Do you feel like going to a museum? Are you in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane? Then you’re in luck!
We’ve selected two of our favourite museums from each of these bustling cities, so you don’t have to waste any time deciding where to go! Enjoy!
National Sports Museum (Melbourne)
This fascinating museum is a must-see for sports fans. Located inside the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, the National Sports Museum is home to exhibitions on a wide range of sports, including football, soccer and, of course, cricket.
We recommend the ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ exhibition, which tells the story of Australia’s participation in the Olympic Games. It contains artefacts belonging to some of the biggest names in sport – such as Edwin Flack, who was the first Australian to win an event.
It will take you about 30 minutes to drive here in the car hire Tullamarine (Melbourne Airport) passengers choose for reliability and customer service!
Old Melbourne Gaol (Melbourne)
If you’re interested in the notorious Ned Kelly, the Old Melbourne Gaol should be your first stop. This precinct contains Melbourne’s oldest prison, as well as the former Police City Watch House.
Ned Kelly was famously imprisoned here, and his Death Mask is on display in the museum’s execution area. If you’re feeling extra daring, the Old Melbourne Gaol offers Hangman’s Night Tours, allowing you to experience areas of the prison at night.
We don’t recommend bringing your children along to this one!
You’ll find the Old Melbourne Gaol on Russell Street, which is near the CBD.
Museum of Australian Currency Notes (Sydney)
There are some really interesting displays at the Museum of Australian Currency Notes, covering the “chaotic currency experiments” of pre-1900s Australia all the way through to the present day.
Did you know the first Australian currency notes were produced sometime between 1900 and 1920? Or that the Reserve Bank of Australia didn’t exist until 1960? These are just some of the useful things we’ve learned at this museum.
The Museum of Australian Currency Notes is currently hosting an exhibition on pocket money. On display are money boxes from the early 20th century, as well as posters and propaganda ensuring children from the ’50s and ’60s to save.
Justice and Police Museum (Sydney)
If you drive for about 20 minutes in the car rental Sydney Airport travellers love, you’ll reach Phillip Street and the glorious Justice and Police Museum.
Here lies a startlingly collection of weapons, used by some of the city’s earliest criminals, as well as a disconcerting mug-shot gallery.
The building that houses these artefacts is a piece of history itself – it served as a police station to the Court during the mid-nineteenth century. The interior and exterior has been painstakingly restored to look as it would have in the 1890s, offering visitors a truly authentic experience.
MacArthur Museum (Brisbane)
The MacArthur Museum looks at Brisbane’s involvement in World War II, specifically its position as Pacific headquarters during this time.
It contains three main exhibitions: ‘Brisbane Goes to War’, ‘MacArthur in Brisbane’ and ‘MacArthur and ANZUS’ – all information and thought-provoking displays that really capture this important period in the state’s history.
You’ll find this hidden gem on Edward Street.
Queensland Maritime Museum (Brisbane)
We know that even land-lubbers will get a kick out of the Queensland Maritime Museum, which boasts a fine collection of maritime books, photographs and documents.
The gallery has been divided into a number of categories, including Navigation, Vessels, Ship Models and Lighthouses, so it’s easy to head directly for the area of maritime history that interests you most.
There is a particularly interesting display on ‘Women and the Sea’ that is definitely worth a look.
Located on the Brisbane River, the Queensland Maritime Museum is a not-to-be-missed experience for adults and children alike.