Welcome to the Cultural Collections of the University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne owns 30 Cultural Collections. The origins of some lie in the earliest years of the University's establishment in the 1850s, while regular new acquisitions keep the collections dynamic and relevant.
The Cultural Collections embody the history of many of the academic disciplines taught at the University of Melbourne, including law, classics, history, languages, medicine, dentistry, botany, zoology, physics, fine arts, music and engineering. Object types include rare books and manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, archives, photographs, medical and dental implements, scientific apparatus, musical instruments, mineral, plant and animal specimens, and ethnographic and archaeological artefacts.
The University encourages the use of the collections by students, staff and the wider community, whether for research, teaching, conversation or enjoyment.
Supporting the Cultural Collections
The University’s 30 cultural collections benefit from the support of alumni, students, staff, philanthropic trusts, corporate sponsors, friends groups and many interested individuals. More information on how you can contribute.
News and Events
Cultural Collections e-news is a new monthly newsletter featuring news, forthcoming events and current exhibitions relevant to the University of Melbourne's Cultural Collections.
Subscribe to Cultural Collections e-news.
Cultural Collections Projects Program 2013
The Cultural Collections Projects Program has returned for 2013, offering over 40 unique opportunites for students, alumni and volunteers to engage with the cultural collections managed by the University.
Further details, individual position guides, and an expression of interest form can be found on the Projects List 2013 page.
New Publications
University of Melbourne Collections 11
Issue 11, the new edition of University of Melbourne Collections, has been published and is now available. |
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A Handbook for Academic Museums: Exhibitions and Education
Helen Arnoldi, Cultural Collections Projects Coordinator, has written a chapter which looks at the interaction of students and volunteers with the University collections in an international publication recently published by MuseumsEtc, A Handbook for Academic Museums: Exhibitions and Education. Helen's chapter is titled A Mutually Beneficial Exchange: The University of Melbourne's Cultural Collections Projects Program. The book is available for purchase online here. |
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Architectural ornament: The history and art of Wilson Hall at the University of Melbourne
A publication based on the recent exhibition, Architectural ornament: The history and art of Wilson Hall at the University of Melbourne, is now available to purchase for $19.95 from Co-op Bookshop, Baillieu Library Building, University of Melbourne. |
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Cultural Policy
The University's Cultural Policy sets out the guiding principles which assist the University to configure its cultural resources, including its Cultural Collections, to best serve the whole community. |
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