Museum, Melbourne

The Old Treasury Building was originally built in 1850s to store the colony’s gold and was offices to the Governor, Premier, Treasurer and Auditor General. Its Renaissance architecture is the resemblance of wealth evident during the gold rush.

In 1990 it was conserved and opened to the public as the Gold Treasury Museum. Currently, it highlights three permanent exhibitions namely Built On Gold, Melbourne: A City Built On Gold and Growing Up In Old Treasury. The gold vaults which once stored the colony’s gold are also on exhibit.

Guided tours are available. Admission fee applies.

Opening hours:
Mon - Friday / 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sat - Sun / 10.00am - 4.00pm
Closed on Good Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day

This museum gives an insite into many different Australian ways of life and its history and culture, including everything from aboriginal history to the story of the greatest Australian race horse ever... Well worth a visit. If you can prove you are English you get a reduction !!!

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A controversial project (but hey, since when was a modern piece of architecture NOT controversial) sitting, as it does, opposite the Royal Exhibition Building (see previous tip). You'll either love it (I do) or hate it (Lonely Planet).

A funky piece of modernism, all straight lines, reflective glass and bright colours, the Museum is huge, reflecting the history of the city, the environment and the people from the Indigenous communities through to 21st century Melbourne and beyond - even an original set from 'Neighbours' is to be found here, along with the preserved champion horse Phar Lap.

Along with permanent exhibitions such as the fascinating The Human Body and Forest Secrets (a living cool temperate rainforest), the exhibition hosts large scale visiting exhibitions - Tutankhamun arrives in April 2011 until July.

Opening times: 10am- 5pm (Monday-Sunday) (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday)

Tickets: $A6 adults (children and concessions free). Tutankhamun $32 - $23 (not cheap but an exclusive presentation).

The Melbourne Museum is the premier museum in the city. Located near the Carlton Gardens this place has a extensive collection of exhibits including the story of the history of Melbourne, an extensive collection of the wildlife of the state as well as some dinosaurs. There is also an exhibit exploring the aboriginal arts and culture. Exhibits are interactive so you can participate in the learning process.

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My kids love animals. To every country we went we will surely take them to the zoo. As for Melbourne the place is huge and kids are quite upset since they are not able to pet those kangaroos and that does not meet their desire in getting them to the zoo. We were upset too since there were no koalas make available during winter. So going to the zoo during winter is not a good timing.

To be honest I didn't find this museum very interesting, there just wasn't a whole lot to see. I did enjoy looking at the dinosaur skeleton's and also there is a walk through rainforest which is pretty to walk through and look at.
The price of admission is $6 for adults and children are free. And it is easy to get to by using the tram, directions are on the website.

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Located in Carlton Gardens, opposite the historic Royal Exhibition Building, the award-winning Melbourne Museum houses a permanent collection in eight galleries, including one just for children.
Highlights include a complete skeleton of a blue whale, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, a living rainforest, the racehorse Phar Lap and an IMAX theatre on site. Major international exhibitions are presented in the Touring Hall.
Some natural history, something from the labyrinths of our brain, some aboriginal culture and lots of other nice things to see. A wonderful indoor rainforest. etc. need at least two hours.

A visit to Melbourne Museum offers rich and often surprising insights into life in Victoria.

We usually associate museums with dusty places...like a storeroom for the ages. Melbourne Museum will not only prove you wrong but threw the image out of your head totally.

Lovely set up - 8 galleries worth of material to wander through. Bring your kids here - they is 1 gallery specially for them. They will be amazed. I saw kids going ooh-ing and ahh-ing over a real bee hive, created as a "slice through" so that they can see with their own eyes the work ethics of the buzzing bees. Dinosaurs never fail to capture any kids attention and the exhibits showcasing optical illusions will no doubt thrill them to bits.

Breathe. Adults will learn something as well. There is plenty of seriousness associated with the exhibits. It's supposedly educational you know. But educational does not equates dull. Interact with the exhibits and you may pick up something for the next game of "Trivial Pursuit" or for that pesky answer you do not know for the crossword puzzle.

And don't forget to walk through the open air Eco Forest, tucked right in the middle between 2 wings, and learn a little more about the fragile Earth we live on today.

The Melbourne Museum is also home to both the Bunjilaka, an Aboriginal Cultural Centre for people to learn about Victoria’s Koorie (south eastern Aboriginal) people and the IMAX Theatre.

There is a cafe as well as a museum shop within the building.

Open daily 10am - 5pm but closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Admission fee (circa 2008):
Adult $6, Concession and Children free entry.
Additional charges may apply for temporary exhibitions.