Attraction
National Gallery of Victoria
Australia's oldest public art museum, with free general entry to NGV International on St Kilda Road and the Australian collection at Fed Square.
Melbourne Museum
Museums Victoria's flagship in Carlton Gardens, with a living forest gallery, Aboriginal cultural centre, dinosaur fossils, Phar Lap and an IMAX cinema.
At a glance
- Type
- Natural and social history museum
- Area
- Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:00–17:00
- Official site
- museumsvictoria.com.au
Good to know
- Restaurant
- Shops
- IMAX cinema
- Children's gallery
Why we recommend it
Melbourne Museum is the largest of the Museums Victoria venues and sits in Carlton Gardens, directly beside the Royal Exhibition Building. The building, designed by the Melbourne practice Denton Corker Marshall, opened on 21 October 2000, more than a century after the exhibition building beside it.
The collection covers natural science, Victorian history and Aboriginal culture, and several galleries stand out. The Forest Gallery is a living temperate Victorian forest inside the building, with live birds, reptiles and other animals. Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre presents exhibitions made by and about the Aboriginal peoples of Victoria, and is the place to start for the Aboriginal history of the region. In the Melbourne Gallery you will find the mounted hide of Phar Lap, the champion racehorse.
Dinosaur fans have two reasons to come. Dinosaur Walk displays fossil mounts including Tarbosaurus, Deinonychus, Pteranodon and Protoceratops, and Horridus, which went on show in 2022, is among the most complete Triceratops specimens known. For younger children, the Pauline Gandel Children's Gallery offers hands-on, play-based exhibits designed for ages up to five.
The museum also runs IMAX Melbourne, which lies eight storeys below ground. Opened in 1998 and operated by Museums Victoria since 2004, it has a screen measuring 32 by 23 metres and seats 461 people. Check the museum website for current sessions.
Melbourne Museum is open from 9am to 5pm daily and closes on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Members of Museums Victoria receive free general entry here and at Scienceworks and the Immigration Museum, plus discounts on special exhibitions and parking, which is worth considering if you plan to visit more than one venue. The Mercury restaurant overlooks the Royal Exhibition Building, and the museum shops sell educational toys, books and locally made homewares.
A visit suits families especially well, with the Forest Gallery, the dinosaurs and the children's gallery all under one roof, but the Aboriginal and social history galleries give adults plenty to read. Allow at least three hours. Tours of the Royal Exhibition Building next door can be booked at the museum, so the two make an easy combination for a morning or afternoon in Carlton.
Melbourne Museum FAQs
What are Melbourne Museum's opening hours?
9am to 5pm daily. It is closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Where is Melbourne Museum?
In Carlton Gardens, Carlton, next to the Royal Exhibition Building.
What are the main highlights?
The Forest Gallery, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Phar Lap in the Melbourne Gallery, Dinosaur Walk and the Triceratops in Horridus.
Is it good for young children?
Yes. The Pauline Gandel Children's Gallery is designed for children up to five, and the Forest Gallery and dinosaurs appeal to all ages.
Is there an IMAX cinema?
Yes. IMAX Melbourne is in the museum complex, with a 32 by 23 metre screen and 461 seats.
Is there somewhere to eat?
The Mercury restaurant overlooks the Royal Exhibition Building.
Can I book Royal Exhibition Building tours here?
Yes. Tours of the Royal Exhibition Building can be booked at Melbourne Museum or online with Museums Victoria.
How long should I allow?
Around three hours to see the main galleries.