A Museums Victoria expert giving a talk in the Museums Victoria Research Institute Gallery during Nocturnal, Melbourne Museum.

Museum After Dark | Nocturnal: Decoded

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What
18+ EVENT
When
Tickets
Adult $25
Concession $22.50
Member $20
Add-ons:
Lego Star Wars $33-$38

Explore a world teeming with life this National Science Week at Nocturnal: Force of Nature, your adults only invite to experience Melbourne Museum up late and child free.  

Decode the wonders of our universe and celebrate National Science Week at Nocturnal, your adults only invite to experience Melbourne Museum up late and child free.

Whether you’re looking for a Thursday night out or a unique date night spot, we have you covered with two levels of exhibitions, interactive activates, a full program of themed talks and surprises.

Start the weekend early, learn something new with friends, and enjoy food, drinks, music and more until 9:30pm.

Program & Schedule

Select the numbers on the map to find out more!

1 of 5

Triceratops Tour

6:45pm & 8pm | Triceratops, Ground Level | Tour
Embark on an insider's journey through Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs and uncover the secrets behind one of the most complete triceratops fossils ever found. Presented by Justin Wright, Associate Producer, Public Programs at Museums Victoria.

First Peoples Exhibition Introduction

7:15pm | Bunjilaka, Ground Level | Expert Talk
Learn about Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the First Peoples exhibition with Jess Alderton, First Peoples Senior Programs Officer at Museums Victoria.

Queers in Science

6 to 9pm | Between Bugs Alive and 600 Million Years, Ground Level | Live Experiments
Drop-by to meet queer scientists and partake in live experiments celebrating the vibrant colour spectrum.

Mini Masterpieces

6 to 9:30pm | Main Foyer, Ground Level | Art Drop-in
Learn the basics of computer language while creating something uniquely yours by creating a beaded bracelet from binary code.

DJ Lou Rose

6 to 8:30pm | foyer stage, Ground Level | Music
DJ Lou Rose is one half of underground dance duo Love Sensation. They bring fun-filled disco, boogie, electro funk & synth-pop sets to ignite the dancefloor.

Deep Freeze

6:30pm | foyer stage, Ground Level | Expert Talk
Explore the science of cryobanking – where living cells are frozen in time, unlocking new frontiers in species recovery and genetic research. Presented by Jennifer Hetz Rodriguez, ARC-Linkage Research Fellow at Museums Victoria.

Deciphering Soundscapes

7pm | foyer stage, Ground Level | Expert Talk
Recording nature’s soundscape can reveal new insights into the complex relationships of animals within their environment. But how do we identify those animals’ sounds? Hear from Museums Victoria Senior Curator of Birds Dr Karen Rowe on the new ways we are using machine learning to analyse years of data in mere minutes.

Wires to Waves

7:45pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Expert Talk
Learn how communication technologies reshaped Melbourne through the 19th and 20th century with Lauren McAlary Hein, Senior Collection Manager, History & Technology at Museums Victoria.

Museum Masterminds

8:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Trivia
Get quizzical with Museum trivia, hosted by science communicator and comedian Alanta Colley.

  • A group of friends laughing and chatting at an after dark Melbourne Museum Event
    Enjoy this rare opportunity to see Melbourne Museum's exhibitions child-free.

    First Peoples

    6 to 8pm | Bunjilaka, Ground Level | Exhibition
    Through the voices and languages of the south-eastern First Peoples community, the First Peoples exhibition celebrates the cultures of First Peoples with its rich traditions of performance, storytelling, artwork, and knowledge sharing, set against the history of survival throughout the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

    Stronger Families, Stronger Communities

    6 to 8pm | Bunjilaka, Ground Level | Exhibition
    Elevating the voices of nine First Nations men wo have taken part in the Dardi Munwurro’s healing and leadership programs, this show explores the themes of strength, healing, resilience and cultural pride of the individuals working to break cycles of trauma and build stronger communities.

    River Connections

    6 to 9:30pm | Learning Lab, Ground Level | Digital Experience
    We are all part of a dynamic web of life. Journey through the unique environment of the Murray River in this immersive infinity projection that explores how all life is connected and dependent on a healthy environment to thrive, made in collaboration with First Peoples community members exploring their close connections to the land, animals, plants and rivers of Victoria.

    Melbourne Story

    6 to 9:30pm | Melbourne Story, Upper Level | Exhibition
    Melbourne Story is packed with icons of the city's past and present – tales of heroes and scoundrels, growth and decline, and the changing ways Melburnians live, work and play.

    Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs

    6 to 9:30pm | Science & Life Gallery, Ground Level | Exhibition
    An immersive voyage into a lost world to explore the landscapes of the Cretaceous and get to know the creatures that thrived there.

