A 19th century pharmacy, a blood-letting device called a scarifier and an amputation saw are among the expansive collection at the University of Melbourne's Medical History Museum, which recently opened to the public in a new purpose-built location this week.
Established more than 50 years ago, the museum includes medical and scientific equipment, photographs, documents, artefacts and ceremonial objects that have shaped modern medicine.
The museum's collection is the oldest of its kind associated with a medical school in Australia and is now located in a newly refurbished heritage building at 233 Bouverie Street.
Today, the museum holds more than 13,000 items covering the history of the Melbourne Medical School and the broader history of medicine in Australia and internationally.
Items include a velvet-lined amputation kit, which harks back to the time before germ theory and anaesthetics, when over 50 per cent of those operated upon died from infection or shock as well as an early snakebite kit containing ammonia chloride, a remedy used before anti-venom was invented in the 1930s.
Dr Jacqueline Healy, Museums Director said: "The purpose of the Medical History Museum is to encourage appreciation and understanding of the history of medicine and its role in society. The journey of discovery is not straightforward. It is shaped by the values and theoretical frameworks of the time.
"The Medical History Museum can share those challenges through exploring the roles of important individuals, institutions, turning points, and changing responses to community needs."
Since 2018 there has been a major change to the museum's collection policy to better reflect the 65,000 years of Indigenous healing practice that existed before the introduction of European and other countries' medicine.
The inaugural exhibition 'Cultural Medicine: The Art of Indigenous Healing' runs from 29 September to 10 July 2026 and reveals new works by First Nations Australians who have shared their extensive Knowledge of bush medicine and healing practices.
Works have been acquired from artists and art centres throughout Australia including from Kaiela Arts, Shepparton, Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Alice Springs, Barkley Regional Arts, Tennant Creek and Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala.
Curator of the exhibition and Deputy Dean Indigenous, Professor Sandra Eades, said: "It is very special to have a major work from the artists at Kaiela Arts.
"This ceramic piece produced by 14 artists with 67 individual pieces is made from river clay from the banks of the Dungala (Murray), Kaiela (Goulburn) and Broken Rivers on Yorta Yorta Country and shares with us the importance of cultural medicine and its power to heal through a strong community."
The Medical History Museum is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, at 233 Bouverie Street.
