Islamic Museum of Australia

What Islamic Museum of Australia does

The Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) is a registered not-for-profit and Deductible Gift Recipient charity operating from a single site at 15A Anderson Road, Thornbury in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Founded by Moustafa Fahour OAM in 2014 (per the museum's own materials) and listed as established in 2010 in firmographic records, it is the only dedicated Islamic museum in Australia, with the Fahour Family serving as patron and founding benefactors. The institution's mission is to build understanding, celebrate diversity, and share Islamic heritage and Australian Muslim contributions to society, and it has served over 250,000 visitors, school children, and educators since opening.

IMA monetises through a diversified non-profit revenue mix: tiered admission tickets ($16 adult / $14 concession / $10 child / $45 family, with free teacher entry), an online and on-site gift shop selling books, art prints, clothing, perfume, and educational merchandise, venue hire for corporate and private events, curriculum-aligned school excursions and incursions, professional development and cultural-awareness training for organisations, bespoke corporate partnership packages, and tax-deductible donations split across categories including IMA 2.0 expansion. Distribution is multi-channel — physical museum, own e-commerce storefront, dedicated school-booking portal, Google Arts & Culture digital exhibits, and an educational portal — supported by social media, email, and community partnerships (SBS Australia, Crescent Wealth, The Social Studio, Al Noori, Arada).

The product surface spans physical exhibitions (Boundless Legacies, Sakinah, A Common Word, Australian Muslim Artists series), the 2011 Boundless Plains documentary, the Muslim Arts Hub platform, the Winds of Change Experience, the IMA at Home remote program, the Future Leaders Program, the Patron's Fund, and the Australian Muslim Academic Scholarship Program. The next phase — IMA 2.0 — extends the museum into a new Community Centre for learning, dialogue, and connection, representing both a capital expansion and a strategic pivot from a single-purpose museum to a multi-use community institution.

Name

Islamic Museum of Australia

Legal name

Islamic Museum of Australia

Website

https://islamicmuseum.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Islamic Museum of Australia is a Melbourne-based not-for-profit cultural institution and the only dedicated Islamic museum in Australia, serving schools, families, corporate groups, and the broader Australian public with exhibitions, curriculum-aligned education programs, and cultural-awareness training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), History, Heritage & Museum-Focused Study Tours (THAKAGAN)

Keywords

• Cultural museum exhibitions
• Islamic heritage education
• School education programs
• Cultural awareness training
• Community cultural events

Headquarters

HQ city

Thornbury

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Ticket sales for museum entry with tiered pricing for adults, students, children, and families. Teachers with valid registration receive free admission.
2. Gift Shop Sales: E-commerce and on-site store selling books, art prints, gift items, clothing, perfumes, food products, and Islamic merchandise.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations as a registered charity with the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). Supports education, art, community events, volunteers, patron's fund, and IMA 2.0 expansion.
4. Venue Hire: Rental of museum facilities for events, corporate functions, and private gatherings.
5. Education Programs: School excursion packages, incursions, professional development for teachers, and cultural awareness training for organizations.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship packages developed bespoke for corporate partners seeking to support community organizations focused on education and social cohesion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Islamic Museum of Australia operates a physical museum showcasing exhibitions on Islamic art, culture, history, and Muslim contributions to Australian society, complemented by an online store and a range of educational and cultural programs. Its core services include school excursions and curriculum-aligned education packages, professional development and cultural awareness training, venue hire, membership, and donations-supported community programs.

Product overview

The Islamic Museum of Australia operates as a physical museum with an integrated e-commerce platform, offering cultural education and Islamic heritage experiences. The core offering consists of physical museum exhibitions and galleries showcasing Islamic art, culture, and Australian Muslim history, complemented by an online store selling merchandise including books, DVDs, clothing, art prints, gifts, and educational materials. Additional products include education programs for schools (guided tours, workshops, incursions), professional development and cultural awareness training, venue hire, membership programs, corporate partnerships, and donation/scholarship initiatives. The museum also maintains a dedicated educational portal for remote learning and is developing IMA 2.0, a major expansion including a new Community Centre. Key branded content includes the Boundless Plains documentary series about Australian Muslim history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IMA Cafe: On-site cafe serving food and beverages to museum visitors
• Muslim Arts Hub
• Boundless Plains
• Winds of Change Experience
• IMA 2.0

