Immigration Museum

Went in on a whim because a tour was picking us up outside of the museum and it was fantastic! Never would have expected it. A whole kids play area too! Absolutely wonderful. Great throwbacks as well. Definitely worth a visit, also cool interactive displays like seeing what it's like immigrating.

Stepping inside Melbourne’s historic Old Customs House to explore the Immigration Museum was such a fascinating experience – a glimpse into the stories, journeys and cultures that shaped Australia. 🗺✨ The highlight for me was Beci Orpin’s Joy – a burst of colour, creativity and belonging. I honestly felt like I’d stepped right back into my childhood 🧡 Jumping on the giant fluffy bunny was the best part (I could’ve happily napped there all day!). Another favourite was Video Land – pure nostalgia stacked on every shelf. 🎬✨ It instantly took me back to the 90s… Friday night trips to Blockbuster, searching for new releases and hoping they weren’t all rented out.

I visited the Immigration Museum on a Saturday in September 2025. Coincidentally, it was the same day as immigration protests outside which ironically made the museum itself pretty quiet. The museum is right in the city and super easy to get to, with plenty of trams out the front and Flinders Street as well as Southern Cross Station just a short walk away. The building itself is a large, old heritage building with clear signage, accessible entry, and beautiful traditional architecture that really sets the vibe as you step inside. Entry is free for concession card holders and reasonably priced for adults. I walked in and with no wait, got my ticket from one of the friendly staff. On the ground floor there’s a cosy reading room, including a kids’ section, plus an outdoor patio and a peaceful courtyard. They are the perfect spots to pause and soak in the atmosphere. Even the bathrooms here impressed me! They were spotless, modern, and filled with natural light. A huge contrast from the immersive theming of the exhibits but a really nice touch. Level one holds the permanent Immigration Museum exhibition, which is packed with interactive displays for both kids and adults. It explores the journey of immigration throughout history while also acknowledging how Indigenous owners were neglected in that process. There’s a gorgeous ballroom full of history and more exhibits that cover the 1900s, the impact of war, and how shifting ideologies shaped migration policies. Often with devastating consequences for individuals and families which is covered really well. On level two I was lucky enough to catch the temporary Joy exhibition, which was incredible. The foyer had a wall where visitors could write and share their own sparks of joy, and the exhibition itself was a series of immersive, artistic rooms interpreting joy in all kinds of ways. Highlights for me were the giant bunny room and the recreated Video Ezy shop filled with old VHS tapes. It was nostalgic, interactive, and honestly just so fun to explore. That level also continues the immigration story with personal accounts and reflections, connecting the past to modern immigration experiences and challenging how we see and treat people today. It was moving, thought provoking, and beautifully presented. The staff were warm and welcoming, the whole space felt inclusive and engaging, and I honestly loved my time here. If you want to better understand Australia’s immigration story, this is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. And if you get the chance, don’t miss the Joy exhibit before it finishes, it’s creative and super nostalgic.

This is such a great museum have been here twice now and it’s so good you really need a while to really read everything but then last visit was only there for an hour and was happy with it too. Last time we went they had a big boat you could walk into which is a shame that’s not there anymore! But it’s still great. There’s 3 floors so it can take up a lot of an afternoon to explore.

It was a very WOW, Fun, 100% amazing and very interactive and memorable and incredibly informative experience for me . As I am the immigrant from HK since 1998. I totally can related to what exhibits at the moment and it’s very interesting and it just blow my mind thank you #immigration #museum #victoria #melbourne #aUS . Bang on Victorian politicians or government ministers…etc. well spent on funding for something like that 👍❤️🙏🥰. Okay I better stop talking too much on Google official platform here as my photos can tell a million words…. And yes I am Asian and my English may not very Aussie . lol

Had the most amazing time exploring this museum today with my nephew. Got lots of amazing exhibition and reflected a great cultural and immigration history of Australia

Today we visited the Notre Dame exhibit about the fire 🔥 which almost destroyed this wonderful place. Seeing it 15 years ago and walking through it to then seeing it in flames. Shocking. But the amount of work gone into it. More amazing. What better way to see it from its very start to now being re built. Such an informative experience and so well thought out and having the experience viewing many different scenes through its history of construction to the work to re build. All on an ipad. History buffs will absolutely love it for sure. Everyone else, love it. It truly is a unique experience.

