Grainger Museum
One of Melbourne's most fascinating museums, a unique site devoted to creativity.
The Grainger Museum—the only purpose-built autobiographical museum in Australia—is home to a diverse collection of art, art, photographs, costumes, music scores and instruments acquired by Percy Grainger, an icon of twentieth century Australian musical culture. In 2021, the Museum is embarking on a phase of reimagining as a cultural space of experimentation, including an upcoming schedule of innovative academic and public programming. To continue experiencing the collection visit the online museum.
Past Exhibitions
Past Events
The Grainger Museum is the only purpose-built autobiographical museum in Australia.
Its fascinating collection contains not only objects directly related to Percy Grainger's compositional career, such as scores and manuscripts, but also more than 50,000 items, including diaries, ethnographic objects, furniture, decorative arts, photographs, artworks, clothing and correspondence with famous and not-so-famous contemporaries.
Grainger began planning the Museum after his mother's death in 1922 and it was officially opened in December 1938. The building was designed by the University's architect, John Gawler of the firm Gawler and Drummond, in close consultation with Grainger. The Museum's historical and architectural significance is recognised by the building's inclusion on the Register of the National Estate and the Victorian Heritage Register, and its classification by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
In 1955, Grainger set down his revised Aims of the Grainger Museum, outlining his 'cosmopolitan and universalist outlook on music'.
The Grainger Museum is closed for reimagining. To continue experiencing the collection visit the online museum or see objects in person at the Multivocal exhibition at Old Quad.
Parkville Campus
- Address
- Grainger Museum
Gate 13, Royal Parade
Parkville, Melbourne - grainger@unimelb.edu.au
- Phone
- +61 3 8344 5270
- Postal Address
- Grainger Museum, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010