Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks win Victorian Tourism Awards
Museum Victoria venues Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks have both been recognised for their significant contribution to Victorian tourism at the RACV 2010 Victorian Tourism Awards.
Melbourne Museum received top honours at last night’s award ceremony with the Melbourne Airport Award for Major Tourist Attraction, while Scienceworks received the Herald Sun Award for Tourist Attraction.
Both Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks will now compete on a national level when they represent Victoria in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Perth in March 2011.
“The last financial year has been one of landmark achievements for Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks, and these awards have been very well deserved,” said Dr Patrick Greene, CEO, Museum Victoria.
“Melbourne Museum is going from strength to strength with a winning mix: free entry for children and concessions and a year-round program of exhibitions and activities for people of all ages.”
“The same is true of Scienceworks, providing an environment for children and families to experience science as a source of excitement and adventure.”
Both museums celebrated a successful and record-breaking 2009-10 financial year, with Melbourne Museum recording an impressive 1,077 773 visitors and Scienceworks receiving 538,000 visitors – the highest recorded visitation numbers for both museums.
Since opening at the Carlton Gardens precinct on 21 October 2000, the Melbourne Museum has welcomed more than 7.5 million people through its doors, while Scienceworks has greeted 6.3 million visitors since opening to the public in 1992.
“The year’s record visitation for Scienceworks reflects the enormous popularity of Star Wars: Where Science Meets the Imagination, an international exhibition which was presented at only two museums in Australia” said Dr Greene.
“Melbourne Museum’s innovative permanent exhibitions combined with internationally acclaimed travelling exhibitions such as A Day in Pompeii and this year’s Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition has made it the country’s most popular museum.”
The Victorian Tourism Awards recognises and rewards organisations that contribute excellence, innovation and commitment to the Victorian tourism industry.
For further public information on Museum Victoria, phone 13 11 02 or visit museumvictoria.com.au