One of the welcome upsides of the coronavirus pandemic has been cultural institutions' quick pivot to welcoming visitors virtually, providing access to their riches for those unable to travel. On this page we have brought together the clickable culture offerings of some of Australia's iconic cultural attractions for you to explore.
Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
Explore the world from home; browse thousands of museum resources from the comfort of home – for fun, research, or sheer curiosity.
Discover the wider world of the museum. Find answers for your research, explore stories about significant events and remarkable people, and browse through a rich and diverse range of vessels, photography and artefacts.
Australian Parliament House
Take a virtual tour of the heart of Australian democracy or look through the online art collection. There is also a comprehensive online gallery with sections featuring Contemporary Australian art, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and history, Art and Architecture and the much loved Portrait collection.
Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Visit the Australian War Memorial galleries using Google Street View, explore interactive digital experiences, listen to podcasts, read a blog, watch videos, or research a family member – all from the Museum At Home hub. The hub is a great way for audiences of all ages to learn about Australia’s history.
Fremantle Prison, Perth
It is the largest convict-built structure in Australia and the most intact convict establishment in the southern hemisphere. It is also on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Search their fascinating Convict Database to discover the names of those who were transported to the Swan River Colony, Western Australia between 1850 and 1868. Recognise any names? You may even find a namesake…
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Explore the more than 30,000 online items from the collections of the Australian Sports Museum, Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum, Melbourne Cricket Club Museum, and Melbourne Cricket Club Archives. There are categories for artwork, fandom, The Ashes, Green and Gold and more. Search by sport, by collection or just get lost in the vast and fascinating collection of all things sport.
Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart
Mona is broadcasting a live stream of Ryoji Ikeda’s spectra on Saturdays from sunset to sunrise until Mona reopens.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Explore a treasure trove of online podcasts, video, articles and resources for learning from home from the home of Australia’s national collection. Or take a deep dive into parts of the NGA’s collection, such as Jackson Pollock’s Blue poles.
National Museum of Australia, Canberra
The National Museum of Australia has collated its most popular and engaging digital content in one central hub and is also offering live virtual tours for all ages and abilities.
Opera Australia
Opera Australia’s OA | TV is a free streaming service that brings the best of Opera Australia to the comfort of your home. Explore the exclusive content from their back catalogue, including magnificent Dame Joan Sutherland performances and the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour productions. There’s also ‘In Conversation with Lyndon Terracini’, a series of chat show-style interviews, plus behind the scenes footage.
Sovereign Hill Outdoor Museum, Ballarat
Explore #SovereignHillAtHome with their fun online experiences featuring everything from craft activities and recipes, to educational materials for home learning. Go behind-the-scenes and discover the history of the buildings. Meet the people who bring the 1850s to life at Sovereign Hill via a range of fascinating videos.
Sydney Opera House
Join charismatic tour guide Declan on a brand new online tour of the Opera House’s backstage spaces – from the cavernous scenery dock, to the fly tower where up to 80 bars of complex scenery, lights and even performers are suspended over the stage. There’s even a peek inside the dressing rooms where renowned prima ballerinas, lead sopranos and stars from the world of contemporary music get ready before the show.
A 360° experience capturing one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres between the acts — waking up, in rehearsal and at rest — featuring the outstanding young Australian soprano Nicole Car, cellist and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Director of Artistic Planning, Benjamin Schwartz and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra itself under the baton of David Robertson, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director. Created in partnership with the Google Cultural Institute.
Google Cultural Institute Collaboration
In addition to the tour above, Sydney Opera House worked with the Google Cultural Institute to collate 53 online exhibits. The collection allows audiences around the world to explore the living story of Australia’s iconic Sydney Opera House as never before. The exhibits weave together rare archival photography, celebrated performances, early architectural drawings, historical documents, little-known interviews and Street View imagery to tell the story of the Opera House in an entirely new way.
Credit: spectra, Ryoji Ikeda, Mona (Museum of Old and New Art)