Had an amazing experience here visiting the Joy exhibition! Love that entry is free with a concession card and very reasonably priced without. Will definitely visit again💚

Lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon. Reasonable prices and convenient location. Overall good experience.

I visited this museum on my first day in Melbourne in hopes of learning the history of the area. This place did not disappoint! For what seemed to be such a small museum actually turned into hours of me poring over every word on timelines and information they gave. Learning the history of the First People's and the colonization of Australia was incredible, but eerily familiar. The parallels between US history and Australian history were shocking and I felt so ignorant not having known all of that. I love the recognition of the First People's and the stories that are being told recognizing the terrible past. In talking to Australians, they admit they have a long way to go. As an American, it feels like Australia is in the future and we are way in the past still denying the truth. This museum was amazing! They also had an exhibit called "Joy" that I was unaware about until I was inside of the museum. I loved it! It was filled with whimsy and color and sound and then went into subjects and posed questions to stimulate introspection. I walked away feeling like I learned a little about myself too. I highly recommend this museum! It gave me an amazing foundation of history that helped me learn more as I explored and visited more museums!

I enjoyed the visit. I saw real experiences of real people, in the modern day as well as in past generations. Like any museum, there are displays that are a bit clunky and wordy. But they are well presented and factual, and the fact of the displays being updated to the modern day is the best part. The touching film about "translation" into Australian life by a group of young performers was particularly memorable and meaningfuI. I can see how some might walk in to this museum and be offended, finding it to be "political." Not me. This stop is well worth your time.

This museum is relatively small (maybe 1-2 hours) and a mix of changing and permanent exhibits. It's housed in the old Customs building which is a lovely thing to see. We were really lucky that the two temp exhibits were outstanding - both on traditional tattooing in Samoa and Japan respectively. The Samoan exhibit really delved into traditions and the culture surrounding tattoos and the Japanese one was more geared toward traditional art today. Honestly, they were great - really interesting and educational. The other exhibits deal with immigration history and how different groups have thrived in AUS. There was also a really well done section on prejudice and challenging your perceptions. I felt they did a great job tackling sensitive topics in ways that were thought provoking without being preachy. Definitely worth a visit.

A pretty simple museum that you can breeze through in an hour and change, but still feel like you gained some information. It's $14 for adults, but free for students of any country, so bring that ID! The first floor has a reading room and the front desk, and the second floor has a detailed history of Australian immigration and policies, along with tidbits and stories about specific Chinese, Italian, British, Jewish, Lebanese (etc) families. The third floor is a more interactive and kid-friendly exhibit about racism, stereotypes, and perceptions of others' and our own identities. I do wish they included some info about Iranian immigrants, as I know there is a significant group and it would've been interesting for me.

The best part of this museum is the interactive interview process for determining whether prospective emigrants should be admitted to Australia. You can chose your time period of interest and then you get to vote. Go, it's well worth your time!

Not necessarily world class but not trying to be either. The Immigration Museum is a great local offering. I found that I actually had a fun educational time here being solo dolo. I can generally breeze through certain exhibits that don't really catch my eye while still appreciating them. With that being said it took me little over two hours to cruise the place. The ground floor doesn't have much going on besides reception, gift shop, and a courtyard but I visited during winter on a rainy day so I only had a peak. First floor is where the meat and potatoes is at. A brief film on the many reasons people migrate to Australia as well as the actual history in a timeline. Then throw in a replica ship that you can journey in with examples of different kinds of voyage from the past. Then there's more history and a real cool interactive exhibit where you play a role in questioning migrants and ultimately deciding whether they are okay for admittance. On the second floor you are greeted by the wish tree. Then there is some more history and more of a makeup of knowledge about those that now inhabit Australia. How they look, dress, are different but unite as one nation. Of course there is the inclusion of racism which was nice to see from a knowledgeable POV. In all, this place is a breeze and should be visited by locals and visitors alike. The lady who greeted me at reception was very sweet and inquired where I was from. It was more than small talk, she was really interested and really wanted me to have a good experience. Maybe I'll visit again, maybe not. But you definitely should.

