Free Machu Picchu

Embark on a journey back thousands of years to ancient Peru with this extraordinary exhibition featuring over 130 artefacts and immersive displays.

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Opening Hours
Open Daily 10am - 5pm
Wednesdays Until 9pm
Closed Christmas Day
Free General Entry
Where to find us
1 William Street
Sydney NSW 2010
Australia

Burra

Be transported on an immersive journey through the eyes of burra (eel) in the Australian Museum’s learning and play space.

Permanent education space
10am - 4.30pm

Wansolmoana

Experience the diverse and dynamic cultures of Pasifika peoples through stories and objects from across the region.

Permanent exhibition
Open daily

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Discover even more by becoming a Member. Delve into the Australian Museum’s collections, join a vibrant community and support our groundbreaking research and cultural projects.

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Read about our latest discoveries, research expeditions and collection objects on display.

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Visit the Australian Museum in Sydney

Experience science, culture and nature in the heart of Sydney at the Australian Museum. Open from 10am to 5pm daily, discover the extraordinary permanent exhibitions on display with free entry to the museum.

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What's on at the Australian Museum

Discover our exciting offer of permanent and special exhibitions to visit at the Australian Museum, as well as upcoming events including talks, workshops and First Nations cultural programs.

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School Holidays

Discover science and culture through a diverse program of interactive workshops for kids aged 5 to 12 years at the Australian Museum these school holidays!

Programs and events
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Paddington’s Peruvian Trail

Complete Paddington’s Peruvian Trail through the Australian Museum for your chance to win!

2 December 2024 - 2 February 2025
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Stone archway at Machu Picchu

Journey to Peru

Journey deep into Peru and immerse yourself in ancient Andean cultures in this series of exclusive conversations, experiences and events that celebrate the Golden Empires of Peru.

December 2024 - February 2025
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Mum and Daughter with T.Rex

Dinosaurs

How well do you know your dinosaurs? Discover the amazing creatures that ruled the world until 65 million years ago in this exhibition that brings the Mesozoic era to life.

Permanent exhibition
10am - 5pm
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Visitors to Wansolmoana exhibition

Wansolmoana

Experience the diverse and dynamic cultures of Pasifika peoples through stories and objects from across the region.

Permanent exhibition
Open daily
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Westpac Long Gallery

200 Treasures of the Australian Museum

The Westpac Long Gallery showcases 100 treasures from our collections alongside the stories of the 100 people who’ve helped shape Australia.

Permanent exhibition
Open daily
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Minerals gallery documentation 30 Jan 2023

Minerals

Be dazzled by over 1800 spectacular rocks and minerals in our new Minerals Gallery.

Permanent exhibition
Open daily
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Primary school excursion to Dinosaurs

School programs and excursions

Book school excursions at the Australian Museum, Sydney, that inspire and engage students of all ages.

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Latest news

Discover our research behind the scenes, read stories from our collections and learn about the latest fieldwork findings and acquisitions.

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Blazing the Trail

Blazing the Trail

Discover what makes us human on an epic journey investigating our shared story of human evolution.

Podcast series
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The Eastern Water-holding Frog (Cyclorana platycephela) is found in the Northern Wheatbelt

Go where no one has gone before – help us document frogs in the Northern Wheatbelt of New South Wales

The frogs of the Northern Wheatbelt of New South Wales are poorly sampled. We need your help to document frogs and fill in data gaps so we created a priority map to highlight areas where your FrogID recordings will make the biggest difference to our understanding of frogs!

25 November 2024
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Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition media preview

Australian Museum opens major summer exhibition Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru

For the first time in Australia, an ancient tale of human ingenuity, ritual, unimaginable treasures and supernatural deities will be brought to life in the extraordinary exhibition, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, opening Saturday 23 November at the Australian Museum.

21 November 2024
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Australian Museum, U.S. Embassy and Pacific partners Embark on Cultural Conservation Project

Australian Museum, U.S. Embassy and Pacific partners Embark on Cultural Conservation Project

Pasifika Tauhi Project established to preserve cultural knowledge and practices across the Pacific.

14 November 2024
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ACRF Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis. Winners of the 2024 Aspire Scholarship Eureka Prize for Interdisciplinary Scientific Research.

Leading efforts to improve early detection of melanoma

Drawing from a multidisciplinary team, these Eureka Prize winners utilise AI-assisted 3D imaging technologies to conduct the world's largest preventive melanoma study.

9 November 2024
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The relational framework used to guide the FrogID interviews.

Understanding the relational nature of citizen science: Insights from FrogID

Agential realism explains how citizen science programs like FrogID go beyond data collection. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of all entities - human and non-human - and encourages a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation based on mutual accountability.

28 October 2024
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Cylix nkosi in situ, Sodwana Bay, South Africa, at 22 m depth

Meet the new chief of the South African reefs: The Sodwana Pygmy Pipehorse

Scientists from the Australian Museum and Iziko South African Museum have identified a new species of pygmy pipehorse from subtropical South Africa, Cylix nkosi.

24 October 2024
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Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus

Saving our koalas: using genomics to enhance conservation outcomes

Koalas in New South Wales are at risk of extinction by 2050. New research highlights the need for targeted conservation efforts to address genetic diversity and maintain habitat connectivity to ensure their survival.

