A living part of Melbourne's modern Chinatown, the Chinese Museum was brought into being in 1985 to document, preserve and display the history of Australians of Chinese descent. An exciting range of changing exhibitions, heritage tours and public seminars are some of the ways by which the Museum shares the past, culture, and values of Australia's Chinese community. Artefacts dug from the Victorian goldfields, carpenters' tools from industrious furniture makers, and images of the debutante balls of the 1930's Young Chinese League, evoke some of the richness of the Chinese contribution to Australia's history.
The Museum is also home to Dai Loong and the Millennium Dragon, the largest Chinese dragon in the world. On the lower level of the Museum, Finding Gold replicates the experience of the Chinese in Australia's 19th century goldfields. During your visit you can also retrace the journey from Canton on a steamer and become immersed in the adventures of Chinese gold seekers through displays that include a winding deep lead mine and an elaborate goldfields diorama. Afterwards you can consult your fortune in the temple of Guan Gong (a famous Chinese general and deity), be entertained by Cantonese opera in a tent theatre, and see diggers double their winnings on the Chinese lottery. A highlight of the Museum is the costume collection, with traditional wedding clothes, shoes worn by women with bound feet and opera costumes all on display. The Chinese Museum is located in Melbourne's Chinatown - the oldest area of continuous Chinese settlement in the western world - to provide a focal point to the precinct's rich social and architectural heritage. | 
The Museum is open 10am - 5pm everyday (Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day & New Years Day).
