The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) offers visitors a glimpse into unique worlds, from the latest in contemporary art and design and the inhabitants of the natural world, to icons from a bygone era. The TMAG is the State Museum, the State Art Gallery, and the State Herbarium, enabling visitors to experience a special interaction between the arts, humanities and sciences within a cultural precinct that is steeped in history.

Located on the site where Lieutenant-Governor David Collins established the settlement of Hobart Town in 1804, the TMAG is one of Australia’s most significant and valued heritage sites. Comprising the Custom House (1901), Commissariat Building and Queens Warehouse (1808), Private Secretary’s Residence (1804), Bond Store (1804), and the Henry Hunter museum building (1863), TMAG is the centrepiece of Hobart’s famous Constitution and Victoria Docks area.

In addition to encompassing one of the richest concentrations of heritage buildings in Australia, the TMAG’s nationally significant cultural and natural history collections are considered to be amongst the best in Australia, particularly the Colonial Art, Numismatics, Tasmanian Aboriginal and Convict collections.

The TMAG can trace its origins to the Royal Society of Tasmania’s first museum which opened in 1853, drawing together collections from scientific groups formed in Hobart Town during the 1820s and 1830s.
In 1863 the first purpose built museum building, designed by Tasmania’s most famous colonial architect Henry Hunter, was opened to visitors.

Today the TMAG is a multi-campus institution incorporating a combined museum, art gallery and herbarium – one of only two such institutions in the world.

The TMAG continues to provide visitor interaction with Tasmania’s fascinating cultural and natural worlds and an appreciation of these unique collections within a global context. A robust public program and exhibition schedule continues to be a priority, and through this vibrant and diverse offering, the TMAG continues to build on its rich and unique natural and cultural heritage contribution to the community.