04 Nov Transformed Australian Museum to reopen shortly
Revamped, Reopened and General Admission is Free!
The Australian Museum (AM) in Sydney will reopen to the public on Saturday 28 November after a 15 month $57.5m building transformation which has significantly increased public spaces and improved amenities within the historic museum complex on the corner of William and College Streets.
As a major bonus for the public, the NSW Government has announced general admission will be FREE to celebrate the reopening of the iconic institution, providing access to the AM for all and helping position the region’s leading natural history and culture museum among the best in the world.
In its most extensive renovation in decades, Australia’s first museum, originally founded in 1827, has redeveloped its public and exhibition spaces. This includes adding more than 3,000sqm of new public space, repurposed from back-of-house areas. Known as Project Discover, the transformation was made possible by the NSW Government contributing $50.5m and generous philanthropic support from AM private donors.
The first exhibition to enter the AM’s new blockbuster gallery is Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family, an update on one of the AM’s most popular exhibitions, which has been touring in the USA and Europe for the past five years.
In addition, the popular Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition will also return to the AM in the Grand Hall exhibition space in time for reopening.
According to the Australian Museum’s Director and CEO, Kim McKay AO, who led the vision for Project Discover, the transformation is a game-changer for the AM.
“We’ve done work on every floor of the Museum through Project Discover. From the basement Touring Exhibition Hall which connects to the Grand Hall above by escalators, to the new cloaking and amenities, the Members Lounge and education rooms on the lower ground level, to the expanded entry plaza and Museum Shop extending from the back of Crystal Hall on ground level. The Museum has been completely transformed.”
Photo: Abram Powell