As part of tutoring for RMIT, a trip to the Immigration Museum was essential to my students' coursework. Admission to the Immigration Museum is $10 for an adult and free to children under-16 and concessions. As you might imagine, the main themes of the museum are immigration, cultural diversity and Australian identity. The content of the museum is excellent. It tells stories of Australia's (dark) history without sugarcoating too much. It reveals vital tales and narratives that any Australian or person spending considerable time in Australia should know, from Indigenous history right through to the different stages of settler society. Whilst the content is for the most part compelling, the way in which it is told could somehow be more interactive and exciting in an attempt to capture the imagination of younger observers. A child under 10 would find everything extremely dry and a teenager might face a similar fate. The building itself is a an architectural feat and is in fact the old Customs house which adds pertinence to the themes looked at. Overall, I'd recommend this museum highly for its content and think it is really interesting for someone to learn more of his or her history and family routes. But I feel the museum could have done more....

Fantastic place to visit and learn more about Australia's history. Plenty of things to read but also interactive exhibitions to keep you entertained. Well worth the $14 entry fee, 20% off with the voucher you get in a visitor Myki card too!

Pretty good museum. Some of the displays focus on immigration in the world in general instead of immigration specific to Australia, but there is a broader focus on immigration to Australia. The museum focuses on the impact of immigrants on the country as well as the impact of the first settlers on the natives. As an American, it is interesting to see the parallels with our story of immigration and how it was handled differently. The museum is not afraid to touch on the tough issues related to the natives and some now politically incorrect views. If you are visiting Melbourne and have an interest in history, this is well worth the time. There is a boat in the middle of the museum that is a model of what some people came over on. I dont know if it is actually moving or it was the audio, but I felt like the boat was moving. Others did as well. When you look at the boat from the outside, it does not appear to be moving. Very strange.

Definitely a must see when in Melbourne Amazing concept, true human experience & above that a creative interactive displays

Well worth the visit if you find yourself in Melbourne. An accesable and well designed interpretive exhibit focused on the long history of immigration to Austrailia.

This museum is what I would call a local spot probably lacking interest from the locals. The atmosphere is that of a suburban museum putting together personal experiences and historically detailed panels of the very phenomenon that created Australian society as it is today. However, I would recommend it to school kids and foreigners looking for a more personal approach to Australian history. Some of the personal stories you will look at will stay with you, and that is a great result already, isn't it? P.S. The last half hour you get in for free! If you just want to have a quick look it's ideal.

The exhibition on Kahlil Gibran was disappointing in that it did not tell us much about his life in either Lebanon, or Paris of the USA. One did not have a clear vision of the date of his birth, nor were there any photos of his birthplace or town or any details of what life was like in Lebanon at that time. There were numerous quotes beamed onto the walls from his admirers but no real examples of extracts from his writings. The only objects were his desk and painting box and some gallery proofs of "The Prophet". Altogether it was poorly curated and did not set his work in context. If you did not know anything about him before you went in to his exhibition, you would come out not much wiser.

The exhibits and features here are presented in a modern, minimalistic sort of way. The building itself is old and just gorgeous. I love the open spaces on each floor. The courtyard with all the names is also lovely and serene. I'd recommend a visit here. It is so easy to forget the wide world of cultures and experiences that we are a part of and I found this museum to be a sweet and at some points bittersweet reminder.

Good museum, a bit interactive and educational, also free to concession students! Spent about 1-2 hours walking about and watching videos and examining different artifacts, while learning about the history of immigration in Australia (which was fairly more racist and discriminating than I first thought). It's worth a trip.

I have always been interested in immigration and how people arrived at australia to live a better life. Here I saw and learnt some amazing things! How people actually got here, what was happening and why they moved. If you are that type of person that loves history and loves to learn this is the absolute perfect place to be.