Australian Music Vault
📍 Southbank, VIC
Free permanent exhibition inside Arts Centre Melbourne celebrating Australian music heritage through memorabilia, interactive displays, and an immersive sound-proof amplifier room. Rotating exhibitions keep each visit fresh.
Awesome collection of exhibitions for those that love music & music culture. It's well worth a visit, and it's free. The exhibitions change frequently. When I visited in Jan 2023, there were at least 6 different sections/displays - each had a different focal point for some part of Australian Music, and included memorabilia, artifacts, history and culture. The two sections that really stood out for me were the displays on MESS (Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio) and SLAM (Save Live Australian Music). It would be worth visiting for these alone. It's not a particularly big gallery, but it is very well put together. You could easily visit this during your lunch break, and just as easily lose two hours in there as I did.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with music-curious kids aged 8 and up and adults who grew up with Australian artists. The immersive amplifier room resonates with older children and teenagers. Younger kids may lose interest quickly given the exhibition-heavy format. Plan for 30-45 minutes; longer if the current rotation is particularly strong.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →204 Google reviews
Dylan Kenneally
3 years ago
“Awesome collection of exhibitions for those that love music & music culture. It's well worth a visit, and it's free. The exhibitions change frequently. When I visited in Jan 2023, there were at least 6 different sections/displays - each had a different focal point for some part of Australian Music, and included memorabilia, artifacts, history and culture. The two sections that really stood out for me were the displays on MESS (Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio) and SLAM (Save Live Australian Music). It would be worth visiting for these alone. It's not a particularly big gallery, but it is very well put together. You could easily visit this during your lunch break, and just as easily lose two hours in there as I did.”
Rebecca Robinson
4 months ago
“This place is hidden but worth going in to see the displays. It’s free of charge and has a selection of memorabilia and history surrounding Australia main stream music. It is in the Arts Centre in Melbourne and staff can happily show you where it is as it is hidden inside! Some of the collections go out on loan - so unfortunately when we visited some of Kylie Minogue’s clothes were elsewhere!”
Tamilia Clark
9 months ago
“Great overall free small gallery with artificial pieces dedicated to Australian icons. Best part was the amplifier room It’s a sound-proof, square-shaped room where short movies are projected onto the surrounding walls. So you can sit in the middle and feel like you’re actually in the middle of the story you’re watching.”
lb
a year ago
“This was a cool way to learn about the melbourne music scene. Enjoyed how all the exhibits were interactive with songs attached to each item. There were also lots of well put together videos to watch. My favourite was the immersive music room, it was a sensory escape, very cool visuals, and videos.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Australian Music Vault sits inside Arts Centre Melbourne at Southbank, dedicated entirely to Australian music history. Exhibits are organised by era and genre, each with songs and videos attached to physical memorabilia. The centrepiece is the amplifier room — a sound-proof space where short films are projected on all four walls, placing visitors inside the music. Entry is free. Staff can direct you; the venue is tucked inside the Arts Centre and not signposted from the street.