Products and services

• Museum Exhibitions Physical museum galleries featuring exhibitions on Islamic art, culture, history, and Muslim contributions to Australian society, open to the general public.
• School Education Programs Curriculum-aligned educational packages for schools including guided tours, geometric and mosaic art workshops, interactive games and quizzes, and incursion visits. Programs align with the Australian National Curriculum.
• Professional Development for Educators Professional learning programs for educators focusing on cultural awareness, Islamic education, and curriculum delivery.
• Cultural Awareness Training Cultural awareness training sessions delivered to corporate and community groups to support diversity and inclusion.
• Venue Hire Event venue rental for corporate functions, community events, and private celebrations at the museum's Thornbury facility.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership offering free museum entry, exclusive events, discounts at the shop and cafe, and other member benefits.
• Corporate Partnership Program Bespoke sponsorship packages developed for corporate sector partners supporting community education, intergenerational learning, and social cohesion outcomes.
• Educational Portal Dedicated online education platform providing primary and secondary school students across Australia with remote access to museum educational content.
• IMA Cafe On-site cafe offering food and beverages to museum visitors, with availability for group bookings and daily visitors.
• Online Store E-commerce platform selling Islamic-themed merchandise including books, DVDs, art prints, greeting cards, clothing, key rings, magnets, perfume, consumables, puzzles, games, and educational materials with Australia-wide delivery.
• Patron's Fund Fund supporting the academic and creative pursuits of Australians contributing to the museum's mission, including scholarships and bursaries.
• Australian Muslim Academic Scholarship Program Scholarship program supporting Australian Muslim students to complete undergraduate or postgraduate study at Australian universities.
• Donations Program Tax-deductible donation program supporting museum operations across categories including education, art, community events, volunteers, patron's fund, and the IMA 2.0 expansion. Donations over $2 are tax deductible under DGR status.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250,000 visitors and school children served since opening

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SBS AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing cross-cultural content and media support for exhibitions and programs
• The Social StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise producing IMA branded face masks - empowering young people from refugee backgrounds
• Google Arts & CulturecoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital partnership bringing museum artifacts and exhibitions online through Google's cultural heritage platform

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aga Khan Museum: The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto presents Islamic art and cultural heritage with an emphasis on education and interfaith dialogue. It is closely comparable to IMA given its focus on Islamic civilization, educational programming, and community engagement mandate.
• Museum of Tolerance: The Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles focuses on cultural awareness, interfaith dialogue, and combating prejudice through exhibits and educational programs. Comparable to IMA's mission of building intercultural understanding and addressing stereotypes through curated experiences.
• Museum of Islamic Art (Doha): The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha is a flagship dedicated Islamic museum showcasing Islamic art, heritage, and culture. It is directly comparable as both institutions curate Islamic-focused collections and host educational programming for cross-cultural audiences.
• Arab American National Museum: The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan documents Arab American contributions and culture through exhibits, educational programs, and community events. Comparable to IMA as an ethnic/cultural heritage museum emphasizing contributions narratives, education, and community identity.
• Immigration Museum (Melbourne): The Immigration Museum in Melbourne focuses on the stories of migration and cultural communities in Australia, including shared community programming and education. Directly comparable given shared Melbourne geography, multicultural community focus, and education-driven programming.
• Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is one of the largest dedicated Islamic museums globally, with extensive collections and educational offerings. Directly comparable to IMA as a dedicated Islamic museum operation focused on artifacts, education, and visitor experience.
• Jewish Museum of Australia: The Jewish Museum of Australia is a Melbourne-based cultural institution dedicated to Jewish heritage and history with educational programs for schools. The most directly comparable peer given shared Melbourne location, faith-based heritage museum mission, education programming model, and similar target audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Powerhouse Museum: The Powerhouse Museum (Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences) is a major Sydney cultural institution with rotating exhibitions, educational programming, and an active venue hire business. Comparable as a similarly structured museum operation with education and events revenue streams.
• National Gallery of Victoria: The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia's largest art museum and a major Melbourne cultural institution with extensive educational programming and venue hire operations. Comparable to IMA as a Melbourne-based cultural institution with comparable audiences, school excursion offerings, and event venue operations, though it operates at much larger scale.
• Australian Museum: The Australian Museum is Australia's oldest museum and a leading cultural and natural history institution with broad educational programs. Comparable to IMA as a major Australian museum competing for school excursions, tourists, and cultural programming budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IslamicMuseum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@islamicmuseumaustralia
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISLAMICMUSEUM
• Instagraminstagram.com/islamicmuseumaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/islamic-museum-of-australia

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Islamic Museum of Australia