Discover the Best Free Museums in Australia: A Traveler’s Guide

1. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

• Address: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 5 PM from Monday to Sunday.

As one of Australia’s largest public art museums, located in the heart of Sydney, the museum is convenient to visit when combining sightseeing with neighboring destinations. The building impresses from the outside with its neoclassical architecture. Once inside, visitors will be lost in the large open exhibition space. You should spend half a day here to explore the indigenous art collections and contemporary collections of artists from across Asia and Europe.

2. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

• Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 5 PM from Monday to Sunday.

If you are passionate about works of art, you cannot miss this place. The museum attracts visitors with its massive collections and beautiful space. Indeed, this is where visitors immerse themselves in the world of art from East to West, blending into the large exhibition space divided into many sections. The area displays unique motifs from Japan, China, and many Asian countries. Besides that, sculptures from the European Renaissance are a must-see. Each exhibition space is meticulously arranged, combined with sound and light to create an engaging experience. You can spend two hours visiting all the exhibition areas.

The National Gallery of Victoria creates conditions for visitors to comfortably enjoy the works of art by designing a separate area to store their belongings. There is a “tea room” to enjoy tea and cakes when your feet are tired. Also, you can buy gifts and postcards at the souvenir counter before leaving.

3. State Library of Victoria

• Address: 328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 6 PM from Monday to Sunday.

For those who are passionate about history and architecture, this library, designed like a museum, shouldn’t be missed. The library has 6 floors and is divided into areas for visitors to visit, read books, or work all day. Highlighting here is the La Trobe reading room – a masterpiece with an octagonal dome, in the architectural style of the 19th century. The 6th floor will be the best place for you to see the entire architecture of the library.

Not only does it store many valuable documents about Australian history and literature but the library regularly organizes exhibitions about the history and culture of Victoria. The exhibitions will change continuously depending on the time. Additionally, the library campus is where local families participate in outdoor activities such as playing chess and enjoying music from street artists.

4. Australian Centre for the Moving Image – ACMI

• Address: Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia.
• Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM from Monday to Friday; 10 AM – 4:30 PM from Saturday to Sunday.

ACMI is a place that many visitors find interesting. Located in Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia’s largest moving image center is suitable for those who love cinema and technology. This place preserves and introduces the history of cinema from classic to modern works, electronic games, and video art. Here you can experience special effects from famous movies.

Particularly, you can experience how to create motion effects in movies, move the tapes to make a short film as you like, or explore the world of classic games. From giant old-fashioned film machines to modern rigs, the museum is an interesting place to learn about technological achievements in the entertainment industry.

5. Shrine of Remembrance

• Address: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 5 PM from Monday to Sunday.

The Shrine of Remembrance stands as a poignant tribute to the Australian servicemen and women who have served in war and peacekeeping operations. Built in 1934, this iconic landmark offers visitors a chance to reflect on the sacrifices made by countless individuals throughout history. The Sanctuary and Galleries of Remembrance house over 800 artworks, historical artifacts, and personal effects, providing a deeply moving and educational experience.

Visiting the Shrine is a must for anyone wanting to understand Australia’s military history and its impact on the nation. Especially, the Eternal Flame, which has burned since 1954, and the breathtaking views from the Balcony overlooking Melbourne, make it a place of both solemn remembrance and natural beauty. Besides that, the Last Post Service held every Sunday adds to the Shrine’s atmosphere, offering a unique and emotional connection to Australia’s past.

6. Australian War Memorial

• Address: Treloar Cres, Campbell ACT 2612, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 4 PM from Monday to Sunday.

A national icon, the Australian War Memorial was built for the noblest of humanities purposes as a way for Australians to remember and learn more about Australia’s wars and their lasting impact on society as a whole. Bringing together a world-class museum, a shrine, and a rich archive, it tells the story of the men and women who have served and continue to serve the country in times of war and conflict.

You will pass through several iconic areas including the Aircraft Hall, the Galleries, the First World War Gallery, the Second World War Gallery, and the Memorial Precinct which includes the Hall of Remembrance, the Hall of Honour, and the highly sacred Memorial.

7. National Museum of Australia

• Address: Lawson Cres, Acton ACT 2601, Australia.
• Opening hours: 9 AM – 5 PM from Monday to Sunday.

Located on the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, the beautifully designed national museum tells the rich and varied story of Australia. The museum’s most notable feature is the giant sculptured ring at the entrance and the rich color palette that decorates both the exterior and interior. The exterior is a vibrant palette of crimson, orange, bronze, gold, black and silver. Textures range from the smooth finish of the anodized aluminum panels that cover much of the building to the deeply patterned cast concrete of the western section.

The museum will tell you the comprehensive story of Australia from 65,000 years ago to the present day through engaging objects, ideas, events, and displays that focus on Indigenous history and culture, European settlement, and human interaction with the environment.

8. South Australian Museum

• Address: North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 5 PM from Monday to Sunday.

The South Australian Museum is a leading natural history museum and research institute in Adelaide, South Australia. It was established in 1856 and is renowned for its world-class cultural and natural history collections. Housed in a complex of buildings on North Terrace in the Adelaide Park cultural precinct, the museum currently holds the world’s largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural materials with over 3,000 artifacts on display and the culturally significant Yuendumu Door.

Additionally, you can visit the South Australian Biodiversity Gallery, which showcases South Australia’s terrestrial and marine wildlife with touch screens, interactive elements, and a wealth of valuable information. Other galleries include Pacific Cultures, Megafauna, Opalised Fossils, Polar, Ediacaran, Minerals, and the Ancient Egyptian Room.

9. National Gallery of Australia

• Address: Parkes Pl E, Parkes ACT 2600, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 5 PM from Monday to Sunday.

Enjoy world-class art and exhibitions at the National Gallery on the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. The gallery houses a valuable art collection of 155,000 works representing French Impressionism, Dada and Surrealism, Russian avant-garde, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptual Art.

It is certainly a great stop for art lovers to admire and stroll around the entire area for a deep cultural experience in Canberra.

10. Australian Centre for Contemporary Art – ACCA

• Address: 111 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia.
• Opening hours: 10 AM – 5 PM from Tuesday to Friday; 11 AM – 5 PM from Saturday to Sunday.

The center is a place that gathers bold, innovative works by artists from all over the world with unlimited creativity. Indeed, you will be surprised with just empty barrels, old rubber wheels, and a few paint cans, they can create a work of art.

Because of its uniqueness, breakthrough, and unfamiliarity with the majority, ACCA’s exhibitions are probably not popular with visitors. However, this is still one of the interesting museums for art connoisseurs because of the deep visual and emotional experiences that the works bring.