I love exploring local museums so I stopped here to learn more about how Australia became a big hub for immigration. I learned alot and I loved how vibrant the exhibits were. read more

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I visited this museum on my first day in Melbourne in hopes of learning the history of the area. This place did not disappoint! For what seemed to be such a small museum actually turned into hours of me poring over every word on timelines and information they gave. Learning the history of the First People's and the colonization of Australia was incredible, but eerily familiar. The parallels between US history and Australian history were shocking and I felt so ignorant not having known all of that. I love the recognition of the First People's and the stories that are being told recognizing the terrible past. In talking to Australians, they admit they have a long way to go. As an American, it feels like Australia is in the future and we are way in the past still denying the truth. This museum was amazing! They also had an exhibit called "Joy" that I was unaware about until I was inside of the museum. I loved it! It was filled with whimsy and color and sound and then went into subjects and posed questions to stimulate introspection. I walked away feeling like I learned a little about myself too. I highly recommend this museum! It gave me an amazing foundation of history that helped me learn more as I explored and visited more museums! read more

I enjoyed the visit. I saw real experiences of real people, in the modern day as well as in past generations. Like any museum, there are displays that are a bit clunky and wordy. But they are well presented and factual, and the fact of the displays being updated to the modern day is the best part. The touching film about "translation" into Australian life by a group of young performers was particularly memorable and meaningfuI. I can see how some might walk in to this museum and be offended, finding it to be "political." Not me. This stop is well worth your time. read more

Immigration Museum - A still from "Act of Translation" - Museums Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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This museum is relatively small (maybe 1-2 hours) and a mix of changing and permanent exhibits. It's housed in the old Customs building which is a lovely thing to see. We were really lucky that the two temp exhibits were outstanding - both on traditional tattooing in Samoa and Japan respectively. The Samoan exhibit really delved into traditions and the culture surrounding tattoos and the Japanese one was more geared toward traditional art today. Honestly, they were great - really interesting and educational. The other exhibits deal with immigration history and how different groups have thrived in AUS. There was also a really well done section on prejudice and challenging your perceptions. I felt they did a great job tackling sensitive topics in ways that were thought provoking without being preachy. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon. Reasonable prices and convenient location. Overall good experience.

A pretty simple museum that you can breeze through in an hour and change, but still feel like you gained some information. It's $14 for adults, but free for students of any country, so bring that ID! The first floor has a reading room and the front desk, and the second floor has a detailed history of Australian immigration and policies, along with tidbits and stories about specific Chinese, Italian, British, Jewish, Lebanese (etc) families. The third floor is a more interactive and kid-friendly exhibit about racism, stereotypes, and perceptions of others' and our own identities. I do wish they included some info about Iranian immigrants, as I know there is a significant group and it would've been interesting for me. read more

Immigration Museum - Museums Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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The best part of this museum is the interactive interview process for determining whether prospective emigrants should be admitted to Australia. You can chose your time period of interest and then you get to vote. Go, it's well worth your time! read more

Not necessarily world class but not trying to be either. The Immigration Museum is a great local offering. I found that I actually had a fun educational time here being solo dolo. I can generally breeze through certain exhibits that don't really catch my eye while still appreciating them. With that being said it took me little over two hours to cruise the place. The ground floor doesn't have much going on besides reception, gift shop, and a courtyard but I visited during winter on a rainy day so I only had a peak. First floor is where the meat and potatoes is at. A brief film on the many reasons people migrate to Australia as well as the actual history in a timeline. Then throw in a replica ship that you can journey in with examples of different kinds of voyage from the past. Then there's more history and a real cool interactive exhibit where you play a role in questioning migrants and ultimately deciding whether they are okay for admittance. On the second floor you are greeted by the wish tree. Then there is some more history and more of a makeup of knowledge about those that now inhabit Australia. How they look, dress, are different but unite as one nation. Of course there is the inclusion of racism which was nice to see from a knowledgeable POV. In all, this place is a breeze and should be visited by locals and visitors alike. The lady who greeted me at reception was very sweet and inquired where I was from. It was more than small talk, she was really interested and really wanted me to have a good experience. Maybe I'll visit again, maybe not. But you definitely should. read more

