The Most Visited Museums In Australia

Australia is a top tourist destination featuring a wealth of natural and cultural attractions. The country's museums are popular tourist attractions, and Australia's art museums are renowned for their notable exhibits that feature paintings, photography, sculptures, print, and moving images.

The 5 Most Visited Australian Museums

1. National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria, often referred to simply as NGV, is an art museum located in Melbourne, which is the state capital of Victoria. Founded in 1861, it is Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum. The museum's current collections include Australian Aboriginal art, Asian art, and various other international art. This international collection includes European paintings, drawings, prints, textiles, Mesoamerican art, Pacific art, sculpture, Egyptian artifacts, Greek vases, and contemporary art. The popular museum attracted a total of 2,810,696 visitors in 2017.

2. Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is the second most visited museum in Australia. Located in Brisbane, Queensland, the GOMA was inaugurated in 2006 and is the country’s largest gallery displaying contemporary and modern art. The first Cinematheque of Australia is also part of the GOMA. The Gallery of Modern Art's exhibits include works by renowned national and international artists and painters. The museum attracted a total of 1,425,826 visitors in 2017.

3. Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW)

The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) is located in The Domain, which is a heritage-listed open space area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is the city’s most popular public gallery and one of the largest of its kind in Australia. The first public exhibition at the AGNSW opened in 1874, and admission to general exhibition space is free. The gallery features various forms of Australian art, ranging from early indigenous to modern contemporary. Additional exhibits, both permanent and temporary, are also part of the AGNSW. The Art Gallery of New South Wales had a total of 1,349,000 visitors in 2017.

4. Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)

Located in Federation Square, Melbourne, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is the fourth most visited museum in the country, as well as the world’s most visited moving image museum. Exhibits at the museum focus on film, digital culture and art, and video games. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image attracted a total of 1,316,000 visitors in 2017.

5. Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is a museum located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1991, the museum focuses on contemporary art, and contains artwork from Australia and around the world. Exhibits include more than 4,000 works by domestic artists that range from painting and photography to sculpture and moving images. The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia attracted a total of 1,206,000 visitors in 2017.