Museum of Chinese Australian History, Melbourne

If you are looking for a cultural and cool experience with the kids, try the Museum of Chinese Australian History in the heart of Chinatown in the Melbourne CBD. It’s an educational experience and we learned a lot but also had a lot of fun.

Museum of Chinese Australian History, Melbourne

The Museum of Chinese Australian History is located in the heart of Chinatown in Melbourne and showcases the heritage and culture of Australia’s Chinese community.

As soon as you enter you can see the amazing Millennial dragon, it’s the largest Chinese processional dragon in the world!

It was suggested to start at the top of the museum and work your way down so we did that.

The top floor exhibition, One Million Stories: Chinese Australian 200 years, is all about the history of people from China coming to Australia, from the Gold Rush to modern day. There are interviews to listen to and many artefacts to see.

The second floor exhibition, Han Dynasty: Life Everlasting, shows a period of great innovation and both technical and cultural development. The kids really loved the seismometer which was not only a technological marvel but incredibly beautiful.

And then, we made it to the Dragon! This amazing piece took 9 months to make and over 20 people to get the dragon off the ground. You can follow the dragon all the way down into the bottom of the museum where you enter the Chinese Gold Rush experience. This exhibition replicates what life was like for Chinese settlers on the Goldfields in the 19^th century. Hop inside a ship sailing from China to Australia or dress up and audition for the Chinese Opera.

Museum of CHinese Australian History Dragon 2

Such a great museum! And while you’re in Chinatown, you might as well have lunch! You are spoiled for choice and there are loads of places right outside the door.

The museum is fully accessible and there is a baby change station in the restroom. There are lots of metered street parking spots or paid lots within walking distance. For public transport, Take any tram along Bourke St (Routes 86, 96) to Stop 7 and walk through Market Ln to Little Bourke St and Cohen Pl. The nearest train station is Parliament (exit at Lonsdale St).

Contributor: Clara Batton-Smith

Details

Address:
22 Cohen Place, Melbourne 3000. Enter via Lonsdale or Little Bourke Streets.
Opening Hours:
Every day 10am-4pm except public holidays
Museum of Chinese Australian History Website >>