Australian Centre for the Moving Image

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is the country's museum of screen culture, occupying a prominent wing of Federation Square in central Melbourne, facing Flinders Street Station across the plaza. Known as ACMI, it is devoted to film, television, video games and digital art, and ranks among the world's most-visited museums of the moving image.

Its permanent exhibition traces the screen. The free flagship gallery, 'The Story of the Moving Image', runs from early optical toys and the birth of cinema through Australian film and television to video games and immersive digital works, blending historic artefacts with interactive stations. A personalised 'Lens' device lets visitors collect and revisit exhibits after their visit.

It is a working cinema and gallery. ACMI runs two cinemas with a program of classics, festivals and retrospectives, alongside changing ticketed exhibitions that have covered animation studios, directors and game design. The centre reopened in 2021 after a major renovation that reshaped its galleries and street presence within Federation Square.

Practical notes: ACMI could hardly be more central, sitting directly on Federation Square opposite Flinders Street Station and the Hosier Lane laneways; it is fully step-free with lifts between levels. Entry to the permanent exhibition is free, with charges only for special exhibitions and cinema sessions, making it easy to drop into for an hour or a full afternoon. It suits families, film buffs and anyone sheltering from Melbourne's changeable weather. Combine a visit with the surrounding square, the NGV and the nearby laneways for a compact central-city cultural day. Its education studios, a well-stocked shop and a lively events program of talks, screenings and game-design showcases make it a repeat destination rather than a one-off, particularly for families and film enthusiasts.