Melbourne Museums

Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Step into the world of interactive images and into the future at ACMI. A spectacular centre situated right in the heart of Melbourne’s eclectic city scape. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is a modern institution which has been set up in Melbourne’s iconic meeting place, Federation Square. The institution has been designed to celebrate, explore and promote the culture and creativity of the moving image in all its forms – encouraging the love and lust for film, television and digital art and culture.

Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum
Located in the main entrance of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), this museum is a sports lover's dream. It has three levels, all filled with sporting memorabilia. The gallery has records of the country's sporting heroes, from Olympians, to footballers and of course Sir Donald Bradman. Exhibitions include the Cricket Hall of Fame, Aussie Rules Football exhibition and the Olympic Museum. Brunton Avenue, Jolimont (03 9415 1813).Train from city to Jolimont Station.

Camera Museum
Michaels camera museum has about 3000 cameras with some dating back to the 1880's. You will also find movie cameras, darkroom equipment and collection of books, magazines and brochures. Corner of Elizabeth and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne (03 9672 2222). Tram 19, 57 59.

Champions - Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame
Champions celebrates thoroughbred racing and it's role in Australian sport. Federation Square (1300 139 407).

Chinese Museum
The history and culture of Chinese immigrants going back to the early 1800's. 22 Cohen Place, (03 9662 2888).

City Museum at Old Treasury
A museum that explores the people and events that shaped Melbourne and all housed in the Old Treasury building. Old Treasury Building, Spring Street, Melbourne (03 9651 2233)

Fox Classic Car Collection
A collection of classic cars and one of the largest for Mercedes Benz. 755 Collins Street, Docklands (03 9620 4086)

Fire Service Museum
History of the Victorian fire service with a collecting of fire fighting equipment. Gisborne Street, East Melbourne (03 9662 2907).

Hellenic Museum
A collection from Antiquity and the Greek Christian Byzantine period along with an exhibition to show the Greek migration to Australia. 280 William Street, Melbourne (03 8615 9016)

Immigration Museum
The Immigration Museum is housed in the Old Customs House. Construction of this building began in 1839 and it is the oldest public building in Melbourne. Immigration stories of people from all over the world are told here, from the 1800s to present day. 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne (03 9927 2700). City circle tram.

Jewish Holocaust Museum
A Melbourne museum dedicated to the memory of Jews killed during the period 1933 - 1945. The museum has photographs, artifacts and models including a model of the Treblinka extermination camp. 13 - 15 Selwyn Street, Elsternwick 3185 (03 9528 1985).

Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centre
Victorian Indigenous culture all displayed in the Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centre. The displays are realistic and tell it "as it was" when the Europeans arrived in 1835. 295 King Street (03 8622 2600).

Melbourne Maritime Museum
Home of the barque Polly Woodside.

Melbourne Museum
The Melbourne Museum in the Carlton Gardens and is Australian's largest musuem. It houses 9 major exhibition areas, including the mind and body gallery, dinosaur exhibits, an indoor rainforest, insect and butterfly collection including real life insects. The Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre is a living cultural centre dedicated to Victoria's Koorie people. Bugs Alive enlarges the world of bugs to human scale. The Melbourne museum is also the resting place for Australia's most famous racehorse, Pharlap. There is also an interactive, very colourful children's musuem.The complex also houses the Imax Theatre with its eight story movie screen. 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton (13 11 02 within Victoria, 03 8341 7777). City circle tram. Admission charges apply.

Opals
The National Opal Collection is both a museum and showroom. The museum explains how opals were formed and how for example bones of prehistoric animals can become opalised. 119 Swantson Street, Melbourne (03 9662 3524).

RAAF Museum
More than twenty aircraft that were operated by the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force are now at Point Cook the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force. Located at RAAF Base Williams. Point Cook Road Point Cook, 25 kms from Melbourne. (03 8348 6300).

Scienceworks
Scienceworks is an educational attraction that combines interactive displays, exhibitions, tours and shows. Some of the activities at Scienceworks are about robots, dinosaurs, sports and science in the city. The Muck Bunker Stormwater Experience is a fun way for people to learn about water pollution. The Spotswood Pumping Station is a historical site that is located at Scienceworks. The Melbourne Planetarium has a hemispherical domed ceiling that shows the stars and the night sky in digital images. The Victoria University High Voltage Theatre, also called the Lightning Room, is the home of the Tesla Coil and the bolts of lightning it produces. Extra admission costs apply to these shows.

The Grainger Museum
Dedicated to the life of composer and pianist Percy Grainger. University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville.

The Polly Woodside
A reminder of the maritime history of Australia and you can tour the boat. South Wharf, Melbourne (03 9656 9800)