Roarrrsome News! The Australian Museum is Reopening

[Above image: artist’s rendering of new touring exhibition hall at the transformed Australian Museum]

The Australian Museum will reopen to the public on Saturday 28 November after a 15 month $57.5m building transformation which has significantly increased public spaces and improved amenities within the historic museum complex, on the corner of William and College Streets.

As a major bonus for the public, the NSW Government has announced general admission will be FREE to celebrate the reopening of the iconic institution, providing access for all and helping position the region’s leading natural history and culture museum among the best in the world.

In its most extensive renovation in decades, Australia’s first museum, originally founded in 1827, has redeveloped its public and exhibition spaces. This includes adding more than 3,000sqm of new public space, repurposed from back-of-house areas. Known as Project Discover, the transformation was made possible by the NSW Government contributing $50.5m and generous philanthropic support from AM private donors.

The first exhibition to enter the new blockbuster gallery is Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family, an update on one of the Australian Museum’s most popular exhibitions, which has been touring in the USA and Europe for the past five years. In addition, the popular Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition will also return to the Grand Hall exhibition space in time for reopening.

Australian Museum renovations

[Above: The Grand Hall during renovations in June]

Major Opening Exhibition: Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family

While general admission to the new Australian Museum will be free, visitors will be able to purchase tickets to attend major international exhibitions, including Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family.

This unique exhibition focuses on the king of the dinosaurs, T.rex, and its eclectic Tyrannosaur family. It features a colossal collection of skeletons, skulls, fossil eggs and even fossilised dinosaur dung, revealing the stories and science behind these astonishing carnivores.

Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family also utilises the latest technology including immersive projections, animation and artificial intelligence to help explain how palaeontology works, how the Earth changes over time, what evolution is and how sudden environmental devastation can cause even the most dominant species to go extinct.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is recommended to book a timed ticket in advance for Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family. Paid tickets for this special exhibition can be booked online at Australian. Museum ($20 Adult, $16 Concession, $10 Child, Family packages available. Free and discounted tickets for members).

Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition

This year’s Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition explores the changing nature of regional ecology and the impacts of climate change – one of the key focuses of the transformed museum. As a special treat for visitors, admission to the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition will be included with general admission, which will be completely free as part of reopening.

COVID-19 Safety

The Australian Museum is committed to keeping visitors and staff safe and has achieved the NSW Government’s ‘COVID Safe’ industry standard by demonstrating adherence to the respective Government and public health guidelines and the implementation of new safety measures, including:

Staff will be trained to support visitors in enjoying their visit while staying safe.
Limiting capacity in each of the AM spaces and galleries will allow visitors to maintain social distancing.
Hand sanitiser will be available at all AM entrances, cafés, shops, toilets, lifts and gallery spaces.
Protection screens will be installed in places such as cafés, shops and information desks.