The museum comprises five sites and collections that include archaeological, archival and social history objects that reflect subsequent waves of forced migration to the island.

[3] Collections held by Norfolk Island Museum include material excavated from the HMS Sirius during a research programme led by Graham Henderson in the 1980s.

[8] The collection include objects relating to the social history of the islands, for example buildings such as the Paradise Hotel.

[10] The collections also include objects acquired by the Norfolk Island Historical Society, such as the Bounty Ring.

Objects relating to the history of Norfolk Island are held in overseas collections, including: Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in Leiden, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, amongst others.