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 insect or spider specimens in the post, please wrap them carefully in a tissue dabbed with alcohol or methylated spirits and place them in an airtight plastic container. Very small insects and mites should be sticky taped to a piece of white paper or card. If they are difficult to see, please draw a circle around the specimen.
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
Identifications can take some time depending on the complexity of the request. Museum Victoria may not be able to identify every object or specimen.
Museum Victoria does not provide valuations. For a list of approved valuers, please contact the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Cultural Gifts Program.
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