The museum described the acquisition as the preservation of "an iconic slice of history," ensuring one of Bradman's most treasured items will be available for the public to view for generations to come.
The dark green cap was worn by Bradman during the 1946-47 Ashes series against England, a landmark contest which marked the resumption of international cricket between the two rivals in the aftermath of the Second World War. Bradman, who finished his career with the still-unmatched Test batting average of 99.94, had returned to lead his country following six years of global conflict that had put professional sport on hold.
National Museum director Katherine McMahon reflected on the wider significance of the series, noting that cricket provided a symbolic return to normal life in the post-war years.
"Sir Donald's baggy green marks the life of Australia's most celebrated batsman and reflects a time when sporting heroes gave Australians hope, following the heartbreak and hardship of World War II," McMahon said. "We are delighted this national treasure has found a home here at the National Museum of Australia for all Australians to enjoy."
The cap was purchased from a private owner and joins a very select group of known Bradman baggy greens - only 11 are believed to exist. Collectors continue to pay huge sums for such pieces. In fact, one of Bradman's other caps, worn during the 1947-48 series against India, his final home Tests, sold for US$250,000 just last year.
The "baggy green" remains one of the most cherished symbols in Australian sport. Awarded to players on their Test debut, the woollen cap is regarded as a badge of honour, embodying the pride, tradition, and history of the national side. For Bradman, it represented an era in which he was more than just a cricketer - he was a national figurehead, inspiring Australians through both his feats on the field and the resilience they symbolised off it.
Australia's Arts Minister Tony Burke said the museum's purchase meant the cap would now be protected as part of the nation's cultural fabric.
"You'd be hard-pressed to meet an Australian that hasn't heard of the great Donald Bradman, arguably the greatest cricketer of all time," Burke said. "Now to have one of his iconic baggy greens in the National Museum of Australia means visitors will have the opportunity to get up close and connect with our sporting and cultural history."
The newly acquired cap will be placed in the National Historical Collection in Canberra, where it will sit alongside other pieces of Bradman memorabilia, including an autographed bat from the 1934 Ashes series opener at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
Bradman, who was described by Wisden as the greatest to "have ever graced the gentleman's game," passed away in 2001 at the age of 92. More than two decades on, his name and his exploits remain interwoven with Australia's national identity - and the addition of his baggy green to the museum ensures that link between cricket and country remains vividly on display.