Geoscience Australia

Geoscience Australia welcomes visitors to discover Earth science! The public display area houses the National Mineral and Fossil Collection. Visitors will be captivated by a collection of minerals, fossils, and meteorites, with approximately 700 items on permanent display. Exploration can be done at one's own pace or through the Mineral Treasure Hunt activity, accessible via a QR code on personal devices or as a paper copy obtainable from Reception. Visitors also have the opportunity to touch a piece of the Moon at Geoscience Australia! A Moon rock, brought back to Earth by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and on loan from NASA, is the only piece of the Moon in the Southern Hemisphere that can be touched! New exhibitions include the beautiful Yowah Moon opal, the huge Philips (Pilkington-Jackson) globe, and 'Rocks that Shape Australia' - discover how rocks have shaped Australia’s environment, economic and social history – and how they will be important to our nation into the future. Get up close and personal with Earth science through the hands-on exhibits in the Education Centre! Here, visitors can hold a volcanic bomb, discover fossilized poo, and zoom in using the digital microscope. Visitors are welcome in the Education Centre unless it is being used for a scheduled activity. To avoid disappointment, please check availability before visiting by contacting the reception via phone.