Accessibility
We are committed to making our building, collections, and exhibitions accessible to as many visitors as possible. This information is to assist you with your visit to the Melbourne Museum.
Pre-purchase tickets
To minimise the time you spend in a queue, we suggest that you buy tickets online before you visit. Present your printed or digital tickets at the pre-purchase queue entry point for quick entry.
Parking
Located under Melbourne Museum, the car park is open from 5:30am to midnight daily. Enter via Rathdowne Street or Nicholson Street.
Melbourne Museum car park contains several accessible parking spaces on Levels P1 and P2, including pram parking. The parking spaces on Level P2 are closest to the lift.
However, please be aware that our car park entrance has a height restriction of 2.15m. Accessible parking for vehicles over this limit is located on Rathdowne Street.
The accessible car parking bays have a minimum clearance of 5200mm x 3200mm
There is a lift from the car park to the ground floor.
Public transport
There are many ways to get to Melbourne Museum/ IMAX/ Royal Exhibition Building by public transport:
Tram: Catch Tram Route 86 or Tram Route 96 to the corner of Nicholson and Gertrude Streets, Stop 11 Melbourne Museum. Both routes are serviced by low-floor trams. Please visit the Yarra Trams website for assistance with your access options. It is approximately a 5 minute walk from Melbourne Museum/Nicholson St, Stop 11 to Melbourne Museum.
The free City Circle Tram goes to Victoria Parade, which is one stop before the Museum. It is approximately a 10 minute walk from Victoria Parade to Melbourne Museum.
Train: If catching a train, get the city loop train to Parliament Station, which has lift access to the top of Lonsdale Street. Please visit the Metro Trains website to assist with your train commute. It is approximately a 15 minute walk from Parliament Station to Melbourne Museum.
Bus: Bus routes 250, 251 and 402 to Rathdowne Street. It is approximately a 5 minute walk from Melbourne Museum/Rathdowne St bus stop to Melbourne Museum.
Taxi pick up / drop off
There is a taxi and car share parking on Rathdowne Street.
Accessible entrance
The main entrance is accessible. It is in the central courtyard between the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum.
Getting to the entrance:
- The doorway is a flat, paved surface with no step.
- The car park has a lift to the ground floor.
- The kerbside on Nicholson and Rathdowne Street is a gentle sloping kerb.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs (standard and wide) are available free of charge from the foyer at Melbourne Museum. We recommend booking a wheelchair by calling Melbourne Museum on 13 11 02 before your visit.
All exhibition galleries and public spaces have lift and/or ramp access.
Wheelchair/mobility scooter seating spaces are available at IMAX Melbourne. You can purchase these spaces online at imaxmelbourne.com.au by buying your ticket and choosing the wheelchair/mobility spaces on the IMAX seat map or by calling the IMAX Box office at (03) 9663 5454.
A wheelchair access map can be provided upon request from the front desk.
Accessible lifts
Accessible lifts at Melbourne Museum are located:
- Rathdowne Street Carpark
- Nicholson Street Carpark
- Between the Museum Shop and Café to upper and lower levels of Melbourne Museum
- Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs exhibition
- IMAX Theatre
- There are ramps throughout the Forest Gallery and Milarri Gardens
Toilets
Accessible toilets are located across the three levels of Melbourne Museum:
Ground Level
- School's Entrance (Accessible / Baby Change Facilities / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 750mm and a left-hand transfer.
- Between the Museum Shop and Cafe (Accessible / Baby change table / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 800mm with a left-hand transfer.
- Foyer in front of Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre (Accessible / Baby change table / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 750mm and a left-hand transfer.
- Children’s Gallery (Accessible / Family toilets / Parents’ Room / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 800mm with a left-hand transfer.
Lower Level
- Before steps to IMAX (Accessible / Baby change table / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 860mm with a left-hand transfer.
- Museum Theatre (Accessible / Baby change table / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 820mm with a right-hand transfer.
Upper Level
- Foyer across from Mind and Body Gallery (Accessible / Baby change table / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 840mm with a left-hand transfer.
- Foyer across from Melbourne Gallery (Accessible / Baby change table / All Persons) has a door width of approximately 840mm with a left-hand transfer.
All toilet doors open inwards.
Please note that the minimum toilet facility dimensions for DDA compliance are based on wheelchair dimensions, not motorised scooter dimensions. The toilet facilities at Melbourne Museum may not accommodate the width and turning range requirements of mobility scooters.
Melbourne Museum does not have a hoist or adult changing facilities.
Sensory Bags
If you have sensory sensitivities or are feeling overwhelmed during your visit, you can borrow a free sensory bag. The bags contain:
- Noise reduction earmuffs
- Fidget tools
- A communication card
Sensory bags can be borrowed from the admissions desk located in the entrance foyer and returned to the same location at the end of your visit.
Deaf access
The National Relay Service (NRS) can assist people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. Please visit their website for more information.
24-hour relay call numbers:
- TTY/voice calls: 133 677
- Speak & Listen: 1300 555 727
- SMS Relay: 0423 677 767
Assistive listening
There are hearing loops in a number of spaces at Melbourne Museum. Hearing Loops are located in:
Ground floor
- First Peoples - Creation Cinema
Lower ground floor
- Theatre
Blind and low vision access
Guide dogs and other registered assistance dogs are welcome in the museum.
The lifts have tactile indicators.
Some exhibitions may have tactile components. Please ask at the ticket desk for more information.
Food allergen information
While our catering outlets endeavour to accommodate guests with food allergies or intolerances, we cannot guarantee completely allergy free meals. This is due to the potential for trace allergens in the working environment and supplied ingredients.
IMAX Melbourne accessibility
Please ask at the IMAX box office if you'd like to borrow a device for your chosen film:
- Assistive listening device for any IMAX film
- Captiview captioning for films listed with a CC symbol
- Audio description receiver and headset for films listed with an AD symbol
- Wheelchair seating is available at IMAX Melbourne on a first-come basis. Reserve your space by calling the IMAX box office on (03) 9663 5454 or buy your tickets online and select a wheelchair space on the IMAX seat map.
Companion Card
We are proud to support Companion Card. We offer complimentary admission to your companion person upon presentation of a valid companion card at the time of purchase.
Visiting information
The plan your visit page has Melbourne Museum visitor maps, itinerary suggestions, information about dining options and more.
Quiet times
Melbourne Museum tends to be quieter between 3pm and 5pm on weekdays during the school term.
Low sensory sessions
On the first Saturday of every month (excluding Victorian school holidays), Melbourne Museum offers low sensory sessions for visitor who experience sensory sensitivity. Loud sound effects and music will be muted, and bright or flashing lights will be dimmed in all galleries included with museum entry.
Autism friendly museum
Melbourne Museum provides maps of high and low sensory spaces and social scripts.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program
Museums Victoria is a proud Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program partner to support and raise awareness of those living with a hidden disability. The training of Museums Victoria staff, both public facing and back of house, ensures that our staff are able to offer respectful and discreet help to those who need it. By wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard or wristband, visitors can communicate their requirement for support in a way that is recognised and respected by staff.
Auslan tours
Join one of our free Auslan tours for an overview of some of the museum's displays.
Auslan interpreted events
Some events at Melbourne Museum are Auslan interpreted. Check What's On for current availability.
Royal Exhibition Dome Promenade
Not all aspects of the Royal Exhibition Dome Promenade experience are accessible.
If you'd like to talk to us about a group with particular access requirements or need more information about accessibility at Melbourne Museum, please contact our bookings office on 13 11 02.
If you would like to provide feedback on accessibility at Museums Victoria, please email [email protected].
