The South Australian Museum is now open. Find out more

Alive with

wonder

Welcome back to your Museum! In response to the South Australian Government’s Roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions, the South Australian Museum has reopened to the public, with some small changes in place to keep you safe and well.

A leopard anemone floats into the deep blue, one of 15–20 species that had detached from the reef and were drifting – a migration presumably part of their life cycle. These anemones generally inhabit black coral and gorgonian fans on deep reefs out of recreational diving range.

Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2020

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world through stunning images by professional, emerging and junior photographers, who have shown impeccable patience, artistry and technique to capture incredible moments in time.

This breathtaking exhibition allows us to witness the unique beauty of the flora, fauna and landscapes of our own backyard and the world around us, all while celebrating the natural heritage of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea bioregions. These images provoke us to explore and understand the changing nature of our environment and appreciate the wonder that surrounds us.

Exterior photo of the heritage component of the museum with a jacaranda tree in front of it

Health and safety

COVID-19: Reopening advice for visitors

In response to the South Australian Government’s Roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions, the South Australian Museum is open.  

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone, you will notice some changes. From 29 June and in line with the Step 3 of the South Australian Government’s Roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions, the Museum will permit 1 person per 2 sqm. In periods of peak demand, it may be necessary for us to institute timed ticketing for visitors and restrict all sessions to one hour.

Graham Medlin accepts his award. He wears a dark shirt and looks a bit suprised to bre celebrated for enormous contributions to biodiversity and species protection.

Celebrate an Unsung Hero of Science

Honorary Research Associate Graham Medlin has just been named the Unsung Hero of South Australian Science 2020

Graham has dedicated decades to reconstructing past and present mammal diversity to help preserve species. He has been instrumental in establishing the subfossil collection at the South Australian Museum.

This nationally and internationally significant collection is the largest and best curated of its kind in Australia, and represents a major scientific resource for understanding how climatic variation has impacted Australia’s biodiversity.

South Australian Museum logo with colourful triangles

Content for Connection

Delve into our online portal, Content for Connection, and explore the wonders of the South Australian Museum.

Come behind the scenes and delve into our exhibitions, collections, research and resources through videos and activities.


Wonder with us here, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

#ContentForConnection

A Museum staff member showing a speciment to a young boy

Discover science and culture

Although our Discovery Centre remains closed, staff are still on deck to answer your questions.

COVID-19 has disrupted the way the Discovery Centre usually operates, but we are still available to answer your questions about natural history and culture - you can contact us on our Facebook page, text us on 0411 659 261, call us on 08 8207 7404 or email discovery@samuseum.sa.gov.au.

We love identifying specimens for you. Send us a photo, approximate dimensions and details about where you found it.

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. 

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 150 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.

The South Australian Museum acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.