What can you send us?

You can send objects to be identified such as fossils, rocks, gems, bones, scats, insects or spiders to search & discover. You can also send photographs or drawings of your objects. Make sure you let us know whether you would like your specimen returned.

How to send specimens
How to send images
Donations
Valuations
Contact us

How to send us specimens for identification

Make sure that the specimen is dead:
For insects and spiders: put them in the fridge for 30 minutes and then into the freezer overnight.
Preserve the specimen:
Small invertebrates (insects, spiders, scorpions etc): moisten a piece of tissue or paper towel with methylated (white) spirits. Make sure the specimen is well padded with the tissue or paper towel in a small container, eg, a film canister or a margarine tub. Pour off any excess methylated spirits, seal container with tape.
Larger animals (crayfish, large spiders, cicadas, large caterpillars etc): Soak in methylated spirits for 24 hours. Remove specimen from spirits. Moisten a piece of tissue or paper towel with methylated spirits. Make sure the specimen is well padded with the tissue or paper towel in a plastic container. Pour off any excess methylated spirits, seal container with tape.
Moths & butterflies: press between dry tissue paper, not wetted.
Scats/droppings/skeletons: make sure they are well dried and packed in cardboard/paper, do not seal in plastic bag or film canister or jar.
Prepare the specimen for the post:
Make sure wet specimens are well sealed and that dry specimens are well padded. Post in a padded envelope.

How to send us images

Take a photo of the object next to something that gives us an idea of scale, for example a shoe, a 10c piece, or even better, a ruler.
Digital photos can be sent to us as .jpg files attached to an email. Please email us first to request this service. Photographs can be posted to us. Please let us know if we can keep and use your images for fact sheets or on our website.

Email: search & discover
Address: search & discover
Australian Museum,
6 College St,
Sydney,
NSW, 2010

Donations

The Australian Museum sometimes accepts donations of dead animals and fossils. For information about what to do if you find a dead animal that you would like to donate you can follow the guidelines set out for bird donations.

Donations of complete collections (usually shells and minerals) must be made through the relevant collection managers.

For the Museum's policies regarding cultural artefacts see the "Policies and Procedures Document for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections and Related Issues".

Remember that it is illegal under New South Wales state legislation to collect protected flora, fauna and cultural artefacts without a permit.

How we use donations

For public programs, such as exhibitions, search & discover, teaching collections, education programs or travelling exhibits
In research, as part of the Museum's scientific collections and in exchange programs with other institutions

Valuations and purchases

The Australian Museum does not value specimens for the public other than to inform you (if we can) that your specimen is of little or no value to our collections or that it is worth what you can get someone to pay for it.
The exception to this is valuation of gemstones, which can be carried out by the Mineralogy department. Charges apply for this service.

For valuations of antiquities and antiques you can contact:

Sotheby's Australia P/L
Level 1, 118-122 Queen St
Woollahra NSW 2025
Phone:(+612) 9362 1000

Lawson-Menzies
212 Cumberland St
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (+612) 9241 3411

The Australian Museum occasionally purchases fossils or minerals, but only specimens that it determines would improve the collection. Specimens that are purchased have to be scientifically important or of exceptional quality.