The Discovery Centre can identify specimens and objects that relate to Museum Victoria's Collections and Research areas of Science, Indigenous Cultures and Australian History and Technology.
Science Specimens (animal or mineral)
If you would like to have a specimen identified, please provide us with as much information as you can about the specimen, including:
• Where was it found or collected?
• When was it found or collected?
• Would you like your specimen to be returned to you?
We cannot do identifications unless we are able to view either a good photograph or the specimen itself.
You can either bring your specimen to the Discovery Centre or mail small specimens and photographs to our postal address (see details below).
If you are taking photographs for identification purposes, please place a ruler or pen in the photograph to give us a sense of scale. It is also helpful to take images from several from different angles.
If you are sending an insect or spider specimen in the post, please place the specimen in the freezer overnight to humanely kill it; it is illegal to send most live insects through the post. Place the specimen for postage in an airtight plastic container such as a pill jar. Please do not place any flammable liquid such as methylated spirits in the container as it is illegal to send flammable material through the post. Only small specimens in good condition that have been frozen can be sent via the post. Please note, Australia Post reserve the right to destroy any material that becomes physically offensive.
Museum Victoria holds no responsibility for items sent to us in the post.
Manufactured or hand-crafted objects
If you would like to have an object identified, please provide us with as much information as you can about the object, including:
• Where was it made? Who made it? When was it made?
• Where is it from? Who owned it?
• Who used it? When was it used?
• Any other information about the story surrounding the object.
We cannot do identifications unless we are able to view either a good photograph or the object itself.
We are very happy to receive information and images in the mail, but please do not post precious objects, documents or photographs. Museum Victoria holds no responsibility for items sent to us in the post.
We are happy to take digital images of any item brought in, but we cannot store items while an identification is in process.
Please note
The Cultural Gifts Program encourages Australians to donate items of cultural significance from private collections to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives. Gifts are required to be valued by at least two valuers who are approved to value for the Cultural Gifts Program. Some of these valuers also undertake private valuations, and therefore may be able to assist with item enquires and valuations.
For more information and to get your own copy of the Approved Valuers List please see http://www.arts.gov.au/funding-support/tax-incentives/cultural-gifts-program
For any enquiries regarding the Cultural Gifts Program, contact:
Secretariat
Cultural Gifts Program
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Office for the Arts
T: (02) 6275 2829
E: cgp.mail@pmc.gov.au
If you have any questions, please contact the Discovery Centre
Visit us
The Discovery Centre
Melbourne Museum
Lower Ground
Carlton Gardens
Open 10am to 4.30pm daily
Write to us
The Discovery Centre
Melbourne Museum
GPO Box 666
Melbourne VIC 3001
Phone us
61 3 8341 7111
E-mail us
discoverycentre@museum.vic.gov.au