The Living Archive

What 200 years of collecting reveals about our future.

Built over 200 years, the Australian Museum Research Institute collections reveal that discovery is not static, it is an active, ongoing process. What began as collecting to understand the world has become a system for actively saving it. Today, scientists use DNA analysis and advanced imaging to generate new knowledge from old specimens, reshaping how we respond to climate change, biodiversity loss, and extinction.

Guided by leading researchers through restricted areas rarely seen by the public, you'll explore firsthand efforts to protect and sustain life on Earth. Then finish the day in style with a complimentary drink at Bistro Gadi.

Location: Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010. Sessions run for 120 minutes.

Special instructions: close-toed shoes must be worn to gain access to back-of-house collections areas; photography is not permitted in back-of-house areas; tours cannot be offered to children under 15 years.