National Museum of Australia

Collections and exhibitions

The museum’s collections include objects, oral histories, photographs, documents and digital records that underpin both permanent and temporary exhibitions. A major long-term gallery highlights the histories and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and other permanent displays trace colonisation, community life, environmental change and the development of Australian democracy. Rotating exhibitions examine particular communities, historical moments and contemporary issues.

• Indigenous artefacts, audio-visual recordings and community histories;
• Material culture from colonial and modern everyday life;
• Political, civic and protest-related items that illustrate nation-building and contestation;
• Archival collections and research resources supporting scholarship and public learning.

Site, design and architecture

Sited on the Acton Peninsula, the museum occupies a prominent waterfront location that links it visually with other national institutions. The building, designed by the firm Ashton Raggatt McDougall (ARM), is noted for a contemporary, deliberately bold form intended as a public landmark. The grounds host outdoor installations and public artworks that complement indoor displays.

Programs, research and community engagement

Beyond exhibitions, the museum runs educational programs for schools, community outreach, public lectures and research initiatives. Curators work with scholars, students and Indigenous communities to interpret collections and develop exhibitions. The institution supports repatriation and collaborative care of cultural material and provides digital resources and online catalogues to broaden access; see visitor and collections information on visitor pages and research portals at collections sites.

Significance and public role

As a national cultural institution, the museum plays a central role in recording and presenting diverse perspectives on Australia’s past and present. It is a venue for public memory and debate on heritage, Indigenous sovereignty, migration and environmental stewardship. Practical visitor information, tickets and accessibility details are published through official channels (visit), and further educational materials, partnerships and volunteering opportunities can be explored via institutional pages (learn more).