Collections
The South Australian Museum houses over five 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.
Collection Services
The South Australian Museum's Collections team provides access to one of Australia's most significant scientific and cultural collections. We can assist with:
Donations and Acquisitions
Interested in donating an object, specimen or collection? Contact our team to discuss whether your material aligns with the Museum's collecting priorities.Collection Access and Loans
Our team process requests for loans, research access and collection viewings from the community, researchers and institutions. Requests are assessed based on collection availability, conservation requirements and operational capacity. We ask for your patience as this is progressed.Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
We are committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in accessing and engaging with their cultural heritage materials. This includes facilitating cultural access, community-led research and repatriation activities.
Our galleries are open to the public, 10am-5pm every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday.
For any questions or further information, please contact us at collections@samuseum.sa.gov.au
Items from the Australian Aboriginal Cultures collection
McCartney bottles containing parasite specimens preserved in alcohol in the Parasitology Collection, one of nine collections in Biological Sciences.
Crocoite, a lead chromate, from the Dundas minerals field, Zeehan district, Tasmania, in the Mineral Sciences collection. The old mines are now worked solely for specimen minerals such as these.