should you fancy buying a cuddly policeman teddy bear.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: free