Immigration Museum

The Immigration Museum in Melbourne tells the powerful, moving stories of the millions of people who have migrated to Australia from across the world, their journeys, hopes, struggles, and the rich diversity they brought to the nation. Housed in the grand, beautifully restored former Customs House on the Yarra River, the museum uses personal stories, objects, photographs, and immersive displays to bring migration history to life. Highlights include a recreated ship's cabin showing how conditions changed across eras of sea travel, moving personal testimonies, and exhibits exploring identity, belonging, and the often difficult question of who was welcomed and who was excluded.

It's a thoughtful, humane, and often emotional museum that resonates with Australia's multicultural identity, and with anyone whose family has a migration story. The historic Customs House building is itself worth seeing. Centrally located in the CBD, it's an easy and worthwhile stop. Allow 1.5–2 hours to take in the personal stories.

Don't miss

• Personal migration stories and testimonies
• A recreated ship's cabin across eras
• The grand former Customs House building
• Exhibits on identity, belonging, and exclusion
• A reflection of Australia's multicultural identity

Good for

How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• Don't miss the recreated ship's cabin showing changing travel conditions.
• The historic Customs House building is worth seeing in itself.
• It's a moving, humane museum, allow time for the personal stories.
• Central CBD location, near Flinders Street Station.

A bit of history

The museum opened in 1998 in Melbourne's former Customs House, a grand 19th-century building where many arriving immigrants were once processed. Run as part of Museums Victoria, it chronicles two centuries of migration to Australia and its profound social impact.