The Australian National surfing Museum opened its doors in December 1993. Australia’s first dedicated surfing history museum was soon recognised by the International Surfing Association as “A place of surfing significance”. The ANSM is the largest museum of its kind anywhere in the world and is the only accredited surfing museum. The museum is dedicated to telling the story of Australian surfing through permanent displays and temporary exhibitions and is also the home of the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame which recognises significant Australian surfers and the contributions they have made to industry, sport and culture. The museum is run under the auspices of the Surf Coast Shire Council and managed by a team that combines full time paid staff and enthusiastic volunteers. Situated in the heart of Torquay’s Surf City precinct, the museum is open 9am-5pm 364 days a year and welcomes locals, visitors and international travelers keen to explore Australia’s rich surfing heritage.

Vision

To be the centre of Australian surfing heritage.

Purpose

To collect, preserve, document and share nationally and internationally significant items and stories of Australia’s surfing history and culture.

Values

Authenticity in the stories and information we share.
Inclusivity by representing the diversity of the Australian surfing community.
Sustainability – environmentally and economically.

STAFF

Craig Baird

Curator

Craig Baird started his involvement with the surfing industry the day he left school, first managing the Piping Hot surf shop, then a twenty six year career painting surfboards for Rip Curl, Watercooled and other

prominent Victorian surfboard labels. He has worked alongside many of the world’s most celebrated surfboard shapers and had his work has appeared under the feet of some of the world’s best surfers. Craig started work at the museum in 1994 as a content specialist but also puts his event management, museums training and creative talents to great use to help share the story of Australian surfing.

Pete Murphy

Team Leader

Pete Murphy, or ‘Murf’, as he is widely known, arrived at the Australian National Surfing Museum on the back of a long career at Surfing Victoria as Major Events and Operations Manager.

A big part of which was managing the iconic Rip Curl Pro World Tour event at Bells Beach. He saw a lot of changes in the event over that time, including the shift from ASP World Tour to the current World Surf League format.
Prior to his time at Surfing Victoria Pete had worked for 20 years in Natural Resource Management. With all of that experience behind him, he really enjoyed the challenges of managing the impacts, cultural, human and environmental, of major events on the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve and the Victorian coast.
He is a Commitee member of the Torquay Boardriders Club and froths about all there is to the lifestyle that is Surfing.

Kim Biggs

Coordinator – Arts & Creative Economy

Born and bred in Melbourne, Kim has a long association with the Surf Coast region and many fond memories of summers spent in Anglesea as a child.

Kim is a museum professional with a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) and Post Graduate qualifications in Museum Studies supported by many years of professional experience in the museums, tourism and arts development industries. This includes five years as Museum Director of Shear Outback: The Australian Shearers Hall of Fame in the Riverina Region of NSW, and an ongoing affiliation with the NSW Regional Arts Development Network and over ten years as part of the NSW Regional Museum Advisors Network.

Kim joined the team in July 2021.

Evelyn Whitelaw

Coordinator – Arts & Creative Economy

Originally from Canberra, Evelyn spent her summers in the water at North Wollongong and Broulee. Evelyn is a museum and heritage professional with a

Bachelor of Arts (History), Masters of Museums and Collections and a Masters of Cultural and Environmental Heritage (Honours). She came to the ANSM in 2019 from her role as Head of Public Programs for the National Library of Scotland, and has also worked for the National Museum of Australia, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strair Islander Studies, the Australian National University and New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Wonderful place to enrich your life and awareness of surfing.

Otieno Ogunah
13/07/2026

Great little museum giving information about Surfing.

Wahaj Meer
11/07/2026

What a great museum, I started surfing at 12 years of age in the late 60's. This museum is a true to life time capsule of the evolution and great times of surfing and its characters. Brilliant stuff and so good to have all the brand name surf shops nearby. A hop skip and a jump to Bells Beach after a great morning at the museum. Highly recommend for a day out. As Captain Goodvibes the surfing Pig of Steel would say. Hang low and a bit to the left, you'll be right son !

Barry Teitzel
08/07/2026
Mostly surfboard displays with minimal written information. The best section imo was the theatre, as it's mostly just boards on display. Worth a visit if in Torquay

Shan
16/04/2026

Some great stories about the beginning of surfing in Australia and the history of surf boards. Very interesting!

Eddie Groom
16/01/2026

Kleines, schönes Surfmuseum mit diversen Suftbretten und Equipment aus Ausstellungsstücke. Viele Geschichten über lokale Berühmtheiten und einer Filmvorführung.

Jan Belde
30/12/2025
A Memorable Visit to the Australian National Surfing Museum – Where History Meets the Ocean Spirit A friend and I recently visited the Australian National Surfing Museum, and it turned out to be far more than just a stop on our weekend itinerary, it was a journey through Australia’s deep connection with the ocean and the art of surfing. From the moment we stepped inside, we were immersed in an atmosphere that celebrated both sport and culture. The museum’s collection of vintage surfboards and memorabilia tells a powerful story of evolution, of how surfing shaped communities, lifestyles, and even attitudes toward the sea. We couldn’t help but laugh as we tried the interactive surfing simulators; balancing on those boards (without actual waves!) proved to be both humbling and hilarious. What truly stood out was the museum’s ability to blend education with emotion. Every exhibit seemed to honor not just the athletes, but the pioneers who turned surfing into a symbol of freedom and connection. The visuals, the storytelling, and even the soundtrack of rolling waves made the experience feel alive. As we left, we found ourselves reflecting on how surfing isn’t merely a sport, it’s a philosophy of movement, balance, and respect for nature. Visiting the Australian National Surfing Museum reminded me that great experiences don’t just teach us about history, they invite us to feel part of it.

Heidy Wandurraga
09/11/2025

Had a great morning looking back through the history of surfing very informative .

Karen Conyers
05/11/2025

A great museum where I learnt a lot about Australian surfing champions. Saw surfboards from the original wooden ones with no fins to the up to date lightweight boards with 3 fins. A tour guide took us around and his explanations were great, including a movie of surfers catching some huge waves.

Rosemarie Moore
04/11/2025