Immigration Museum (Museums Victoria) — Attraction in Melbourne

This review is mainly dedicated to the Notre Dame exhibition currently on at the Immigration Museum. Mostly, I have found Museum Victoria’s exhibitions to be a little underwhelming, however I was very pleasantly surprised by the exhibition about the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. In fact, I might even say it is the best exhibition I have seen at the Immigration Museum. First of all, I loved the use of the tablets. When you enter the exhibition, everyone has access to a tablet where they can explore, read about and see the Notre Dame Cathedral throughout its entire history. These tablets were high quality and were not glitchy or hard to use. It also had a number of languages available. I loved the way we scanned the various codes around the room to gain information. This gave me a reason to explore the room around me. These codes were accompanied by massive pictures and art works. The design of the room itself made the exhibition more immersive because it felt like what you were seeing on the tablet was also all around you. I also found myself looking up from the tablet at various points to admire the displays around me. This made my appreciate my surroundings. I also know that the Long Room, which is the section of the museum this exhibition is based in, also has quite a bit of history itself. Learning about the history of such an old cathedral made me appreciate and compare the history of the room I was in. I think also it was a nice touch and added to the atmosphere. Regarding the contents of the exhibition, I loved how the exhibition followed the history of the cathedral. Both good and bad. My highlight though was learning about the restoration of the cathedral after the 2019 fire that destroyed a lot of it. The fact that they not only sourced the same materials as what was originally there, but also the same building techniques as well. It is obvious that a lot of time, energy and money went into the restoration of the Notre Dame and it was so cool to learn about it. I think something else that is important to note that this exhibition is included in the museum entry. Normally, I believe Museums Victoria would want visitors to pay extra for this. Especially because it seems to be a travelling exhibition and not one that Museums Victoria has designed themselves. Having this exhibition included in the entry price makes this exhibition highly accessible. I am well aware that museums and heritage places need a lot of money to operate but it makes me so happy that money making is obviously not a main objective here. This kind of accessibility needs to be seen more. I have been trying to think of any constructive criticism to say, but I am struggling. Going in, honestly I was not expecting much. I have never visited the Notre Dame in person and I didn’t really know much about it. Now, after this exhibition, I have gained a new appreciation for it. I have also gained appreciation for the use of augmented reality in an exhibition. These new technologies have opened up exciting new possibilities within exhibition design and I hope I see more exhibitions like this through...

I visited the Immigration Museum on a Saturday in September 2025. Coincidentally, it was the same day as immigration protests outside which ironically made the museum itself pretty quiet. The museum is right in the city and super easy to get to, with plenty of trams out the front and Flinders Street as well as Southern Cross Station just a short walk away. The building itself is a large, old heritage building with clear signage, accessible entry, and beautiful traditional architecture that really sets the vibe as you step inside.

Entry is free for concession card holders and reasonably priced for adults. I walked in and with no wait, got my ticket from one of the friendly staff. On the ground floor there’s a cosy reading room, including a kids’ section, plus an outdoor patio and a peaceful courtyard. They are the perfect spots to pause and soak in the atmosphere. Even the bathrooms here impressed me! They were spotless, modern, and filled with natural light. A huge contrast from the immersive theming of the exhibits but a really nice touch.

Level one holds the permanent Immigration Museum exhibition, which is packed with interactive displays for both kids and adults. It explores the journey of immigration throughout history while also acknowledging how Indigenous owners were neglected in that process. There’s a gorgeous ballroom full of history and more exhibits that cover the 1900s, the impact of war, and how shifting ideologies shaped migration policies. Often with devastating consequences for individuals and families which is covered really well.

On level two I was lucky enough to catch the temporary Joy exhibition, which was incredible. The foyer had a wall where visitors could write and share their own sparks of joy, and the exhibition itself was a series of immersive, artistic rooms interpreting joy in all kinds of ways. Highlights for me were the giant bunny room and the recreated Video Ezy shop filled with old VHS tapes. It was nostalgic, interactive, and honestly just so fun to explore. That level also continues the immigration story with personal accounts and reflections, connecting the past to modern immigration experiences and challenging how we see and treat people today. It was moving, thought provoking, and beautifully presented.

The staff were warm and welcoming, the whole space felt inclusive and engaging, and I honestly loved my time here. If you want to better understand Australia’s immigration story, this is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. And if you get the chance, don’t miss the Joy exhibit before it finishes, it’s creative and...

Landed in Melbourne on the weekend and told this was a worthwhile attraction. Very disappointed, the exhibition is as white washed and gentrified as its content. Firstly it was poorly laid out, as others have stated the empty long room has great potential to extend to an interactive segment. The dates on the walls and posted wallpapers don't flow and aren't organised in a way that's easy to read.

Heavily focuses on " Australia was very strict on letting people in, and god help anyone that tried to stay that wasn't british"; the deaf-tone of the exhibit doesn't even attempt to try apologise or at least try to be like "that was awful we aren't like that now though x". There's even one part of the exhibit that opens with a quote from a reverend that says verbatim " Australia should be white only", this wasn't followed up with any statement to dismiss or shut down the statement. Look I am not saying that the racist and heavily segregated history of Australia is to be brushed over, but this exhibit was not made for any immigrants benefit.

As others have commented, there is no celebration of immigrants in this museum, it is 80% "Australia hated anyone that was a shade darker than milk". What my friend and I found most unnerving was the whole floor of "Hated immigrants" was followed up by a "Love yourself and embrace identity "floor above it. It was a real "You will be hated anyways so just be yourself " project. They had non australians voices talking about how no one wants to be friends with them, how isolating it felt, how the language was a massive barrier etc, again very relatable being an immigrant myself. It felt as though these submissions went without screening because this segment was meant to be a celebration of immigrant cultures and turned into a cry for help.

Not worthwhile for those of us that wanted a celebration of those that sacrifice everything for a...