Immigration Museum

The Immigration Museum is a museum in Melbourne dedicated to the history of immigration to Australia. It explores the stories of people who have migrated to Victoria and Australia, examining the causes, processes, and impacts of immigration. The museum occupies the historic Old Customs House building, a significant nineteenth-century structure in the city. It serves as a cultural institution preserving and presenting narratives of diverse communities who shaped the nation. The museum is part of Museums Victoria, the largest public museum organisation in the Southern Hemisphere.

The museum contains exhibitions exploring immigration experiences through personal stories, historical documents, photographs, and objects. Visitors encounter displays about the journeys migrants undertook, the challenges they faced, and the contributions they made to Australian society. The Old Customs House itself is a notable heritage building with architectural significance. Exhibition spaces utilise the historic rooms to create atmospheric presentations. The museum addresses themes of identity, belonging, displacement, and cultural diversity.

Visitors typically spend between one and two hours exploring the Immigration Museum, depending on their level of engagement with the exhibitions. Those with particular interest in family history or specific cultural narratives may wish to allocate additional time. The museum's compact city location allows it to be combined with other nearby attractions in a single day. Self-guided exploration permits flexible pacing according to individual interest. Group visits or educational programmes may require extended durations. Visitors should assess their own priorities when planning time allocation for this cultural institution.

Open daily 09:00-17:00; closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. Dated closures, ceremonies, performances, weather or security notices from the operator take priority over ordinary hours. Arrive early enough to complete the public route before final admission. Follow staff directions on arrival.

General adult admission is around AUD 15; children under 16 enter free.

Flinders Street station and trams on Flinders Street serve the museum. Use the named entrance and station because security, separate exits and large complexes can change the practical route. Allow extra time for screening and the final walk. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Step-free entrances or public approaches, lifts where required, and accessible toilets serve principal visitor areas. Historic surfaces, crowds and security remain relevant.

Visitors should observe signage indicating permitted or prohibited areas for image capture. Flash photography typically risks damage to sensitive collection items and may be restricted. Tripods and professional equipment often require advance permission in museum environments. Respect for other visitors and their privacy should guide personal photography decisions. Copyright considerations apply to artwork and exhibition designs. Social media sharing of permitted images should acknowledge the institution appropriately. Staff members can clarify current regulations upon arrival if uncertainty exists regarding specific situations.