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National Museum of Australia Where our stories come alive. On Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Ngambri Country. The National Museum of Australia is where our stories come alive.
(1893)

We love using social media to share these stories with the world, and engage with diverse audiences. Please be aware that the Museum’s social media channels may include or use names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Public transport: https://www.transport.act.gov.au/

* Social media community standards *

We aim to keep our social media channels relevant, engaging and inclusive. We’d like to keep this a pleasant space for everyone, and ask that you are respectful to other members of this community and keep discussions on topic. You are expected to uphold the Museum’s social media community standards, and our moderators apply these standards when monitoring our accounts. We will remove content that is abusive, obscene, discriminatory, disrespectful, inflammatory or offensive. We will remove content that is off-topic, spam or is repetitive posting. We will remove misinformation or misleading information. We will also remove content that is defamatory, breaches copyright, confidentiality and/or moral rights laws. Please notify us if you see something that you feel breaches Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and/or our community standards. Whilst we strive for accuracy, we are human and sometimes make mistakes. If we’ve got something wrong, kindly let us know – we’ll fact-check our content as quickly as possible and correct any errors. You can view our community standards in detail here: bit.ly/34KDEKN

* Queries and account moderation *

This page is monitored and moderated weekdays from 8:30am – 5:30pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). During these hours, we aim to respond to relevant queries as quickly as possible and moderate content that does not meet our community standards. Outside of standard moderation hours, responses may take some time. Please free call 1800 026 132 for queries about weekend visits, or refer to our website at www.nma.gov.au. Queries submitted outside of standard operating hours will be reviewed and responded to as quickly as possible during standard business hours. If you have a query about:
- educational research
- our collection
- donating an object to our collection

please email our Duty Curator at [email protected]

This piti (carrying vessel) is made from river red gum and carries the markings of a powerful story, connected to the Pl...
16/10/2026

This piti (carrying vessel) is made from river red gum and carries the markings of a powerful story, connected to the Pleiades constellation.

Created by Pitjantjatjara woman Topsy Tjulyata, the piti depicts groups of seven footprints followed by one footprint. It represents an ancient story where seven sisters evaded the pursuit of a man by escaping into the sky, where they became stars.

It's believed to be one of humanity's oldest stories.

It's Friday! Time for this week's   🎉This device is used to measure something, but what? If you know the answer, drop it...
16/10/2026

It's Friday! Time for this week's 🎉

This device is used to measure something, but what?

If you know the answer, drop it in the comments.

Answer coming Monday!

The Terracotta Warriors are one of the great archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.  But who are they and why w...
15/10/2026

The Terracotta Warriors are one of the great archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

But who are they and why were they created?

They are a life-sized army of about 8000 soldiers, built during the Qin Dynasty 221-207BCE.

They were made to be buried in the tomb of China’s first emperor to serve him in the afterlife.

These warriors were finely crafted to replicate a real army, so each warrior’s hair and clothes show his rank. Each one is unique.

Terracotta Warriors: Immortality and Empire opens in Canberra this December.

🎟️: Tickets on sale now at www.nma.gov.au/warriors
📸by Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum 1: Partially excavated Terracotta Warrior 2: Early image of pits in Xi'an 3: Colourful Terracotta Warrior head

Now we're on track! 🚂 In October 1917, work on the trans-Australian railway was finally completed linking Western Austra...
13/10/2026

Now we're on track! 🚂

In October 1917, work on the trans-Australian railway was finally completed linking Western Australia with the eastern states.

The line from Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia stretched for 1,693 kilometres across some of Australia’s driest and most isolated terrain.

In 1969, this line was extended as a continuous standard gauge track, linking Sydney to Perth.

The train that now runs along that line is – you guessed it – the Indian-Pacific!

Learn more about this Defining Moment: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/trans-australian-railway

Missed out on our Antarctica exhibition? Don't worry!We've created a virtual experience, where you can:🕵️ Discover more ...
12/10/2026

Missed out on our Antarctica exhibition? Don't worry!

We've created a virtual experience, where you can:
🕵️ Discover more Antarctic objects
🚢 Explore a 3D model of the MV Nella Dan
🎥 Watch behind the scenes footage
🎮 Play the Antarctica WYSSA code game

Explore Antarctica today: nma.gov.au/explore-antarctica

Did you know there was an early version of a 'baby bonus' in 1912?🧷  the Commonwealth introduced the Maternity Allowance...
09/10/2026

Did you know there was an early version of a 'baby bonus' in 1912?🧷

the Commonwealth introduced the Maternity Allowance Act in recognition of its duty to help raise the next generation.

Both married and single women received a one-off payment of £5 to cover medical costs and other care for themselves and their babies.

At the time, this was the equivalent of about two weeks’ wages for unskilled workers.

First Nations women and those with Asian, Papuan or Pacific Islander backgrounds were not eligible for the payment.

📷: Two children, Elsie and George Barnes, playing in their cart “Pioneer Express” with their dog, Ingham, Queensland, 1912. Hinchinbrook Shire Library

Learn more about this Defining Moment: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/maternity-allowance-introduced

Keep your eyes peeled - this week's   could slip under the radar! Hint: this object could save your life. Do you know wh...
08/10/2026

Keep your eyes peeled - this week's could slip under the radar!

Hint: this object could save your life.

Do you know what it is?

Leave your guess in the comments and we'll drop the answer on Tuesday!

When you realise you only have days left to see the 'Antarctica' exhibition 😱It's time to bid farewell to Earth's contin...
08/10/2026

When you realise you only have days left to see the 'Antarctica' exhibition 😱

It's time to bid farewell to Earth's continent at the National Museum of Australia 👋

The last day to see our incredible winter exhibition is this Sunday 11 October.

Book your free ticket now: https://www.nma.gov.au/antarctica

06/10/2026

It seems like only yesterday that we were putting the finishing touches on the ‘Antarctica’ exhibition! 🐧

How do we only have one week left? 😱

You have until Sunday 11 October to experience more than 100 years of Australians in Antarctica.

Book your free ticket now to make sure you don’t miss out: https://www.nma.gov.au/antarctica

Address

Lawson Crescent, Acton
Canberra, ACT
2601

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61262085000

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