Exploring History

Exploring History

Australia has an interesting and long history from the Indigenous Australians to the convicts that came and settled here. From national history, to aviation, military, gold rush and maritime history, there is so much to learn and experience in hands on, family friendly ways.

Victoria

At the  Melbourne Museum, get an  insight into life in Victoria through the exhibits showing natural environment, cultures and history. View the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, filled with the living traditions and knowledge of the Koorie people and other cultures from around Australia that shaped the country into what it is today. See fossils from pre historic animals that roamed the land.

Explore Melbourne’s history through stories of people from across the world who migrated to Victoria and arrived from other parts of the world and decided to call Melbourne home at the Immigration Museum. Learn about why they came to Melbourne, what it was like arriving in a new country and the impact that it had on the local Indigenous communities.

The Chinese Museum has five floors showcasing the culture and history of the Australian Chinese community.

Once Australia’s largest inland port in the late 1800’s, the Port of Echuca is an authentic working river port. Home to the oldest paddlesteamers that still operate, you can learn about the rich maritime and cultural history of the Port through the Wharf Walk.

Discover Flagstaff Hill and gain a glimpse into the Warrnambool region’s maritime heritage. It is a living and historical village that displays what life was like in the 19th century port town and is the holder of Victoria’s largest maritime shipwreck collection.

Sovereign Hill brings to life what it was like during Australia’s great 1850s gold rush. All staff are dressed like as townsfolk from the era. Pan for gold, take a coach ride, go deep underground into a mine or learn how to make a candle or sweets.

Western Australia

The Western Australian Museum, Boola Bardip, houses the State’s premier scientific and cultural collections. Woven throughout are the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognising the primary rights of Australia’s first peoples in practising and expressing their cultural heritage.

Perched on the shore of the Indian Ocean, the WA Maritime Museum is symbolic of Fremantle’s past, present and future as a coastal city and port. Millions of migrants have come to WA by sailing ship, steamship, naval vessel and ocean liner. The Port of Fremantle is integral to this history.

Tasmania

Located on Hobart’s waterfront, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) is the second oldest museum in Australia and has some of the oldest collections in Australia. It has something for all ages and interests. Learn about Tasmanian history, art pieces, the history of the native animals (like the Tasmanian tiger) or the mythology of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Free entry.

Mawsons Hut Replica Museum shows what the early huts built for exploration in Antartica for the Australians that first went there in 1911-1941 looked  like and the conditions that they lived under (minus the snow and the cold)

As Tasmania is an island state, the sea was very significant in the early days of Tasmania. The Maritime Museum of Tasmania shows the strong maritime heritage. You will find informative displays about Aboriginal watercraft, early European settlers, whalers, the importance of sailing and the use of steamships and much more.

Discover Devonport’s own local maritime history of  Bass Strait at the Bass Strait Maritime Museum. Learn about the shipwrecks, natural history and trade that makes up Tassie history. Take the helm and captain a 1910 steamer into the Mersey River or guide it through the heads of Port Phillip Bay.

Old Hobart Town, right in the heart of Richmond village, shows replica to scale representations of what Hobart looked like in the early days and offers a fascinating look into early life in Hobart. Recreated from the original city’s plans, it is authentic and informative. It is the perfect setting to learn about the early settlers lives and history of Hobart from 200 years ago.

Northern Territory

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory has so much history packed into just one museum. Admire Aboriginal art and ancient artefacts, experience what life was like in the interactive exhibit of Cyclone Tracy and see the stuffed taxidermized saltwater crocodile, Sweetheart.

Learn all about Darwin’s WWII history at the Darwin Military Museum. Immerse yourself in the Defence of Darwin Experience and look at all the photos and information around this war history.

Step back in time and explore Northern Territory aerial history at the Darwin Aviation Museum. Housing a collection of the Territory’s aviation history. View a B52 Bomber, Spitfire, helicopters and many other examples of aviation equipment.

The World War II Oil Storage Tunnels were constructed during World War II to protect Darwin’s oil supplies from the Japanese. Today, walk through the tunnels and view a collection of photographs from the time.

Australian Capital Territory

The National Capital Exhibition tells the Story of Canberra as the capital city of Australia. Explore displays featuring the people, events and history that made up the design of the city. Discover the people behind the design (that the lake is named after), Walter Burley Griffin.

Australia’s stories come alive at the National Museum of Australia. The museum showcases the history of Australia. It also houses Kspace, the museum’s interactive adventure game for kids to build a time travelling robot and blast off to a mystery location in Australia’s past.

See democracy in action at Australia’s Parliament House. Book a guided tour and learn about the country’s leaders and even possibly sit in on a live parliamentary hearing!

The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is a living museum of the political and social history of Australia. Understand the history of Australia through educational and interpretive displays.

The Royal Australian Mint is an icon in Australia’s cultural heritage. See how coins are made through the Factory viewing platform, learn from interactive displays, see the Mint’s robot and hear about the history of the Australian dollar through the informative tour guide.

Telling the stories of the men and women who have served for Australia, and continue to serve our nation in war and conflict operations, the Australian War Memorial provides a fascinating history of the Australian Armed Forces. The stories are told through exhibitions, artworks, personal experiences and records.

New South Wales South Coast

The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum features a distinguished collection of maritime artefacts and navigational instruments. See a range of nautical equipment, models, drawings and objects that show the history of the Jervis Bay area. The historic Lady Denman ferry from Sydney Harbour  is housed here.

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