Museum Up Late: Explorers & Rescuers

A night inspired by our fascination with capturing all things in the natural world and how we can preserve this land’s creatures and landscape. Explore the world around you and become active participants in the preservation of native wildlife and habitats.  

Enjoy workshops, games and fascinating conversations with trained explorers, rescuers and curator, all inspired by the exhibition Capturing Nature: Early Photographs from the Australian Museum 1857-1893.

Relax in our courtyard, while you enjoy tunes by Leigh James, tasty Asian Fusion food by Khanthaly Kitchen and fun beverages by The Gin Experience.

Become a Green Hero

Hands-on Activities | 4 pm – 8 pm | Suitable 5yrs+

Learn about the relationship between wildlife and habitat and experience the power of acting locally to support native fauna and flora with Green Heroes team, wildlife rescuers and carers, and dedicated Youth Ambassadors.

Get prepared by making and decorating your very own wildlife rescue kit “Glove Box Buddy”! Learn basic wildlife rescue, when and who to call, and how to safely capture and transport sick, injured or orphaned wildlife.

Paint and create a tree hollow “Nest Boxes” and contribute to providing shelter to over 300 different Australian native animals. While you get creative learn all about tree hollows and what birds, mammals and reptiles rely on them to rest, shelter and raise their young.

Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescuers & Recoverers

Display and Displays & Discussions | 4 pm – 8 pm

Chat with our dedicated local rescuers of seabirds, shorebirds, sea turtles and sea snakes and explore their amazing and interactive display. See turtle shell carapaces and skull, sea bird bones and pelican wing, preserved sea snakes, and hatching’s sea horses as well as, ‘Is it really biodegradable’ display.

Grow your knowledge with the Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue team about wonderful marine life that exists and how to reduce the human impact on them and the ocean.

Adventure Game with Museum Mate “Mitch”

Museum Adventure Game | 4 pm – 8 pm | Length 20 min

Collect your Game Card and be guided by Museum Mate “Mitch” on an adventure throughout the Museum. Become an explorer and discover hidden stories and fun facts in the Capturing Nature exhibition and take home your very own record for your private archives.

Ask the Museum Curator  

Conversations and questions  |   4.30 pm – 5.15 pm & 6 pm – 6.45 pm   

Meet Museum Curator, Erika Taylor on the Mezzanine level in the Capturing Nature exhibition. She will entertain you with dramatic tales and behind-the-scenes stories from the exhibition and answer any curious questions about museums, collecting, archiving, and more!

Diprotodon Fossil Dig!

Self-guided fun | 4 pm – 8 pm

Alert all little explorers, palaeontologists, and archivists! More real fossils have been found in the Museum. What is it? Fossil, plant, shell, fish, gem or mammal? We need your help to dig, discover and identify it!

Capturing Nature

The exhibition | 4 pm – 8 pm

Capturing Nature: Early photographs at the Australian Museum 1857-1893 travels back to a time when photography was revolutionising science, art and society. These images, reproduced from the Australian Museum’s collection of glass plate negatives from 1857 to 1893, are some of Australia’s earliest natural history photographs. They tell the story of pioneering natural history and science research as well as the advent of photography in Australia.

The exhibition also features natural history specimens from Tweed Regional Museum’s collection, alongside a special installation of giant Diprotodon puppets created by Dead Puppet Society.