The Ornithology Collection contains more than 70 000 specimens of mounted birds, skins, skeletons, eggs and specimens preserved in alcohol.
One of the largest Australian avian collections, primarily of Australian species and with a strong Victorian emphasis, it includes material from a broad spectrum of the world’s avifauna and represents in excess of 4000 species. Many are of great historical significance, especially those purchased from John Gould in the mid-19th century.
One of the largest collections in Australia, it includes material from early explorative trips through central and northern Australia. There are also representatives of many birds now long extinct. The collection contains valuable type specimens.
Significant items
- Large osteological (bone) collection covering all Australian bird families and the majority of world families.
- Egg collections holding significant data on the breeding biology of Australian birds, including those collected by A.J. Campbell, Dobroyde, N.J. Favaloro and the Royal Australasian Ornithological Union.
- Study skins of historical interest obtained by A.W. Howitt during the relief expedition searching for Burke and Wills.
- Bird specimens collected by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace.
- Historically important skins and mounts from the 1857 Blandowski Murray-Darling Expedition.
- H.L. White’s large collection of eggs, nests and study skins – includes the single most important collection of Australian eggs in the world.
- J.A. Kershaw’s study skin, mount and egg collections, containing some of the most well-documented and unique data on Australian birds.
- 4000 skins and mounts from throughout the world, purchased from 19th century collector and dealer John Gould.
- Spencer and Gillen collection from northern and central Australia.
- Study skins from Fiji, many of which are our only representatives from the island group.
- Victorian Ornithological Research Group’s collection of study skins acquired from many Victorian localities.
- Historically important study skins acquired from Sri Lanka by W.V. Legge.
See Capturing Paradise: Alfred Russel Wallace's Red Bird of Paradise, an essay on this collection from A Museum for the People: A history of Museum Victoria and its predecessor institutions 1854-2000.