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As part of tutoring for RMIT, a trip to the Immigration Museum was essential to my students' coursework. Admission to the Immigration Museum is $10 for an adult and free to children under-16 and concessions. As you might imagine, the main themes of the museum are immigration, cultural diversity and Australian identity. The content of the museum is excellent. It tells stories of Australia's (dark) history without sugarcoating too much. It reveals vital tales and narratives that any Australian or person spending considerable time in Australia should know, from Indigenous history right through to the different stages of settler society. Whilst the content is for the most part compelling, the way in which it is told could somehow be more interactive and exciting in an attempt to capture the imagination of younger observers. A child under 10 would find everything extremely dry and a teenager might face a similar fate. The building itself is a an architectural feat and is in fact the old Customs house which adds pertinence to the themes looked at. Overall, I'd recommend this museum highly for its content and think it is really interesting for someone to learn more of his or her history and family routes. But I feel the museum could have done more.... read more

Immigration Museum - Museums Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Pretty good museum. Some of the displays focus on immigration in the world in general instead of immigration specific to Australia, but there is a broader focus on immigration to Australia. The museum focuses on the impact of immigrants on the country as well as the impact of the first settlers on the natives. As an American, it is interesting to see the parallels with our story of immigration and how it was handled differently. The museum is not afraid to touch on the tough issues related to the natives and some now politically incorrect views. If you are visiting Melbourne and have an interest in history, this is well worth the time. There is a boat in the middle of the museum that is a model of what some people came over on. I dont know if it is actually moving or it was the audio, but I felt like the boat was moving. Others did as well. When you look at the boat from the outside, it does not appear to be moving. Very strange. read more

Well worth the visit if you find yourself in Melbourne. An accesable and well designed interpretive exhibit focused on the long history of immigration to Austrailia. read more

Immigration Museum - Museums Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Fantastic place to visit and learn more about Australia's history. Plenty of things to read but also interactive exhibitions to keep you entertained. Well worth the $14 entry fee, 20% off with the voucher you get in a visitor Myki card too! read more

Immigration Museum - Museums Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Definitely a must see when in Melbourne Amazing concept, true human experience & above that a creative interactive displays read more

This museum is what I would call a local spot probably lacking interest from the locals. The atmosphere is that of a suburban museum putting together personal experiences and historically detailed panels of the very phenomenon that created Australian society as it is today. However, I would recommend it to school kids and foreigners looking for a more personal approach to Australian history. Some of the personal stories you will look at will stay with you, and that is a great result already, isn't it? P.S. The last half hour you get in for free! If you just want to have a quick look it's ideal. read more

Good museum, a bit interactive and educational, also free to concession students! Spent about 1-2 hours walking about and watching videos and examining different artifacts, while learning about the history of immigration in Australia (which was fairly more racist and discriminating than I first thought). It's worth a trip. read more

The exhibits and features here are presented in a modern, minimalistic sort of way. The building itself is old and just gorgeous. I love the open spaces on each floor. The courtyard with all the names is also lovely and serene. I'd recommend a visit here. It is so easy to forget the wide world of cultures and experiences that we are a part of and I found this museum to be a sweet and at some points bittersweet reminder. read more

I have always been interested in immigration and how people arrived at australia to live a better life. Here I saw and learnt some amazing things! How people actually got here, what was happening and why they moved. If you are that type of person that loves history and loves to learn this is the absolute perfect place to be. read more

The exhibition on Kahlil Gibran was disappointing in that it did not tell us much about his life in either Lebanon, or Paris of the USA. One did not have a clear vision of the date of his birth, nor were there any photos of his birthplace or town or any details of what life was like in Lebanon at that time. There were numerous quotes beamed onto the walls from his admirers but no real examples of extracts from his writings. The only objects were his desk and painting box and some gallery proofs of "The Prophet". Altogether it was poorly curated and did not set his work in context. If you did not know anything about him before you went in to his exhibition, you would come out not much wiser. read more