Adelaide is an incredible city to visit (or even live in) with an incredible zest for culture and knowledge. There are numerous museums in Adelaide to explore across a large number of focus areas from history to art, vehicles to culture. We want to explore them all, but which Adelaide museums are best for kids? We hope you can help us choose.
The Best Museums in Adelaide to Explore
Table of Contents
Museums in North Terrace
South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum is an incredible space to explore housing the largest collection of Aboriginal Australian artefacts in the world, 50,000 registered fossil specimen and over four million specimens and cultural items.
When visiting with kids, make sure to head to the Discovery Centre on level one.
Opening Times: The Museum is open every day from 10.00 am–5.00 pm, including weekends and all public holidays except Christmas Day and Good Friday. We open at 12 noon on ANZAC Day (25 April).
Ticket Prices: FREE entry
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide SA
Website: www.samuseum.sa.gov.au
Museum of Classical Archaeology
The Museum of Classical Archaeology has more than 1700 items on display, making it the largest collection of artefacts from ancient Greece and Rome in South Australia.
CURRENTLY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Opening Times: The Museum is open to the general public on the first Tuesday of every month (excluding December and January), between 11.00am – 3.00pm.
Ticket Prices: FREE entry
Address: University of Adelaide, Mitchell Building, North Terrace, Adelaide SA
Website: arts.adelaide.edu.au/humanities/the-museum-of-classical-archaeology
Migration Museum
Housed in an early colonial bluestone building that was a destitute asylum from 1850–1918 and before that, a school for Aboriginal children, Adelaide’s Migration Museum was opened in 1986 as it the oldest of its kind in the country.
Exploring the Migration Museum offers visitors to explore the stories of migrants arriving in Australia – including that of my grandparents!
Opening Times: 10.00 am — 5.00 pm daily | Closed Christmas Day
Ticket Prices: Admission is FREE | Some events & exhibitions are chargeable
Address: 82 Kintore Ave, Adelaide
Website: migration.history.sa.gov.au
State Library of South Australia
We quickly fall in love with libraries when we visit, and the State Library of South Australia has been no exception. I think it says something for what is valued in South Australia when you learn that a mere fortnight after the colony was created that the South Australian Literary Association was formed and members donated books to the establishment of the colony’s first library.
The Library has continued to connect visitors with knowledge through its many books. The Children’s Literature Research Collection was established in 1959 and boasts over 65,000 books, periodicals, comics, board and table games, and toys.
The State Library of South Australia has regular exhibits of its own and visiting collections. Don’t miss out on visiting.
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday | 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Ticket Prices: FREE
Address: North Terrace & Kintore Ave, Adelaide
Website: www.slsa.sa.gov.au
The Centre for Democracy
The purpose of the Centre of Democracy is to showcase the journey that established democracy in South Australia and the power of our individual voice.
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday | 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Ticket Prices: Free admission
Address: Institute Building, corner of North Terrace and, Kintore Ave, Adelaide SA
Website: centreofdemocracy.sa.gov.au
Ayers House Museum
Ayers House Museum is an immersive experience that allows visitors to explore three levels of Victorian-Era grandeur.
Opening Times: Saturday & Sunday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Ticket Prices: Family ticket is $20.00
Address: 288 North Terrace, Adelaide
Website: ayershousemuseum.org.au
Santos Museum of Economic Botany
If you love plants and are interested in learning more about them then a trip to this Adelaide museum should be on your cards. The Santos Museum of Economic Botany was established back in 1881 and is home to an amazing permanent collection showcasing countless plants and their various uses with a focus on minimising waste.
Opening Times: Wednesday – Sunday | 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Ticket Prices: FREE
Address: Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Website: www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au
MOD
MOD is a futuristic museum of discovery with each exhibit designed and developed by designed for 15-25 year olds, all made to be interactive. MOD features seven gallery spaces which host a new exhibition every six months.
Opening Times: Temporarily closed
Address: North Terrace, adjacent Morphett Street Bridge, Adelaide
Website: mod.org.au
Museums in the Adelaide City Centre
Tandanya – National Aboriginal Cultural Institute
At almost 30 years old, Tandanya is the oldest Aboriginal-owned and operated art centre and a space you must visit to connect with the art and story-telling of Australia’s First Peoples.
Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.
Ticket Prices: FREE
Address: 253 Grenfell St, Adelaide SA
Website: www.tandanya.com.au
Museums in North Adelaide
Bradman Collection
Donald Bradman is reputed to be the greatest batsman that cricket has ever seen. Adelaide Oval features a purpose-built museum that houses the Bradman Collection, a curation of Bradman’s personal memorabilia spanning 1927 to 1977.
