It turned popular belief upside down, created a stir among creationists and continues to steer modern science today.

The man behind this revolutionary theory is Charles Darwin and 2009 marks the 200th year of his birth as well as 150 years since On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (subtitled or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life) was published.

To celebrate the anniversary, and to recognise Australia's contribution to the theory, the exhibition Darwin will open at the National Museum of Australia tomorrow.

It will also coincide with the months when Darwin visited Australia in 1836.

The travelling exhibition originally comes from the American Museum of National History in New York and curator Michael Pickering has extended it to incorporate the Australian experience, which he believes is often ignored.

Dr Pickering said, ''It was just a short crossover they were here for three months but this time in Australia was very formative. Australia has a right to feel proud of its contribution to Darwinist theory and development.''

The exhibition begins with the belief in the 19th century that animal species were in isolation and follows Darwin as a young naturalist with his journey on the Beagle inspiring his theory of evolution and natural selection and the reactions to it.

It features a large range of animal and plant specimens, models and live flora and fauna of the species Darwin observed.

These include Iggy the iguana from the National Zoo and Aquarium ,and Bluey the blue-tongued lizard from Tasmania.

''I think it's mandatory for young people to come. Kids from four to 40 will find something here to entertain them,'' Dr Pickering said.

He expected some people to come who did not accept Darwin's theory but said all he asked was that people should keep an open mind.

''Nothing changes the fact that Darwin did travel on the Beagle. Refusing to accept evolution does not extinguish the history of Darwin's experiences, so we encourage people to come and see the history.''

The exhibition is scheduled to run until March 29 next year.