Alive with Wonder

The South Australian Museum has five floors and endless wonders to discover. From the first signs of early complex life to the most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material in the world, there is something for everyone at the Museum. The Museum is open Monday to Sunday 10am-5pm. General admission is free, although costs apply for some exhibitions and events. A $5 donation on arrival helps us to deliver world-class exhibitions and programs.

South Australia’s Museum

The South Australian Museum has been committed to making Australia’s natural and cultural heritage accessible, engaging and fun for over 165 years.

It is a place where families can learn and grow together. Today the Museum is one of the most visited museums in Australia and holds collections of national and international significance. It is a leader in remote and regional community engagement, and in Australian Aboriginal heritage and scientific research.

Museum collections

The South Australian Museum houses over four million specimens and material cultural items. These specimens and items provide irreplaceable records with which we are constantly building and modifying our knowledge and understanding of the natural and cultural world.

They are a vital part of Australia’s national heritage and play an integral role in the international scientific and anthropological communities' endeavour to document our world.

Life-changing research, right here at the Museum.

Most visitors to the Museum’s galleries and exhibitions on North Terrace, in the heart of Adelaide’s cultural precinct, will be totally unaware of the dedicated team of scientists and anthropologists who conduct natural history and cultural research, publishing their discoveries in peer-reviewed national and international journals, book chapters and scholarly books. 

Main image: Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize Exhibition 2024: Angus Northeast