Melbourne Holocaust Museum

In St Kilda, Melbourne Holocaust Museum approaches Holocaust history through survivor testimony, personal objects and local stories. Its purpose extends beyond commemoration: the museum uses education to challenge antisemitism, racism and prejudice, while encouraging greater understanding of difference. The collection is largely made up of material donated by Holocaust survivors who later settled in Melbourne, giving the museum a distinctly local perspective on a global history.

The core exhibition, Everybody Had a Name, follows Jewish life before the Holocaust through to the ways survivors rebuilt their lives in Melbourne. Rather than presenting only a broad historical account, it brings the subject into focus through individual stories, photographs, documents, artefacts and recorded testimony. The museum also offers Walk with Me, a virtual reality experience in which survivor John Szaja Chaskiel takes visitors through places connected to his imprisonment and childhood. It is an intimate, immersive way to encounter a survivor’s account, rather than a conventional display.

For younger visitors, Hidden: Seven Children Saved is designed for audiences aged 10 and over and explores prejudice, solidarity and the importance of standing up for others through the experiences of seven child survivors. The museum also presents online exhibitions, including interactive testimony and collection-based resources, so some of its stories can be explored from home or in the classroom. Its education offering includes age-specific school programs, teacher professional development, classroom resources and adult learning, supported by a specialist team and a stated ‘safely in, safely out’ approach to difficult material.

The museum’s program changes through talks, film screenings, panel discussions and temporary exhibitions. What They Carried: Objects of Survival is scheduled for 31 July 2026 to 31 January 2027, featuring belongings, handmade objects and practical tools connected to survivors who made Melbourne home. The exhibition considers how objects can preserve identity, relationships, dignity and hope under extreme circumstances. Visitors should check the museum’s current program and booking requirements, particularly for age recommendations: Everybody Had a Name and Walk with Me are recommended for people aged 15 and over, while Hidden is aimed at younger visitors from age 10. With its combination of permanent displays, testimony, artefacts, education programs and events, the museum suits reflective solo visits, school groups, adults and families choosing an age-appropriate experience.