summer holiday fun @ the australian museum

Guided Tours

Connect with the world’s oldest living culture with a guided tour of the AM’s award-winning Unsettled exhibition by our knowledgeable First Nations staff. The tour guides provide an in-depth explanation of First Nation history and offer a deeper understanding of our nation as they illuminate the meaning of key exhibition objects.

Dates: Wednesday, Saturday, Sundays, commencing 1 Dec – 30 Jan. Times: 10.30am, 12noon, 1.30pm. Duration: 45mins. Cost: $25 Adult, $12.50 child, $20 members.

Join Yuin woman, Dr Mariko Smith, co-curator of Unsettled, for an intimate breakfast featuring native ingredients and discover the stories behind this powerful exhibition.

Learn about the consultation process with over 800 First Nations communities and the in-depth research undertaken to present Australia’s untold history.

Date: 15 Jan, 2022. Time: 8 – 10am. Cost: $90, $72 members Conc; $81.

Take time out of your hectic life and sit with us a while to refresh your spirit This unique workshop offers an authentic and heartfelt introduction to First Nations culture through meditation, deep listening and reflecting.

Dates: 22 – 30 Jan 2022. Time: 10.30am – 1pm, 2pm – 4.30pm Cost: $120, $96 (members)

This 26 January, join Ngiyampaa Elder Aunty Daniella Chedzey for an exclusive, early-morning workshop and a chance to reflect and restore. Learn how to create a woven Kurrajong string and flowers and immerse yourself in the healing practice of weaving. Use your hands to make something beautiful and sustainable from Country using the strong fibres of the Kurrajong tree.

Date: 26 January 2022. Time: 8am – 10am Cost: $120, $96 (members)

Looky, Looky Here Comes Cooky

This musical documentary by cheeky performer, Steven Oliver is a funny and fresh look at the story of Lieu ant Cook from a First Nations’ perspective.

Dates: 26 Jan, 2022. Times: 10.30am – 11.30am. Cost: Free.

Sweet Country

Inspired by Inspired by real events, Sweet Country is set in 1929 in the outback of the Northern Territory, Australia. When an Aboriginal stockman kills a white station owner in self-defence, he and his wife go on the run. They are pursued across the outback, through glorious but harsh desert country .Eventually, for the health of his pregnant wife, he decides to give himself up. But will justice be served?

Date 26 Jan, 2022. Time: 2.30pm – 4.30pm Cost: Free

High Ground

Set against the rich landscape of Arnhem land, High Ground is a gripping action story hat chronicles the quest of an Aboriginal man to save the last of his family.

Date:26 Jan, 2022. Time: 12noon Cost: Free

The 2021 AGNPY exhibition features over 100  sensational nature photographs from our region, including Scott Portelli’s winning image, ‘Leafy Night.’ Demonstrating the raw beauty and power of our natural world, the  photographers have used their lenses to not only capture secret moments in nature that have never been seen before, but also highlight some of the important environmental issues that we face. On display at the Australian Museum’s Hintze Hall and free to all visitors.

Dates: Open until 30 Jan, 2022. Cost: Free.

Zoom in on the natural world with nature photographer, Tom Covell. Workshops will commence with a tour of the 2021 Australian Geographic 2021 Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition to see the powerful images including the junior photographers. Afterwards, children will proceed to the AM’s photography studio to be guided through photography challenges using museum specimens and treasures.

Dates; 18 + 19 Jan, 2022. Times: 10.30am – 11.30am  Ages: 5 – 8 Years. Cost: $35 per child, $28 per child (members)

Guided by nature photographer, Angela Roberston-Buchanan, beginners will learn the fundamentals of wildlife photography and how to get the most out of their digital camera.

Dates: 11 Dec, 2021; 15 + 16 Jan, 2022. Times: 10.30am – 1.30pm. Cost:  $125 Adults, $112.50 concession, $100 AM members.

Nature photographer, Angela Robertson- Buchanan, will teach participants how to photograph a variety of live animals, including taxidermy and fossilised specimens from the AM’s renowned collections.

Dates: 11 Dec 2021, 15 + 16 Jan, 2022. Times: 2 – 5pm. Cost: $125 Adults, $112.50 concession. $100 members. Location Patricia McDonald Rooms, Lower Ground

Budding ‘twitchers’ can spend the day with the AM’s ornithologist, Dr. Leah Tsang.  Dr. Tsang will take you behind the scenes to discover where the amazing bird collection is kept, learn about taxidermy and the evolution of birds and then test your knowledge of birds with walk through Hyde Park.

Dates 13 + 14 January, 2022. Times: 9.30am – 3.30pm. Cost: $135 per child, $108 per child (members)

Australia’s pre-eminent children’s theatre company, Monkey Baa return to the AM to take your young dramatist on a journey exploring identity, self-belief and belonging – all through the eyes of an emu. Reading from ‘Edward the Emu, Monkey Baa will help children develop their skills and confidence through physical movement, vocal exercises and improvisation, to create their own characters and storylines.

Children will also have a short tour with First Nations staff exploring the importance of the emu in First Nations cultures and a photo opportunity with the company’s exquisite puppet of Edward the Emu.

Ages; 5 – 8yrs. Dates: 11 + 12 Jan, 2022. Time 10.30am, – 12.30pm, 1.30pm – 3.30pm. Cost: $65 per child, $52 child (members) or free with Creative Kids vouchers