22 October 2024
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An adult female Coastal Lobe-lipped Bat from Western province, PNG, showing the enlarged flap or lobe formed from the outer ear margin, that is characteristic of this new species

The Coastal Lobe-lipped Bat: a new range-restricted species from the coastal lowlands of southern Papua New Guinea

The Coastal Lobe-lipped Bat (Chalinolobus orarius) is a newly named species recognised from museum specimens collected in Papua New Guinea (PNG) previously thought to represent the Hoary Bat (C. nigrogriseus) of northern Australia.

21 October 2024
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Professor Frank Talbot AM

Vale Professor Frank Talbot AM

The world of science and conservation is mourning the loss of Professor Frank Talbot AM, a renowned marine biologist and former Director of the Australian Museum and Smithsonian Natural History Museum, who died last night aged 94 years.

16 October 2024
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Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru.

Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru: Australian Museum's summer blockbuster exhibition announced

Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will be exclusively hosted in Sydney from Saturday 23 November 2024. Tickets go on sale from today for this immersive museum experience which shares the secrets of five ancient Peruvian Empires, dating back more than 3000 years.

8 October 2024
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Simpson Desert Expedition 2015

Read more news

Hear behind-the-scenes stories and read about our latest discoveries, research expeditions and collection objects on display.

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Where nature, science and culture intersect

We are Australia’s first museum, and have over 21 million scientific specimens and cultural objects in our collections. Learn more from First Nations people, discover thousands of animal factsheets and explore our online education resources.

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For teachers and students

Our education programs and resources spark curiosity, develop scientific understanding and enhance cultural awareness in students of all ages.

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Southern Boobook Owl

Object and species identification

Use our Ask an Expert enquiry form for help with Australian animal identification, natural history and cultural object enquiries.

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Feathertail glider

Animal factsheets

Discover the astonishing variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, marine life and more in the Australian Museum collections.

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Barbara McGrady Photo acquisition

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Learn more about this land’s First Nations peoples and cultures.

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Coral Bleaching Lizard Island

Climate change

The Australian Museum has been involved in raising awareness and researching impacts of climate change for over a decade.

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Entomology Collection Area

Natural Sciences

Discover the AM's extensive collections and research areas, including the name-bearing type specimens held at the Museum.

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Capturing Nature book

Museum Archives and Research Library

The Museum Archives and Research Library cares for the Museum’s institutional memory and its historic natural history book and journal collections dating from 1836.

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Make a donation. Become a member or volunteer. Or put your passion into practice on a citizen science project. Find out how you can get involved with the Australian Museum.

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Australian Museum Eureka Prizes trophy

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

Rewarding excellence in Australian research & innovation, leadership, science engagement, and school science

Key 2025 Dates
Award Ceremony
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Kazan Brown, Australian Museum's first Cultural Residency Participant

Mob at the Museum

The Australian Museum is proud to announce Kazan Brown, a senior Gundungurra knowledge holder who will be partnering with the Museum for its inaugural Mob at the Museum: Cultural Residency Program.

Cultural Residency Program
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Development Photoshoot - 03 April 2024

Donate to the Australian Museum Foundation

By making a tax-deductible donation, you can help us share the joy of discovery with the next generation.

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FROG ID app in the field

FrogID

FrogID is a national citizen science project that is helping us learn more about what is happening to Australia’s frogs.

Free mobile app
Record frog calls
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Sheldon with Eric Pliosaur

Work at the Museum

Discover the exciting roles in research, exhibitions, education and communicating the relationship between people, culture and the natural environment.

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ACWG DNA Labs 2015

Awards & Fellowships

The Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) offers several different and exciting fellowships to visiting students and researchers.

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Matthew McCurry on field work

Media Centre

Discover the latest news about the Australian Museum and Australian Museum Research Institute. The Media Centre also provides information, images and expert comment on scientific and cultural research, exhibitions and wider Museum activities.

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Get involved

Make a donation. Become a member or volunteer. Or put your passion into practice on a citizen science project. Find out how you can get involved with the Australian Museum.

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About the AM

The Australian Museum has been inspiring exploration of nature and culture for more than 190 years. Learn more about what we do, our extraordinary collections or our fascinating history.

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AM Aerials - August 2017

About the Australian Museum (AM)

Learn more about our organisational structure, what we do, the passionate people who work at the Australian Museum and our fascinating history.

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The Australian Museum

Visit the Australian Museum in Sydney

Visit Australia’s first museum in the heart of Sydney to discover Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, our collection of Australian dinosaurs, and the deadliest of down under animals. See you at the Australian Museum.

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C&R building

Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI)

AMRI brings together scientific expertise and world-class research infrastructure to increase our knowledge of the world around us and inform environmental decision-making for a better future.

Biodiversity & geodiversity
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Climate Solutions Centre

Bringing diverse voices together to inform and inspire more Australians to support climate solutions.

Climate change insights
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Lizard Island

Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station

The Lizard Island Research Station is a world-leading supplier of on-reef facilities for coral reef research and education. Located on the northern Great Barrier Reef, 270 km north of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.

Reef research
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Contact us

Contact information for customer feedback, members team, school and group visits, website feedback, booking venues and functions, touring exhibitions and media contacts.

General enquiries: +61 2 9320 6000
Media: +61 2 9320 6181
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