ACMI (formerly the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) is Australia’s national museum of screen culture in Federation Square, Melbourne. Established in 2002, it explores film, television, videogames, digital culture and art through exhibitions, screenings, and interactive experiences. Following a $40 million redevelopment, ACMI reopened in February 2021 with reimagined spaces and technology that extends the museum experience beyond your visit.
Location and access
ACMI is in Federation Square at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets in Melbourne’s CBD. There are two entrances: the Flinders Street entrance and the Fed Square entrance in the heart of Fed Square plaza. Flinders Street Station is directly opposite, making ACMI accessible from almost every Melbourne train line. Most city trams pass through this intersection, and Federation Square is within Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone.
The Fed Square car park on Russell Street Extension offers the nearest parking, charging an extortionate $16 per hour with no discounts for museum visitors. Public transport is the sensible choice given the central location and free tram zone.
ACMI opening times and admission
ACMI opens daily 10am to 5pm, with reduced hours on ANZAC Day (1pm to 5pm) and closure only on Christmas Day. Last admission is 4:30pm. The cinemas operate extended hours for screenings — check session times when booking films.
Entry to ACMI is free, as is the interactive exhibition The Story of the Moving Image, open 364 days a year. Special exhibitions, cinema tickets, and some events require separate payment. Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours exploring the permanent exhibition, longer if attending screenings or special exhibitions.
Five great things to do while you’re in Melbourne
- 🏙️ Get to know the city’s history and culture on a laneways walking tour.
- 🍷 Take a Yarra Valley day tour with indulgent wine-tasting.
- 🚴 Cover far more of Melbourne’s highlights on an electric bike tour.
- 🛶 Kayak along the Yarra River at sunset.
- 🍽️ Discover Melbourne’s multicultural dining scene on a top-rated food tour.
The Lens
On arrival you can collect The Lens, a free handheld device that allows you to explore, collect and discover content. The Lens is made of compressed cardboard with an embedded NFC tag and is fully recyclable. As you move through the exhibition, simply tap the Lens on objects and experiences you enjoy. Later, log in online to see your collection and discover related films, TV shows, videogames and art.
At interactive experiences like the Flipbook, Edit Line or Foley Studio, you can save the content you create with your Lens and download it later from home. There are over 200 different touchpoints throughout the building. The Lens is yours to keep as a souvenir or you can recycle it and collect a new one on your next visit.
The Story of the Moving Image
ACMI’s 1,600 square metre centrepiece exhibition explores the past, present and future of film, television, videogames and art, featuring over 900 objects. The exhibition traces screen culture from early animation devices like zoetropes through to contemporary digital art and gaming.
At Edit Line, you can move physical storyboard blocks around to trigger iconic TV or film clips on a large screen, rearranging scenes to create your own narrative. The Foley Studio lets you add sound effects to memorable scenes from Australian shows like Round the Twist, experiencing the art of creating film soundscapes. The Flipbook booth records your movements to create your own animated flipbook, which you can have printed at the ACMI shop.
At the exhibition’s climax, the Constellation experience uses your Lens to activate touchscreens where you discover connections between what you’ve collected and other works in the screen culture universe. Videogame stations throughout let you play classic and modern games from indie developers and major publishers.
Special exhibitions and cinema
ACMI regularly hosts ticketed exhibitions on specific themes, filmmakers, or screen culture topics. Recent exhibitions have explored costume design, animation, and gaming history. Check the website for current and upcoming shows — popular exhibitions can sell out.
Two cinemas screen new releases, retrospectives, film festivals, and rare international films. ACMI hosts major events like the Melbourne International Film Festival. Cinema tickets are separate from museum admission and prices vary by screening.
Practical details
The Flinders Street entrance has wheelchair access via a ramp, though this entrance closes outside museum opening times. To access ACMI outside these hours, enter via the Fed Square entrance. Several lifts provide access to all levels. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge — present ID at the information desk. Both cinemas have wheelchair accessible spaces with companion seats.
Baby change facilities are available at the Flinders Street and Fed Square levels next to the toilets. Prams and strollers are welcome throughout the building, except inside exceptionally busy exhibitions when they need to be left in the cloakroom. Dogs are not permitted except assistance dogs on leads.
