- Location: 6 College St, Sydney, opposite the eastern edge of Hyde Park.
- Opening hours: 9.30am to 5pm daily except Christmas Day, December 25.
- Entry fee: Yes. Special visiting exhibitions may attract an additional admission fee.
Established in 1827, the Australian Museum in Sydney is Australia's first museum. It has extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts.
For quite a large number of Sydneysiders, the Australian Museum is that squat, brown, musty-looking building on the corner of College and Park Sts, a stone's throw away from St Mary's Cathedral, and the place you bring children to for dinosaur exhibitions and some such.
Of interest to adults
Interestingly, many of the exhibitions at the Australian Museum do have potential appeal to local and visiting adults.
Indigenous displays
Particularly for visitors from other countries, the museum gives a fascinating insight into Australian indigenous life and culture at the Indigenous Australians exhibition on Level G.
Items of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, implements and artefacts give a glimpse into the uniqueness of indigenous culture.
As well, performances of didgeridoo music and indigenous dance take place every Sunday at 12 noon and 2pm.
Minerals and gemstones
For those with an interest in Australian minerals and gemstones, the Planet of Minerals on Level 1 has an extensive display of brilliant and scintillating items dug out of the Australian soil.
Wildlife and insects
On Level 2, in the More than Dinosaurs and Birds and Insects exhibitions, you'll find not only information on, but also specimens of, large Australian wildlife as well as notorious Australian insects and spiders.
Getting to the museum
The most convenient way to get to the Australian Museum is by train, getting off at Museum station in Hyde Park, and walking the short distance to the museum. Museum station is on the City Circle route and a number of trains from the west, southwest and south of Sydney stop at Museum station.
If Museum station is not on your train route, transfer at Central, City Hall or Wynyard stations to a City Circle train.
Going by bus: Catch a bus passing through Elizabeth St, Park St or Liverpool St in the city centre and alight at Hyde Park close to the museum.
Going by car: Finding street parking is a problem. If you do find space, this will most likely be metered. You may prefer to find a carpark relatively close by.
