List of museums in Melbourne facts for kids
Melbourne, Australia, is a super cool city with tons of amazing places to explore! It's home to many cultural spots, museums, and historic sites. These places help us learn about art, history, science, and even how people lived long ago. Get ready to discover some of Melbourne's most exciting attractions!
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Discovering Melbourne's Awesome Museums
Melbourne has a fantastic collection of museums and galleries. They cover everything from ancient history to modern art, and there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Art and Creativity
Melbourne is a hub for art lovers. You can find many galleries showcasing different styles.
- Australian Centre for Contemporary Art: This gallery focuses on modern art. It shows new and exciting artworks from artists today.
- Australian Centre for the Moving Image: Dive into the world of movies, TV, and digital media here. It's all about how we tell stories through screens.
- Centre for Contemporary Photography: If you love pictures, this place is for you! It features amazing photo-based art.
- City Gallery, Melbourne: This gallery displays art and history items from Melbourne's own collections.
- Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery: Explore traditional and modern Eastern art. You'll see paintings, sculptures, and beautiful pottery.
- Ian Potter Centre: This is part of the National Gallery of Victoria. It's dedicated to Australian art, including paintings, sculptures, and fashion.
- Ian Potter Museum of Art: Located at the University of Melbourne, this museum has Australian art from the 1800s to now. It also features European and Indigenous art.
- The Johnston Collection: Found in Fairhall, this collection shows beautiful furniture and art from the 16th to 19th centuries.
- National Gallery of Victoria: One of Australia's biggest art galleries! It includes Indigenous art, Australian Impressionist paintings, and modern art.
History and Culture
Step back in time and learn about different cultures that have shaped Melbourne.
- ANZ Banking Museum: Ever wondered about old money? This museum shows banknotes, coins, and even gold-mining tools.
- Chinese Museum, Melbourne: Learn about the rich history and culture of Australia's Chinese community.
- Hellenic Museum, Melbourne: Discover the amazing cultural traditions of ancient and modern Greece.
- Immigration Museum, Melbourne: Find out about the stories of people who came to Australia from all over the world.
- Islamic Museum of Australia: Explore the beauty of Islamic art and culture.
- Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre: This museum teaches about the Holocaust, a very important part of history.
- Jewish Museum of Australia: Learn about the Jewish community's history and culture in Australia.
- Koorie Heritage Trust: This place celebrates the art, culture, and heritage of the Koori people, who are Indigenous Australians.
- Melbourne Museum: This is one of the largest museums in the Southern Hemisphere! It covers natural history, science, art, and culture.
- Old Melbourne Gaol: Explore a historic 19th-century prison. It tells stories of what life was like behind bars.
- Old Treasury Building, Melbourne: Learn about Melbourne's history from the 1830s in this grand old building.
- Salvation Army Heritage Centre: Discover the history of the Salvation Army and even see an old film studio!
Science and Technology
Get hands-on with science and see how technology has changed our world.
- Melbourne Museum of Printing: See old printing presses and learn how books and newspapers were made.
- National Communication Museum: Explore the history of telephones and other communication equipment.
- National Steam Centre: Watch old steam engines and other amazing machines in action.
- Scienceworks: This museum is full of interactive science exhibits. You can touch, play, and learn!
- Shot Tower Museum: Located inside a shopping centre, this museum shows how lead shot balls were made long ago.
Transportation and Aviation
If you love planes, trains, and trams, Melbourne has some cool spots for you.
- Australian National Aviation Museum: See historic aircraft and learn about Australia's flying past.
- Melbourne Tram Museum: Check out a huge collection of Melbourne's old trams in their former depot.
- Melbourne Maritime Museum: Visit the historic sailing ship Polly Woodside and learn about sea travel.
- Newport Railway Museum: Explore old steam, electric, and diesel trains, carriages, and railway equipment.
- RAAF Museum: This is the official museum of the Royal Australian Air Force, showcasing military aircraft.
- TAA Museum: Learn about the history of Trans Australia Airlines through exhibits and artefacts.
Historic Homes
Step inside homes from the past to see how people lived.
- Cooks' Cottage: This is the actual cottage where Captain James Cook's parents lived in England. It was brought all the way to Melbourne!
- Fairhall (House Museum): A beautiful Georgian townhouse that holds The Johnston Collection of fine art.
- La Trobe's Cottage: Visit the original home of Victoria's first Lieutenant Governor, Charles Joseph La Trobe, from the mid-1800s.
- Portable Iron Houses: See unique prefabricated iron buildings from the gold rush era.
Sports and Special Interests
Melbourne is famous for its love of sports and has some unique museums too.
- Australian Music Vault: Discover the history of Australian music.
- Grainger Museum: Learn about the life and music of the famous composer and pianist Percy Grainger.
- Living Museum of the West: This museum tells the social history of Melbourne's western suburbs.
- Mary Glowrey Museum: Learn about the life of Melbourne doctor and medical missionary Mary Glowrey.
- National Sports Museum: A must-see for sports fans! It covers Australian rules football, cricket, the Olympic Games, and many other sports.
- Victoria Police Museum: Explore the history of policing and crime in Victoria, with old uniforms and equipment.
See also
- Culture of Melbourne
- List of museums in Victoria (Australia)