- The Australian Museum will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2027.
- They’ve started to unveil the year-long program of experiences that will celebrate the milestone.
- Headlining the program is the arrival of the world’s biggest dinosaur this November.
The iconic Australian Museum will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2027 with a packed year-long line-up of science, international exhibitions, community events and First Nations culture.
Headlining the celebrations at the nation’s first museum is the arrival of Patagotitan mayorum, better known as the world’s biggest dinosaur, this November.
Measuring almost 38 metres long and weighing around 70 tonnes, this colossal dinosaur is one of the largest land animals ever discovered. It roamed Patagonia around 100 million years ago, and now it’s set to make a mammoth impression on museum visitors.
While the ginormous Patagotitan mayorum is sure to steal the spotlight (quite literally), the exhibition, titled The World’s Biggest Dinosaur: Dinosaurs of Patagonia, will also feature 16 spectacular skeleton casts, rare fossils and extraordinary discoveries charting more than 160 million years of prehistoric life.
Visitors will encounter Tyrannotitan chubutensis, one of the most ferocious predators of the Cretaceous period, alongside Manidens condorensis, one of the smallest dinosaurs known to science.
Together, these remarkable specimens reveal how Patagonia has reshaped our understanding of prehistoric life, while showcasing the extraordinary diversity of the dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth.
The exhibition opens on Saturday, November 28, and a waitlist is now open. You can sign up here to be among the first to know when tickets go on sale.
The Australian Museum’s Director and CEO, Kim McKay AO, shared her excitement for the upcoming exhibition, stating,
“We’ve always been known as the ‘dinosaur museum’, loved by children and adults across two centuries, so it made sense to kick off the year with a dinosaur exhibition that will take up the entire length of our international touring hall, over 38 metres.”
A year-long celebration of science, culture and history
Although The World’s Biggest Dinosaur: Dinosaurs of Patagonia is the blockbuster event of the Australian Museum’s 200th birthday celebrations, they’ve also got some other exciting events up their sleeve.
While these are the highlights announced so far, the museum promises plenty more to come, with additional exhibitions, events, science initiatives, cultural projects and collaborations set to be unveiled in the lead-up to its anniversary and throughout 2027.
Our Story with David Attenborough
In March 2027, the Australian Museum will be the first museum outside of Europe to present Our Story with David Attenborough.
This 50-minute, 360-degree cinematic experience surrounds audiences with spectacular imagery across four walls and the floor. Narrated by the beloved broadcaster and naturalist, Our Story tracks a 4-billion-year journey through Earth’s history, from cosmic origins and prehistoric evolution to human impact and our shared future.
“I first saw Our Story at the Natural History Museum in London during its premiere season last year and knew we had to bring this spectacular immersive cinematic experience to Sydney, given Sir David Attenborough is also our Lifetime Patron,” Ms McKay said.
The cinematic experience will run for eight months, coinciding with the Australian Museum’s anniversary (which officially falls on March 30, 2027.
First Nations culture and tradition
First Nations culture and knowledge will also take centre stage during the anniversary year, with the unveiling of Kalikina Country, a major permanent artwork by celebrated Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder and artist Aunty Lola Greeno and her daughter, artist Vanessa Greeno.
The artwork will be unveiled in Hintze Hall, embodying cultural tradition, environmental advocacy and the protection of Sea Country.
Another new exhibition, titled Message Sticks, will showcase enduring First Nations systems of communication, connection and Lore through stories, objects and living cultural knowledge.
The Discovery Trail
A site-wide Discovery Trail will take visitors through objects, specimens and stories to explore the Australian Museum’s greatest discoveries and how they increase our understanding of the changes to our environment over time.
The Discovery Trail will also be reflected in a new Australian Museum website featuring a selection of its most significant 200 discoveries since 1827.
Museum Memories
There’s no better time to revisit your favourite memories of the Australian Museum than during its 200th anniversary celebrations. Museum Memories, which is currently live, invites generations of visitors to share their own connections to the Australian Museum, building a growing online collection throughout the anniversary year.
To find out more about the Australian Museum’s 200th anniversary, click here.
(Cover Image credits: Anna Kucera).
