Museums Victoria

Identity area

Identifier

daa/359

Authorized form of name

Museums Victoria

Parallel form(s) of name

Other form(s) of name

  • National Museum of Victoria, 1854-1983
  • Industrial and Technological Museum, 1870-1945
  • Museum of Applied Science of Victoria, 1945-1961
  • Institute of Applied Science of Victoria, 1961-1971
  • Science Museum of Victoria, 1971-1983
  • Museum of Victoria, 1983-1998/ Museum Victoria, 1998-2016

Type

  • State

Contact area

 

Manager, Records and Archives

Type

Address

Street address

Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton

Locality

Melbourne

Region

Victoria

Country name

Postal code

3053

Telephone

Fax

Note

Description area

History

Museums Victoria is Australasia’s largest public museum organisation. As the State museum for Victoria, we are responsible for developing and maintaining the State collection, delivering educational and entertaining exhibitions, conducting research, and providing cultural and science programs for the people of Victoria and visitors from interstate and overseas.

Museums Victoria dates back to 1854, with the founding of the National Museum of Victoria, and then, in 1870, the Industrial and Technological Museum of Victoria (later known as the Museum (then Institute) of Applied Science of Victoria, then as the Science Museum of Victoria). By proclamation of the Museums Act 1983 (Vic), these two institutions were amalgamated to form what is today known as Museums Victoria, governed by the Museums Board of Victoria.

The Museums Victoria Archives was established in 1998.

Geographical and cultural context

Mandates/Sources of authority

Museums Act 1983 (Vic)

Administrative structure

Museums Victoria operates three museums (Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and Immigration Museum), a collection storage facility (Moreland Annexe) and a non-collection storage facility (Simcock Avenue), and is custodian of the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building.

The Museums Victoria Archives are housed in a secure store at Melbourne Museum.

Museums Victoria undertakes high-quality research into historical and contemporary issues in the fields of science, history, technology and Indigenous cultures. Our research is based on an internationally significant collection of more than 17 million items and is carried out by expert curators.

Records management and collecting policies

Records in the Museums Victoria Archives document the administrative, collection, exhibition, education and research history of Museums Victoria and predecessor institutions.

The Archives welcomes donation offers of papers from significant contributors to Museums Victoria and its predecessor institutions over the years, as they relate to their affairs with the Museum and its staff. Examples of interest may include papers from:


  • former staff, Trustees or Board members;
  • papers related to items that are currently part of the State collection; or
  • papers from people who have had significant interactions with, or collaborated on, projects with Museum staff.

Such papers can provide important contextual and provenance information, and are considered an essential supplement to the official records.

Buildings

Holdings

The Museums Victoria Archives holds unpublished material and documents dating from the Museum's foundation in 1854, as well as relevant research material dating from the 1830s.

Records in the Archives document the administrative, collection, exhibition, education and research history of Museums Victoria; its early correspondence; as well associated programs and activities, including business transactions documenting actions, decisions, policies and fiscal and legal rights and responsibilities of the Museum.

Finding aids, guides and publications

A brief overview of the Museums Victoria Archives collection is available at: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/collections-research/library-and-archives/

Access area

Opening times

Museums Victoria Archives:

  • open to the public by appointment, Monday to Friday 10am-4pm.

Melbourne Museum:

Scienceworks:

Immigration Museum:

Access conditions and requirements

A minimum 48 hours' notice is required when requesting access to Archives material. Some material is held in offsite storage and it may take longer to provide access. Contact us by completing an enquiry online to arrange access to collection items at: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/ask-us/request-access-to-collections-items/

Services area

Research services

Records in the Archives document the administrative, collection, exhibition, education and research history of Museums Victoria. If you think the Archives may contain material of interest, please complete an enquiry online providing as much information as possible about the subject / topic of interest. See: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/ask-us/request-access-to-collections-items/

Material from the Museums Victoria Archives can be viewed in the Library Reading Room at the Melbourne Museum.

The Reading Room has standalone computers available for visitor use, which also provide access to the Library’s online catalogue. Power outlets are available for visitors who wish to bring their own electronic devices. Free wireless internet is provided by Museums Victoria to visitors in the Reading Room.

Reproduction services

If copies of material need to be made for research and reference purposes, reasonable access to a photocopier can be made available, or you are welcome to bring your own digital camera.

Public areas

Control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Revised 5 April 2018

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Maintenance notes

Access points

Access Points

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Thematic area)
  • Arts and Culture (Thematic area)
  • Indigenous (Thematic area)
  • Local Studies (Thematic area)
  • Politics and Government (Thematic area)
  • Recreation / Leisure / Sports (Thematic area)
  • Science and Technology (Thematic area)
  • Social Organisations and Activities (Thematic area)
  • Travel and Exploration (Thematic area)
  • Clipboard

Primary contact

Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Melbourne, Victoria 3053