    Science & Life Gallery

    6 to 9:30pm | Science & Life Gallery, Ground Level | Exhibition
    Walk past the skeletons of 17 prehistoric animals through Dinosaur Walk, discover the origin of life in Victoria told through fossils, models, animatronics and animations, and see a world of insects, spiders, snails and other invertebrates in Bugs Alive!

  • Learn something new with short talks and tours led by our museum experts. 

    Four museum goers standing in front of display cases containing butterflies and insects laugh as a Museum Victoria Scientist entertains them with education lessons about the museum's insect collections.
    Get up close with our rarely seen collections and hear from the expert curators who know them best.

    First Peoples Exhibition Introduction

    7:15pm | Bunjilaka, Ground Level | Expert Talk
    Learn about Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the First Peoples exhibition with Jess Alderton, First Peoples Senior Programs Officer at Museums Victoria.

    Deep Freeze

    6:30pm | foyer stage, Ground Level | Expert Talk
    Explore the science of cryobanking – where living cells are frozen in time, unlocking new frontiers in species recovery and genetic research. Presented by Jennifer Hetz Rodriguez, ARC-Linkage Research Fellow at Museums Victoria.

    Deciphering Soundscapes

    7pm | foyer stage, Ground Level | Expert Talk
    Recording nature’s soundscape can reveal new insights into the complex relationships of animals within their environment. But how do we identify those animals’ sounds? Hear from Museums Victoria Senior Curator of Birds Dr Karen Rowe on the new ways we are using machine learning to analyse years of data in mere minutes.

    Wires to Waves

    7:45pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Expert Talk
    Learn how communication technologies reshaped Melbourne through the 19th and 20th century with Lauren McAlary Hein, Senior Collection Manager, History & Technology at Museums Victoria.

    Triceratops Tour

    6:45pm & 8pm | Triceratops, Ground Level | Tour
    Embark on an insider's journey through Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs and uncover the secrets behind one of the most complete triceratops fossils ever found. Presented by Justin Wright, Associate Producer, Public Programs at Museums Victoria.

  • Unplug and play with fun activities for adults, music and more.

    A group of adults at a make and take crafting table enjoy a fun activity at Nocturnal, Melbourne Museum
    Make and create something to take home at our Mini Masterpieces activity station.

    DJ Lou Rose

    6 to 8:30pm | foyer stage, Ground Level | Music
    DJ Lou Rose is one half of underground dance duo Love Sensation. They bring fun-filled disco, boogie, electro funk & synth-pop sets to ignite the dancefloor.

    Queers in Science

    6 to 9pm | Between Bugs Alive and 600 Million Years, Ground Level | Live Experiments
    Drop-by to meet queer scientists and partake in live experiments celebrating the vibrant colour spectrum.

    Mini Masterpieces

    6 to 9:30pm | Main Foyer, Ground Level | Art Drop-in
    Learn the basics of computer language while creating something uniquely yours by creating a beaded bracelet from binary code.

    Museum Masterminds

    8:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Trivia
    Get quizzical with Museum trivia, hosted by science communicator and comedian Alanta Colley.

  • Three museum goers take a break and grab a bite and a drink.
    Fuel for your mind and body is available all night!

    Menu

    vgn=Vegan   v=Vegetarian   gf=Gluten Free

    Hot Food Cost
    Chicken katsu burger, tonkatsu sauce, spicy slaw $16.50
    Cheeseburger, angus beef patty, bread & butter pickles, seeded bun $16.50
    Vada pav sliders, spiced potato fritters, tamarind, coriander chutney (2) vgn $16.50
    Nachos, pico de gallo, guacamole, jalapeno, cheese sauce v, gf $16.50

     

    Grab & Go Cost
    Tyrells Crinkly Chips – Sea Salted / Cheddar / Salt & Vinegar $6
    Maltesers $7
    Popcorn – Sweet & Salty / Butter $8
    Choc Tops – Vanilla / Boysenberry / Chocolate $8.50

     

    Drinks Cost
    Signature Cocktail $16
    Signature Mocktail $14
    Morgan’s Bay Cuvee Sparkling $12
    Morgan’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc $11
    Morgan’s Bay Shiraz Cabernet $11
    Furphy Lager $10
    Pipsqueak Apple Cider $10
    James Boags - Premium Light $8
    Heaps Normal XPA $8
    Pepsi / Pepsi Max / Solo / Lemonade / Cool Ridge $5
Five friends with arms around each other smile for the camera behind the massive spine and vertebrae bones of a dinosaur. Museum Expert Tim Ziegler giving a talk in 600 Million Years exhibition during January 2018 Nocturnal event in Melbourne Museum. close-up of a bingo ball wheel Bar staff serving drinks at the November 2023 Nocturnal. Adults crafting during Nocturnal, Melbourne Museum. DJ Carolina Gasolina performing a live DJ set at Nocturnal, Melbourne Museum

Accessibility

Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.

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