As the custodian of more than 15 million collection items, Museums Victoria traces the natural, social and cultural records of the Australasian region.

Their natural history collections are especially vital to scientists shaping conservation strategies through research, tracing the impacts of the world’s changing environment on biodiversity.

Launched in 2022, Museums Victoria Research Institute addresses some of the biggest and most complex challenges of the era through a lens of change, drawing on multiple knowledge systems and perspectives to enrich understanding.

Museums Victoria also contains a library collection that holds some of Australia’s rarest and finest examples of 18th and 19th century scientific monographs and serials.

Together, they create exhibitions and experiences that connect visitors with knowledge and stories spanning thousands of years, helping today’s generations understand the importance and vibrancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

[2] Currently, Museums Victoria's State Collections holds over 17 million items, including objects relating to Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander cultures, geology, historical studies, palaeontology, technology & society, and zoology[3][4] Museums Victoria also contains a library collection that holds some of Australia’s rarest and finest examples of 18th and 19th century scientific monographs and serials.