Bradman's baggy green cap, Bart Cummings' collection of Melbourne Cups, Olive branches awarded to Edwin Flack at the inaugural Olympic Games in 1886, Cathy Freeman's swift suit from her gold-medal winning run in Sydney 2000 – these items are more than mere sporting memorabilia, they are touchstones in the forging of a national identity. Some select displays are deliberately interactive to engage kids, but overall this is a visceral experience where every one of the 3500-plus pieces housed across the eight permanent exhibition spaces in this magnificent museum has an important story to tell... or text, in the case of the Shane Warne hologram.
The National Sports Museum is located across two levels beneath the Olympic Stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Joint ticket with an MCG Tour are available.