Melbourne Immigration Museum

You won't easily forget the heart-touching stories that feature in the Melbourne Immigration Museum.

They are about the culture and heritage of people who often landed in Australia with virtually nothing except scars of war and oppression, covered with a band-aid of hope.

The museum, however, is a monument not so much to their pain and suffering, but rather to their optimism and courage as they started a new life. You will see that in their smiles and their joy.

Melbourne, Australia, has been the destination for immigrants from dozens of countries. The museum is a focus for ethnic groups and nationalities as well as for the broader community.

The historic Old Customs Building, a Melbourne landmark for almost a century and a half, accommodates the museum, making it a special tourist attraction in Melbourne.

Proximity to accommodation in Melbourne city puts the museum on the itinerary of many visitors who need take only a short walk in the Melbourne weather.

The Immigration Museum, which opened in 1998, may not be the brightest star among the Melbourne museums, but it certainly rates highly for entertaining displays and collections unravelling the threads of the colourful tapestry that is modern Australia.

It has received support from respected community leaders such as Sarah and Ballieu Myer, who have been acknowledged in the naming of the museum's Immigration Discovery Centre. The Centre takes the museum experience to a new level, helping visitors conduct their own research, maybe tracing their ancestors' journeys long ago to Melbourne, Victoria.