Museums Victoria

Museums Victoria

• 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

• State

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.

Museums Act 1983 (Vic)

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 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.

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.

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

Museums Victoria Archives:

• open to the public by appointment, Monday to Friday 10am-4pm.
  Melbourne Museum:
• open daily 10am-5pm
• closed Good Friday, Christmas Day
• https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/
  Scienceworks:
• open daily 10am-4.30pm
• closed Good Friday, Christmas Day
• https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/
  Immigration Museum:
• open daily 10am-5pm
• closed Good Friday, Christmas Day
• https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/

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/

See: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/visiting/getting-here/

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.

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.

Revised 5 April 2018

• 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)