Introduction
Museums are generally engaged in the acquisition, conservation and exhibition of culturally significant objects. The (ABS, 2008c) Australian Culture and Leisure Classifications, 2008 (Second Edition) (cat. no. 4902.0) groups museums into two categories: Art museums (i.e. public art galleries) and Other museums. The latter is a more diverse group which encompasses natural science, applied science, history and transport museums and Indigenous keeping places, amongst others.
This chapter draws together information from the ABS's attendance and industry surveys and the 2006 Census of Population and Housing to provide some details of the use of museum services and the operations of museums. Supplementary data have been obtained from the National Heritage List.