Mission Statement:
The Gramophone Museum’s mission is to provide inspirational interactive displays tracing the history of sound reproduction – and to be a catalyst for further research and discovery into Australia’s connections with the history of recorded music.
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Exhibitions
- More than 2,000 sound reproduction machines, from one-of-a-kind acoustic gramophones, to the very best equipment from the tape, vinyl and digital eras.
- A library of 100,000+ musical recordings, from Australian Icon Dame Nellie Melba, through Australian Country & Western music, to Melbourne’s own King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
- A vast collection of musical ephemera, including original sheet music, ornate needle tins, music-playing toys, advertising posters, books, magazines and discographies.
Education
- A hands-on interactive museum where audiophiles, researchers and students can ‘touch’ the work of the visionary pioneers who drove major advances in sound reproduction history.
- An extensive reference library and online database recording the major milestones in sound recording and reproduction for museum members, researchers, schools and universities.
- Practical workshops with audio restoration specialists on the finer arts of repairing, preserving, and maintaining historical musical machines.
Tourism
- A world-class attraction for music aficionados, in which every machine can be accessed and played, and exhibitions provide personal encounters with iconic sound equipment.
- A versatile and multifaceted venue promoting ‘musical tourism’ through themed events, concerts, expert panels, and online discussion forums.
- A celebration of Australia’s rich musical heritage through concerts and demonstrations of historical music, rare instruments, and recording milestones.
Culture
- A dedicated section of the museum will host a permanent display of Aboriginal music and instruments, celebrating their central role in traditional ceremonies and practices.
- This space will also host regular concerts and cultural performances, featuring musicians and artists from Australia's hugely diverse demographic.
Preservation
- The museum is dedicated to acquiring and restoring historically significant sound equipment, and will maintain close relationships with the country’s finest audio restoration specialists.
- A full-time curator-archivist is charged with documenting, cataloguing and archiving all equipment, music and other artefacts collected by the museum.