Museums & Tours

Museums

Australian Museums Online

amol.org.au
This site has heaps of info, including a database search facility on local and major museums and what topics that they have material on, e.g. local cinema or theatre history.

Melbourne Museum

The Melbourne Museum in its stunning, brand new building is now open. The $265 million project is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere and has 16 million items in its collection.

Some of the features of the museum include:

The Age Theatre, contains the ICE - Interactive Cinema Experience. The Age newspaper is a major sponsor of the museum
The IMAX Cinema, which opened as the first stage of the new museum in May 1998

The Melbourne Museum is located in the Carlton Gardens, and can be entered from Nicholson and Rathdowne Streets.
www.museumvictoria.com.au/MelbourneMuseum

The National Film and Sound Archive

McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601 GPO Box 2002, Canberra, ACT 2601
Tel: 06 209 3011 · Fax: 06 209 3165 www.nfsa.afc.gov.au

Melbourne Office:
223 Park Street, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205.
Tel: 03 9690 1400 · Fax: 03 9699 4874

Sydney Office:
84 Alexander Street, Crows Nest, NSW 2065.
Tel: 02 9438 1477 · Fax: 02 9436 4178

Movie Making Museum

Visit one of Australia's largest collection of movie making equipment and memorabilia at The Blacktown City Bicentennial Museum Inc, Garfield Road East, Riverstone NSW 2765.
Open on the 1st Sunday of every month. Groups by special arrangement.
Phone Paul or Kimberley Bushby on 02 9627 3493 for further information.

Museum of Lilydale

Step back in time with entertaining and educational exhibitions on the history of the Yarra Valley and the life of Australia's famous daughter, singer Dame Nellie Melba.
The Museum is at 33 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140. Hours Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm.
Tel: 03 9739 7230.

Tours

Victorian Arts Centre Tours/Sunday Backstage Tours

Take a closer look at Melbourne's home of the arts and entertainment with a guided tour of the Victorian Arts Centre:

Arts Centre Tours
Depart Monday to Friday 12noon and 2.30pm; Saturday 10.30am and 12noon.
Duration: Approx 1 hour. Tickets available from the Arts Centre Shop.

Backstage Tours:
Tours depart Sundays only at 12.15pm. Requires Ticket
Please Note: tours operate subject to theatre availability.

Book at Ticketmaster BASS on 11566

Melbourne Capitol Theatre Tours

Explore the interior of the fabulous internationally acclaimed Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin cinema, one of the gems of Melbourne's theatre heritage.

Learn about the local work of these two famous American architects and hear of RMIT University's plans for its refurbishment, and restoration of some key internal features. Trained guides will lead you, highlighting the recently re-opened foyer areas and show you the famous crystalline ceiling with its lighting display.

Tours conducted every Friday at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. For information Tel: 03 9925 1773. Meet in the foyer of the Capitol Theatre, Capitol Arcade opposite the Town Hall.
www.capitol.rmit.edu.au

Melbourne Regent and Forum Theatres Tours

Marvel at these wonderful theatres and picture palaces!
Tours: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am-12noon. Bookings essential, phone: 03 9820 0239.

Melbourne Town Hall Tours

Learn about the architectural, social and political history of this important, unique building. See the ornate nationalistic Australian decoration of the Council Chambers, the Napier Walter murals and the famous Town Hall organ - with over 10,000 pipes, it's the largest grand romantic organ in the southern hemisphere. Go to the Melbourne Room where the Queen took refreshments in 1954 and view the portico where The Beatles stood in 1964.

The tours are conducted on: Monday to Friday 11am and 1pm; First Saturday of the month. On the hour from 11am to 2pm. Tours last approximately one hour. Numbers are limited so bookings are essential and required one day in advance. A variety of groups can be accommodated for including local and international visitors, students of all ages, disabled and delegations.
Melbourne Town Hall, corner Collins and Swanston Streets.
Free. Contact the City of Melbourne on 9658 9658 or townhalltours@melbourne.vic.gov.au
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Melbourne's Golden Mile Heritage Trail

Take the Golden Mile Trail through the streets of Melbourne and you will see many of the city's most significant architectural features. From heritage precincts and wide city streets to atmospheric laneways and arcades, this self-guided trail includes some of Australia's most important registered historic buildings.

The trail is 4km starting from the Immigration Museum in Flinders Street or Melbourne Museum in Carlton Gardens, but can be walked in sections as you're sure to find lots to attract you along the way. Copies of the $4 Golden Mile guide booklet can be purchased at the Visitor Information Centre at the Melbourne Town Hall, or museums and tourist attractions throughout the city.

Guided Tours of the Golden Mile
For those who want to find out more about the key buildings and the characters that helped make Melbourne what it is today, the Golden Mile Heritage Trail Guided Tours take small groups along two separate two-hour tours of the trail.

For further details on the self-guided trail please phone 1300 135 757 or go to the Visit Victoria website. To book a guided tour, please phone 1300 130 152.

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