National Museum of Australia
An unusual national museum on Acton Peninsula, showing Indigenous culture, colonial history, and everyday Australian life.
The National Museum of Australia opened in 2001. It is known for its brightly coloured, puzzle-like architecture, and a giant circular structure called the Uluru Line reaches out over the lake. The exhibitions cover the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including the Songlines. They also tell stories of colonisation and migration and feature objects such as the heart of the famous racehorse Phar Lap. There is also an area for children to explore. The permanent exhibitions are free, and it is open roughly 9:00 to 17:00. It is about 2 km from the city centre and can be reached by cycling along the lake.
Opening hours
Daily 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Nearby sights
- Lake Burley Griffin
- Captain Cook Memorial Jet
- National Library of Australia
- National Film and Sound Archive
- Questacon
- Old Parliament House (Museum of Australian Democracy)
- Commonwealth Park & Floriade
- National Portrait Gallery