Great Barrier Reef Aquarium

Australia’s National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is committed to redeveloping the National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef and continue to offer people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to access the Reef on land with the world’s largest living tropical reef aquarium.

Join us on this exciting journey. Subscribe to receive all the latest news straight to your inbox here.

A new era in tropical reef education

Have your say

For more than three decades, the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium has welcomed millions of visitors from around the world and just around the corner, to experience the magic of the Great Barrier Reef.

Now the Aquarium is undergoing a once-in-a-generation redevelopment, and we invite you to have your say. If you could design an interactive exhibit that celebrates the Reef and its unique creatures, what would it be?

Contact us and share your ideas on what you would like to see, hear, and feel in the new Aquarium.

Have your say here

Redeveloping the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium, first opened in June 1987, will bring an exciting new era of edu-tourism to Townsville.

Visitors can look forward to world-class living exhibitions and immersive, interactive experiences that will educate and inspire action to protect the Reef. The project is being designed with operational efficiency and sustainability in mind, ensuring a contemporary facility and strong return on investment for the Australian public.

Additionally, the project will enhance employment prospects, marine science education opportunities and various career pathways for the people of North Queensland.   

Marine life on the move

The Great Barrier Reef Aquarium has successfully completed the relocation of fish and corals from the world’s largest living coral reef exhibit to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) over several months in preparation for its redevelopment.  

These animals will be returned to the Aquarium to support the commissioning of new living exhibits and reduce the need for wild-stock collection.

Watch all the behind-the-scenes activity of moving hundreds fish and corals from the Aquarium to their temporary home at AIMS. Press play to watch the behind-the-scenes video.

Frequently asked questions

  • The Reef Authority is focused on negotiating and a new lease with the trustee of the land on which the Aquarium building stands. While our focus is on the current location, alternative sites in Townsville will be considered further if necessary.

  • The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is working with the site owner, the Port of Townsville Ltd, to understand a way forward for the project, and these discussions will determine a reopening date for the Aquarium.

  • Funding is secure. The Australian Government has invested a total of $180.1 million to redevelop the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium, Australia’s National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef.

  • The Reef Authority has secured all necessary Federal capital works approvals to deliver Australia’s National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. We look forward to progressing this nationally significant project once all local development approvals are granted including a new lease agreement for the land on which the Aquarium will be built.

  • The Reef Authority’s earlier design work has laid a powerful foundation to deliver a world-class Aquarium. Preliminary designs are developed and we will look forward to sharpening and refining the designs when local approvals have been secured, including a new lease agreement for the land on which the Aquarium will be built.

  • The original Aquarium is still there and can be seen in Kelleher Place. It was the buildings next door, including the iMax Theatre, Cultural Centre and offices, that were demolished. The vacant land located next to the original Aquarium building is owned by the Port of Townsville.

  • The welfare of all animals from the Aquarium remains our highest priority. We worked with several industry partners across Queensland to rehome some of the larger animals, and we've relocated fish and corals from the Coral Reef Exhibit to purpose-built systems located on site at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Our animals will remain here, cared for by our team of expert Curatorial staff, until such time we can bring them home, adding life to our Aquarium once again. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to get a behind the scenes peak and regular updates on our animals.  

  • As the Reef Authority is a Commonwealth agency, it is subject to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) to conduct its procurement activities. The CPRs set out particular requirements to ensure that its procurement processes are appropriately competitive so the Reef Authority can achieve the best value for money outcome for the Commonwealth which includes ensuring all suppliers receive the same information. The Reef Authority uses AusTender to publish any relevant approaches to market inviting potential suppliers to participate in its procurements AusTender Website

    Alternatively please email procurement@gbrmpa.gov.au

  • If you are a member of the media and are interested in learning more about the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium, please contact the Reef Authority media team on (07) 4750 0846 or email: media@gbrmpa.gov.au. 

Join us on the journey

Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes progress on our redevelopment.

Subscribe here