Explore our collection
Explore a wealth of collections and research about natural sciences, history, technology and First Peoples from Museums Victoria in Australia.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 11 Feb
To celebrate women's long contribution to science we have selected some Museums Victoria highlights.
In the nineteenth century and earlier, women often participated in science through family networks. British artist Elizabeth Gould is known for her dedication to illustrating husband John Gould's famous and beautiful bird books. Australian artists Helena and Harriet Scott did painstaking work to illustrate their father's pioneering book on Australian moths and butterflies from the time they were teenagers. The Scott sisters are thought to be Australia's first professional female scientific illustrators.
In the twentieth century there were more women working professionally in science, with Hope Black (nee Macpherson) working at Museums Victoria's predecessor institution, the National Museum of Victoria, as Curator of Molluscs from 1946 to 1965. Hope mentored another female marine scientist, Fay Murray, who was involved in the Victorian branch of Malacological Society of Australasia and who eventually served as Honorary Associate at the National Museum of Victoria from 1969 to 1970.
Shining Bright: Treasures of the Numismatics Collection at Museums Victoria
Museums Victoria's numismatics collection is the most important of its kind in Australia, and the collection of Australian coins is the most significant in the world. This display of famous Australian coins, brilliant ancient coins, and beautiful French art medals includes some of the stunning treasures in the collection. Now on show at Melbourne Museum.
The Sunrise Collection
The Sunrise Collection is a recent Museums Victoria acquisition that reveals how a small group of teachers were exploring the possibilities of computing in education during the 1980s. It is a fascinating example of teachers going the 'extra mile' to improve learning outcomes for students. Check out some of the collection and a film about it below.
![Kahu kiwi | Cloak. Taupo, North Island, Aotearoa [New Zealand]. pre 1913](/content/media/36/293036-thumbnail.jpg)
