Melbourne Museum offers rich and surprising insight into Victorian life.
With its remarkable permanent collections and inspiring temporary exhibits, the Melbourne Museum is a great place to learn about various aspects of history. Located in Carlton Gardens since 2000, the museum was originally housed in the State Library Building until 1997.
What to do
With 3 levels of galleries, there is plenty to see and do at the museum. Ideally, you should plan to spend about 3 hours exploring, with extra time for any special exhibits you wish to visit. The museum provides suggested itineraries suitable for younger kids, older kids, and adults.
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First Nation
To learn about the First Nations people, start with this exhibit. The Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre’s exhibition highlights the history, achievements, culture, and survival of the First People.
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Dinosaur Walk
Perfect for all ages, the Dinosaur Walk showcases skeletons of these prehistoric creatures and their stories. If you love dinosaurs, make sure to also explore the virtual forest to see the triceratops.
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Bugs Alive
Bugs Alive features an extensive display of insects, including beetles, butterflies, and spiders! With some of these creatures still alive, discover all the diverse bugs that inhabit Australia and other parts of the world.
Perhaps this part of the museum isn’t suitable for those who are terrified of bugs.
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Limited exhibits
The Melbourne Museum frequently hosts a variety of limited-time exhibits, which may require an additional fee to view. Previous exhibitions have included the Titanic, Tutankhamun, and Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys.
How to get there
The Melbourne Museum is located just outside Melbourne’s city centre in Carlton. Paid parking is available, and there are bike racks at the front entrance.
There are many ways you can get there via public transport. You can take a train to Parliament Station, catch buses 250, 251, or 401 to Rathdowne Street, take a free tram to Victoria Parade, or go on trams 86 or 96 to Stop 11.