The Pacific cultures gallery is currently closed, while a major conservation and cultural care program is underway in partnership with the Pacific Islands Council of South Australian and local Pacific communities, to ensure significant pieces are preserved for future generations.

The closure of the gallery is temporary while the collections enter a planned period of rest after being on display for decades. This collaboration between the Museum and the local Pacific community will ensure that cultural authority, knowledge, protocols and traditional ceremonial practices will guide the care and stewardship of ancestral objects and tumbuna treasures.

In the coming years, the Museum and local Pasifika community leaders will be working together to co-design an enhanced permanent display for the gallery with new stories, stronger community voices and a broader representation of Pacific cultures.

While this working is underway, a number of Pacific cultures pop-up exhibitions and displays will be shared to display objects that have not been seen before or accessed by the public for a long time.

High-resolution 3D digitisations of several significant objects will be available shortly.

We invite you to watch highlights from the special Melanesian Lullaby ceremony, held at the South Australian Museum on 25 July 2026 in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Association of South Australia.

The ceremony marked an important milestone in the stewardship of the Pacific Cultural Collection held at the South Australian Museum, as objects entered a period of rest, care and preservation.

The event brought together Pacific Island communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, cultural leaders, Elders and the broader community in a spirit of respect, connection and cultural celebration.

The South Australian Museum thanks all participating communities, performers, Elders, volunteers and guests for sharing in this significant occasion and supporting the ongoing care and celebration of Pacific cultural heritage.