Scientific instruments

The Macleay Museum's scientific instrument collection contains more than 1000 items, including microscopy, electrical and chemical apparatus, glassware, weights and measures, surveying, navigation, drawing and meteorological instruments.

Invertebrates

The Macleay Museum holds one of the oldest and historically most significant insect collections in Australia. There are more than half a million specimens in the collection dating from 1756.

Historic photographs

The Macleay Museum's historic photograph collection contains approximately 50,000 images dating from the late 1840s to the 1960s.

Vertebrates

The Macleay Museum's bird, mammal, reptile, fish, and amphibian collections contain many rare and unusual specimens of mostly Australian species.

Ethnography

The Macleay Museum's ethnographic collection comprises about 6000 objects from Australia and the Pacific region. Nearly half the collection was acquired between 1865 and 1891.