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Numerous Melbourne museums in one of Australia’s biggest cities provide distinctive experiences. Melbourne’s museums are a great way to spend a few hours while in the city, offering anything from world-class exhibits to interactive activities and guided tours. Families, sports fans, history aficionados, and others will find something to enjoy at the city’s many museums. This guide to some of Melbourne’s greatest museums will help you figure out where to start.
Top 10 Melbourne Museums
Here is a list of some of the best Melbourne museums that you should visit while there.
1. Melbourne Museum
Photo: Alex Proimos / Wikimedia Commons
A trip to the Melbourne Museum offers a deep and unexpected look into Victoria’s culture. Victoria’s fascinating permanent collections and outstanding temporary exhibitions from nearby and distant locations can be found inside. You’ll witness Victoria’s history, culture, and natural surroundings from a variety of artistic angles. A great one-stop shop for people who want to see and experience as much as they can but don’t have a lot of free time. To discover more about the native plants and animals that are important to the Aboriginal people of southeast Australia, make sure to explore the Milarri Garden trail.
Location: 11 Nicholson St Carlton Melbourne 3053
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
2. Heide Museum Of Modern Art
Photo: Nick carson / Wikimedia Commons
The Heide Museum of Modern Art offers an intriguing fusion of social history, architecture, art, and landscape. Situated amidst 16 acres of a sculpture park and heritage-listed gardens, the property’s three exhibition buildings house modern and contemporary art exhibits. The gallery at Heide is as fascinating as the artwork it displays, making it an intriguing experience. The museum was built on the site of a former dairy farm that belonged to well-known art patrons John and Sunday Reed. It served as a meeting spot for the Heide Circle, which included Joy Hester, Sidney Nolan, John Perceval, and Albert Tucker.
Location: Templestowe Rd, Bulleen VIC 3105, Australia
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM (Closed on Monday)
3. Australian Sports Museum
Photo: Ank Kumar/ Wikimedia Commons
The Australian Sports Museum, which houses the biggest collection of athletic memorabilia, is a must-see for all sports fans, from casual observers to die-hard supporters. This museum is not like others. There is a lot to experience, including interactive exhibitions and athletic challenges. Life-sized 3D holograms of Richmond and AFL Premiership stars Bachar Houli and Tayla Harris are the highlights of the event, which also features several famous personalities giving first-hand experiences of their athletic journeys.
Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground Brunton Ave Richmond Melbourne 3121
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
4. Chinese Museum
Photo: Aliceinthealice / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The Chinese Museum in Melbourne tells one of the most amazing tales of Australian immigration. You may explore the interior of a cargo ship at the Chinese Museum’s “Finding Gold” exhibit, which rocks back and forth as the artificial ocean rises below. The world’s largest processional dragon, which coils around the Dragon Gallery’s walls, is a museum highlight. During Chinese New Year festivities, “it takes 63 people to carry it through the streets.” The Chinese Museum examines the impact of Melbourne’s Chinese past and commemorates the Lunar New Year, which lasts for 38 days.
Location: 22 Cohen Pl Melbourne 3000
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
5. Islamic Museum Of Australia
Photo: Resnjari / Wikimedia Commons
The Islamic Museum, located in a northern suburb of Melbourne, is nestled away on an industrial backstreet and seeks to encourage cultural diversity. Even the administrative offices, which are housed in a white glass box with an overlay of abstract calligraphy and partially shaded by a rusted and perforated veil, are part of the modern charmer that Decipher Architects created from a former bottling factory in one of Melbourne’s northern suburbs’ industrial backstreets. The galleries are linked by two bridges to the reception area, which is staffed by the friendliest people in town.
Location: 15A Anderson Rd, Thornbury VIC 3071, Australia
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
6. Immigration Museum
Photo: Donaldytong / Wikimedia Commons
Since nearly one-third of Australians are foreign-born, there are enough immigration stories to fill a whole museum. First Nations people, who have inhabited Australia for thousands of years, are considered by many to be the oldest culture on the planet. They remained there until just over two centuries ago. However, more than 250 different nations have made their home in Sydney since Captain James Cook first arrived there in 1770. Twenty-eight percent of the population was foreign-born in 2015.
Location: Old Customs House 400 Flinders St Melbourne 3000
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
7. Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Photo: Andres Idda Bianchi / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The goal of the Melbourne Museum’s permanent exhibition, Bunjilaka, is to depict the Koorie experience. The name of the show comes from the Bunjil, the wedge-tailed eagle that is the ancestor of the Indigenous people of southeast Australia. The three primary areas of Bunjilaka—the Birrarung Gallery, the Millari Garden, and the Kalaya performance space—were co-curated by First Nations people. Art and performance at Bunjilaka will introduce visitors to the stories and rich culture of Victoria’s First Nation peoples.
Location: Melbourne Museum11 Nicholson St Carlton Melbourne 3053
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
8. Scienceworks
Photo: Cameron Burke / Wikimedia Commons
Scienceworks is remembered with fondness by younger Melbournians. It should come as no surprise that the interactive science and technology museum aims to inspire children’s curiosity about science through hands-on activities. However, this does not exclude adults from joining in on the fun. Every day there are special events, demonstrations, rotating displays, and guided tours. The Planetarium is always a big hit because of its enormous domed roof that simulates the night sky. Watch the lightning room shows for a startling experience; nothing makes science more entertaining than man-made thunderbolts.
Location: 2 Booker St Spotswood Melbourne 3015
Timings: 10 AM – 4:30 PM
9. Jewish Museum Of Australia
Photo: Joyofmuseums / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
From the first days of European settlement, this museum explores the inspiring and poignant stories of Melbourne’s and Australia’s Jewish community through interactive exhibits, valuable artifacts, and an extensive educational program. Survivors are telling their memories in a particular Holocaust history section of the museum, and there are also reputable modern art exhibits and displays, as well as celebrations of Judaism’s extensive calendar of holidays and festivals. The museum is closed during Jewish holidays.
Location: 26 Alma Rd St Kilda Melbourne 3182
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
10. Hellenic Museum
Photo: GordonMakryllos / Wikimedia Commons
Melbourne’s premier destination for learning about Greek culture is the Hellenic Museum, which hosts a variety of cutting-edge programs, events, and exhibitions. Five permanent exhibitions, including Gods, Myths, and Mortals from Athens’ Benaki Museum, and two travelling exhibitions are on display at the museum, which is housed in the former Royal Mint building on William Street. Even though the museum has some Neolithic artifacts, the Hellenic Museum actively encourages Greek and non-Greek artists to investigate and reinterpret Greek civilization from a modern perspective.
Location: 280 William St Melbourne 3000
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
There are Melbourne museums devoted to the creative industries that tell the unique tale of Melbourne’s multiculturalism, in addition to museums featuring intriguing heritage and provocative art. A great approach to learn a little bit more about Melbourne if you’re visiting for the first time is to visit its museums. An added benefit is that several of Melbourne’s top museums are free to enter! Plan a trip with TripXL today.
Cover Photo: RYOSUE / Shutterstock