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday | 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Ticket Prices: The collection is free for the public to view.
Address: Adelaide Oval, War Memorial Dr, North Adelaide SA
Website: www.adelaideoval.com.au/bradman-collection
David Roche Foundation
David J Roche AM (1930–2013) was a collector for over 60 years. He established his foundation in 1999 to preserve his curation of antiques, paintings and objets d’art for generations to come. The museum provides a space where these magnificent pieces can be displayed to the public.
Opening Times: Reopening 12 January 2021 | Tuesday to Saturday | 10.00 am 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm entry
Ticket Prices: General: $12.00 | Concession: $10.00 | Tickets must be booked in advance
Address: 241 Melbourne St, North Adelaide SA
Website: www.rochefoundation.com.au
Museums in Port Adelaide
South Australian Maritime Museum
If you love the ocean and are interested in maritime museum, the South Australian Maritime Museum is going to be one of the Adelaide Museums you will want to visit. Created to preserve, explore and celebrate the human history of our oceans and rivers, the kids will love the adventure of seeing so many of the vessels as well as the historic Port Adelaide Lighthouse
Opening Times: Daily between 10.00 am – 5.00 pm
Ticket Prices: Family $34.50 | Adult: $15.00 | Concession: $9.00 | Child: $6.00
Address: 126 Lipson St, Port Adelaide SA
Website: https://maritime.history.sa.gov.au/
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide is Australia’s largest undercover railway museum with over 100 exhibits representing State, Commonwealth and private railway operators on the three major rail gauges used in Australia.
Opening Times: 10.00 am to 4.30 pm daily
Ticket Prices: Adult $15.00 | Child $6.00 | Families $36.00
Address: 76 Lipson St, Port Adelaide SA
Website: https://nrm.org.au/
South Australian Aviation Museum
The South Australian Aviation Museum was established back in 1984 when a group of aeroplane mad individuals came together and initially exhibited the Avro Anson. Today visitors can explore this Adelaide Museum and see a variety of aircraft, engines, propellers, historic displays and memorabilia.
Watch out for the Engine Run and Open Cockpit’days when many of the Museum’s working engines are run and numerous cockpits are open for inspection.
Opening Times: Daily – Every day except Christmas Day| 10.30am-4.30pm
Ticket Prices: Family (2 adults, 3 children) $25.00 | Adults $10.00 | Concession cards $8.00 | Children (5-15yrs) $5.00 | Children (under 5) Free
Address: 66 Lipson St, Port Adelaide SA
Website: http://www.saam.org.au/
Museums in Greater Adelaide
South Australian Police Museum
Housed in the historic Thebarton Police Barracks, the South Australian Police Museum provides a visual display of the role of police through the 19th, and 20th centuries, along with a glimpse into the complex world of 21st century policing.
Opening Times: Thursdays |
Address: Thebarton Police Barracks, Gaol RoadAdelaide
Website: www.southaustralianpolicehistoricalsociety.com/
Adelaide Gaol
Those who have been visiting the Kid Bucket List for a while will know that we love visiting old gaols, and the Adelaide Gaol was no exception. As the oldest remaining colonial public buildings in Adelaide, Adelaide Gaol was once home to the most notorious and dangerous criminals in the state for 147 years.
Around 300,000 prisoners stepped through Adelaide Gaol and 45 inmates where hanged here. Visiting with the kids can be quite an interesting trip!
Opening Times: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm – 7 days a week | Last entry for self-guided tours is at 3.00 pm
Ticket Prices: Family $37.00 | Adult $15.00 | Child (aged 4 – 15) $9.00
Address: 18 Gaol Rd, Adelaide SA
Website: https://www.adelaidegaol.sa.gov.au/Home
Salisbury Folk Museum
Situated in the old police station and run by Salisbury & District Historical Society, the Salisbury Folk Museum occupies three rooms and features 400 items and 500 photographs from the history of the town including farming relics; a complete blacksmith’s shop, a display on the town’s flour mill, and numerous household items
Opening Times: Monthly (February – November), 1st Sun (excluding Public Holiday weekends) 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Ticket Prices: Free
Address: 1 Ann St, Salisbury SA
Website: Salisbury Folk Museum webpage
Army Museum of South Australia
The Army Museum of South Australia is housed in the original horse stables of Keswick Barracks. Operated by volunteers, mainly ex-defence force members, this Adelaide museum is open weekly so the volunteers can conduct repairs, restoration and renovations to the various exhibits and equipment on display for public viewing.
Opening Times: Opens Wednesday, 6 January, 2021
Ticket Prices: Family $12.00 | Adults $5.00 | Children $2.00
Address: 16 Anzac Hwy, Everard Park SA
Website: www.amosa.org.au
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