Climate change, sustainability and bushfire response

Museums have a vital role to play in contributing knowledge and scientific research to create a sustainable future.

“It is not an overstatement to say that we face an environmental crisis, and that our actions now will be critical to saving thousands of species and ecosystems under severe threat.

As we work together to better understand how we can create a sustainable future, Australia’s natural history museums will play a vital role in sharing the wealth of scientific insight and knowledge contained within their collections.”

—Lynley Crosswell, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Two kangaroos in an embrace, in a bush clearing, St Andrews, October 2009. These kangaroos were made orphans due to the Black Saturday bushfires and are very close. Cooper (right) and Merlot (left), two young Grey Kangaroos, are standing within a bush clearing at Wildhaven Wildlife Shelter. Part of the Kinglake National Park can be seen in the background; with burnt tree trunks and new undergrowth visible.

2019–20 Australian bushfire crisis response

Following this summer’s unprecedented bushfires, Museums Victoria has begun directing its expertise, research and collections towards supporting recovery and sustainability efforts.

Our scientists are working with government agencies to understand the impact of the fires on species across the state through their expertise and access to the wealth of data in our collection. Melbourne Museum has a pop-up display in the foyer that highlights some of this work.

📷 Stella Reid

Director Research and Collections, Nurin Veis, and Director and CEO, Lynley Crosswell, inspecting the Entomology collection.

Joint statement from Australia’s natural history museum directors

In February 2020, Museums Victoria joined Australia’s leading natural history museums in issuing a joint statement supporting increased national action to address the impacts of climate change.

Museums play a critical role in describing and conserving our natural history in Australia and educating the public through exhibitions and outreach programs. Additional funding is urgently needed to allow museums to carry out this significant work.

Read the full statement

Curator Julian Finn photographing aquatic insects at the Grey River Picnic Area. Location: Australia, Victoria, Great Otway National Park, Kennett River, Grey River Picnic Area, on Grey River Road. Survey: Otways Bioscan OTB 2018 159

Science and research

Museums Victoria has been collecting natural science specimens since 1854. Today our natural sciences collections contain more than 16 million specimens.

Our scientists and volunteers work on research projects which seek to understand Victoria’s biodiversity and, in conjunction with the museum’s faunal collection, provide invaluable data about how we can conserve and protect our unique and diverse ecosystems.

Girl speaking to a megaphone at a School Strike 4 Climate protest, 15 March 2019.

Collecting and archiving

Our vision at Museums Victoria is of a society that is compelled to act for a thriving future. Recently we have been collecting objects and stories about protest and innovation relating to our changing climate, to help us understand what inspires people to take action.

Motor Car - Bushfire Damaged Holden 48-215, FX, Churchill, 2009

Victorian Bushfire Collection

Museums Victoria established the Victorian Bushfire Collection following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in order to preserve and document the fires’ impact and aftermath, as well as community response and the process of recovery and renewal.

While the initial focus was on the bushfires in 2009, the collection also documents previous and more recent bushfires that have occurred in Victoria.

View items from the collection online

Field site, Camp Cooinda Burrong, Grampians National Park.

First Peoples Connection to Country

Museums Victoria acknowledges the continuous relationship of Australia’s First Peoples and Country. We believe that we can work together to continue caring for this land into the future and to ensure a culturally respectful and appropriate approach to all that we do, as experienced through the collections, exhibitions and gallery spaces across Museums Victoria.

The Hon. Robin Scott, Assistant Treasurer and The Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, on the Melbourne Museum roof among the 2,700 new solar panels.

Operational and corporate responsibility

As Australia’s leading museum organisation, we are deeply committed to reducing the environmental impact of all our sites while helping visitors understand our changing climate. Our Sustainable Museums Catalyst Group is facilitating organisation-wide change at all our venues and sites by raising awareness and rolling out new initiatives.

Museums Victoria has also participated in the Victorian State Government’s Greener Government Buildings program which has included installation of 2,700 solar panels at Melbourne Museum and the roll-out of energy efficient lighting across our sites.

Media enquiries

Museums Victoria has experts who can provide comment on many questions about the diversity and origins of the fauna of Australia and surrounding oceans – find a staff member.

Media enquiries and requests for expert comment should be directed to the Media and Communications team.