Australian Museum celebrates one million visitors!

Published

01 January 2023
Read time

2 minutes

Saturday 31 December 2022, Sydney: The Australian Museum (AM) today welcomed its one millionth visitor*, just in time for the end of 2022. This marks the first time in the AM’s 195-year history the institution has reached one million visitors.

Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, said it is exciting to see visitors from Sydney and beyond flocking to Australia’s first museum in record numbers, thanks to free general admission, blockbuster exhibitions and transformed spaces.

“The Australian Museum is our nation’s first museum and it’s so fantastic to see visitors coming to experience the best of science and culture through the Museum’s award-winning exhibitions and blockbuster programs,” Mr Franklin said.

“As cost of living pressures rise across the country, the NSW Government is committed to ensuring everyone can access cultural institutions and enjoy experiences through our free entry program.

“I congratulate the Australian Museum on reaching this milestone of one million visitors, and I look forward to continuing to see this iconic institution grow as we approach the Museum’s 200th anniversary in 2027.”

Australian Museum welcomes its one millionth visitor for 2022 — NSW Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, greeted the Australian Museum's one millionth visitors, Amanda (Mother), Tomás (Son, 6) and Mia (Daughter, 1), all international tourists from Brazil. Image: Adam Yip
© Australian Museum

Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay AO said welcoming the one millionth visitor is the perfect way to end 2022, a year which has seen many other milestones for the Museum.

“This year has seen so many significant achievements for the Australian Museum. From winning national awards for our Unsettled exhibition, to growing our community to more than 40,000 AM Members thanks to our blockbuster exhibitions like Jurassic World by Brickman and the AM’s homegrown Sharks exhibition and new permanent galleries like the recently opened Minerals Gallery, 2022 has been our biggest year yet,” Ms McKay said.

“We’re committed to building on the success of this year and will continue to deliver new experiences for our visitors in 2023. Next year will see two new First Nations exhibitions and a new Pasifika Gallery open, a regional touring exhibition on Gould’s birds, and the extraordinary Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition opening at the AM in November. Sydney will be one of only ten cities in the world to host this blockbuster exhibition, and we are expecting international tourists and locals to flock to see it while it’s on show here at the AM,” Ms McKay added.

Since opening the homegrown blockbuster Sharks on Saturday 24 September, the AM has seen more than 70,000 visitors attend this special, ticketed exhibition. The AM’s fun summer school holiday program is packed with monster activities. In January, visitors can add to their Sharks exhibition experience with a new shark cage dive experience at the AM created by world-renowned puppeteers, Erth and presented as part of Sydney Festival.

ENDS

*From reopening after COVID-19 lockdown on Monday 11 October 2021 through to Saturday 31 December 2022.

The Australian Museum's one millionth visitors for 2022! — The Australian Museum's one millionth visitors: Amanda (Mother), Tomás (Son, 6) and Mia (Daughter, 1), all international tourists from Brazil. Image: Adam Yip
© Australian Museum

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Australian Museum celebrates its one millionth visitor
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About the Australian Museum

The Australian Museum (AM) was founded in 1827 and is the nation’s first museum. It is internationally recognised as a natural science and culture institution focused on Australia and the Pacific. The AM’s mission is to ignite wonder, inspire debate and drive change. The AM’s vision is to be a leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific. The AM commits to transforming the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation; to being a strong advocate for First Nations cultures; and to continuing to develop world-leading science, collections, exhibitions and education programs. With 22 million objects and specimens and the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI), the AM is not only a dynamic source of reliable scientific information on some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges facing our region, but also an important site of cultural exchange and learning.