Australian Museum
Australia’s first museum, the Australian Museum has been at the forefront of scientific research, collection care and management, exhibitions and education for nearly 200 years
10am–4pm
About the building
Established in 1827, the Australian Museum, originally known as the Colonial Museum or Sydney Museum, is the oldest museum in Australia and the fifth oldest natural history museum in the world. It was founded with the aim of procuring ‘many rare and curious specimens of Natural History’. Nearly 200 years later, the Australian Museum has built a collection that contains more than 22 million objects, including cultural material and specimens of animals, fossils and minerals.
The collection was housed in various buildings around Sydney until colonial architect Mortimer Lewis designed a dedicated museum building. Construction began in 1846 on the current site, and the new museum opened to the public in 1857. The Greek Revival–style building, known as the Lewis Wing, housed the purpose-built Long Gallery. An astonishing 10,000 people visited during the first week, at a time when Sydney’s population stood at just 45,000.
Since then, the Australian Museum has been modified and extended many times to accommodate the growing needs of exhibitions, collections and staff. The most recent is the transformative renovation known as Project Discover, which has created a new civic space where visitors can enjoy the architecture alongside the exhibitions.
Talks, tours and more
Built
1857
Architect
Mortimer Lewis
James Barnet Wing: James Barnet, 1866
W.L. Vernon South Wings: Walter Vernon, 1899
Parkes/Farmer Eastern Wing: Edward Farmer, 1963
Collections and Research Building: JPW Architects, 2008
Crystal Hall: Neeson Murcutt Architects and Joseph Grech Architects, 2016
Westpac Long Gallery conservation and refurbishment: Design 5 – Architects, 2017
Project Discover: Cox Architecture and Neeson Murcutt Neille, 2020
Awards
Property Council of Australia Innovation & Excellence Awards – Best Public Building, 2023 (Project Discover)
Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards – National Award for Public Architecture, 2021 (Project Discover)
Australian Interior Design Awards – Public Design Award, 2021 (Project Discover)
Australian Institute of Architects NSW Architecture Awards – The John Verge Award for Interior Architecture; NSW Architecture Medallion; The Green Award for Heritage, 2021 (Project Discover)
Australian Institute of Architects NSW Architecture Awards – Award for Heritage Conservation, 2018 (Westpac Long Gallery)
National Trust of Australia NSW Heritage Awards – Conservation Built Heritage, 2018 (Westpac Long Gallery)
Australian Institute of Architects NSW Architecture Awards – Award for Public Architecture, 2016 (Crystal Hall)
Find out more about this building here
Australian Museum
1 William Street, Sydney
Entry details
The Lewis Wing, including the original William Street entry and foyer, boardroom and Krefft Room, which are not normally open to the public. The Westpac Long Gallery is open to the public on the day
10am–4pm
3.30pm
Talks, tours and more
Need to know
Accessible featuresThe main entrance via the Museum Walk ramp from College Street is wheelchair accessible. There is access to all areas of the Museum for people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters. There are ramps throughout the exhibitions and two lifts to take you between all floors. All doors are automatic. Accessible toilets are available
Lines expectedToilets availableBaby changing facilities
Photography allowedNo flash photography
Food and drink availableBistro Gadi, Billabong Waterhole Cafe, Hintze Hall Espresso Bar