Hero café is on Level 1, open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm and weekends 10am to 4:30pm, with extended hours to accommodate cinema sessions. The café serves snacks, light meals, coffee and drinks.
The ACMI Shop sells books, clothing, homewares, posters, gifts and toys related to screen culture. Opening hours are 11am to 5pm daily. The shop stocks exclusive ACMI merchandise and works with local artists to provide sustainably sourced products.
Photography for personal use is generally permitted, though some exhibitions may have restrictions. ACMI has free public wifi throughout the building.
Membership
ACMI membership provides discounts and invitations to exclusive previews, and is free to concession card holders. Members receive a membership card with an embedded Lens, allowing you to collect items across multiple visits and see everything in one online collection.
Nearby attractions
Federation Square surrounds ACMI. The NGV Australia (Ian Potter Centre) is immediately adjacent, displaying Australian art from Indigenous works to contemporary practice across 20 galleries. Entry to permanent collections is free. The Koorie Heritage Trust celebrates southeastern Aboriginal culture through artifacts, oral history and contemporary art.
Flinders Street Station, directly opposite Federation Square, is Melbourne’s grand Edwardian railway terminus opened in 1910. The building is one of Melbourne’s most photographed landmarks. St Paul’s Cathedral next door offers Gothic Revival architecture and a peaceful interior.
Hosier Lane, a five-minute walk away, is Melbourne’s most famous street art location where vibrant murals constantly evolve. Artists regularly update the lane, making each visit different. AC/DC Lane nearby offers similar street art in a narrower space.
The Yarra River runs behind Federation Square. Southbank Promenade along the south bank offers riverside dining, bars, and the Arts Centre Melbourne complex. Walk west to Crown Casino’s entertainment precinct or east toward Birrarung Marr parklands and the Royal Botanic Gardens — one of the world’s finest examples of Victorian-era landscaping across 38 hectares.
Melbourne’s laneways are within easy walking distance. Degraves Street, Centre Place, and Hardware Lane offer cafés, bars, and restaurants in narrow atmospheric spaces that define Melbourne’s dining culture. These hidden laneways reveal the city’s character better than major streets.
Queen Victoria Market, about 1.5km north, is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest open-air market. Over 600 traders sell produce, clothing, and souvenirs across multiple sheds. It’s best visited early morning, particularly for the food hall. Night markets operate during summer months.
The State Library Victoria on Swanston Street, a 10-minute walk north, houses a significant collection in a grand heritage building. The domed La Trobe Reading Room is architectural and the exhibitions are generally free.
Chinatown on Little Bourke Street is one of the oldest continuous Chinese settlements in the Western world. Restaurants, dumpling houses, and Asian grocers pack the pedestrianised street. The Chinese Museum tells the story of Chinese-Australian history.
Making the most of your visit
Weekday mornings attract smaller crowds than weekends or school holidays. The interactive nature of many exhibits means busy periods can involve waiting for stations. Arriving at opening time gives you first access to popular interactive experiences.
Take the Lens seriously — it genuinely extends your visit beyond the physical museum. The online collection provides context, related content, and connections you won’t discover in the gallery. Families particularly benefit from being able to revisit content at home and explore topics children showed interest in during the visit.
If you’re interested in cinema, check the screening schedule before visiting. ACMI often programs films related to current exhibitions or significant anniversaries. Combining a museum visit with an evening screening makes a full cultural day.
The museum works well for all ages. Children engage with the interactive stations and game consoles, while adults appreciate the depth of screen culture history and the quality of special exhibitions. The Flipbook and Foley Studio appeal across generations.
Free entry removes financial pressure to see everything in one visit. If you live locally or visit Melbourne regularly, you can drop in for 30 minutes to see a specific section or return multiple times to fully explore the permanent exhibition.
More Melbourne travel
Other Melbourne travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Planning a visit to Melbourne’s Immigration Museum.
- A guide to visiting Luna Park Melbourne.
- Melbourne Zoo visitor guide.
- Review of the MCG tour.
- Which Australian cities does Emirates fly to?
