List of museums in Queensland facts for kids

This list is all about the awesome museums you can visit in Queensland, Australia!

Museums are special places where cool stuff from the past, amazing art, science discoveries, and historical items are kept safe. They let you see these collections and learn all about them. This list includes art galleries and university galleries too. It covers museums everywhere in Queensland, except for those in the city of Brisbane.

Museums to Explore
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Museums to Explore

Queensland has so many different museums! Here's a look at some of them, grouped by what they focus on.

History and Local Life Museums

These museums tell the stories of towns and people in Queensland.

5th Light Horse Museum in Gympie: Learn about military history.
A.A. Cassimatis Store and Cottage in Muttaburra: Step back in time at this old general store and cottage.
Agnes Water Museum in Agnes Water: Discover the local history of the Discovery Coast.
Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre in Warwick: Explore the exciting history of rodeo and cowboys.
Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach: Find out about the brave pioneers of the Australian outback, including stockmen and Aboriginal people. It also shares the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
Australian Workers Heritage Centre in Barcaldine: See exhibits about the working men and women of Australia, like teachers and railway workers.
Bakers Military Memorabilia Museum in Childers: A private collection of military items and photos.
Barcaldine Museum in Barcaldine: Dive into the local history of the area.
Barcoo Shire Museum in Jundah: Located in the old council building, it tells the story of the Barcoo Shire.
Bauple Museum in Bauple: Learn about the local history of Bauple and Tiaro.
Beaudesert Museum in Beaudesert: Shows off old farming tools and horse-drawn vehicles.
Bollon Heritage Centre in Bollon: Discover the local history of Bollon.
Brennan & Geraghtys Store in Maryborough: A late 19th-century store, stables, and cottage, run by the National Trust of Queensland.
Bribie Island Seaside Museum in Bongaree: Explore the history of Bribie Island and island life.
Cairns Museum in Cairns: Run by the Cairns Historical Society, it covers local history.
Cambridge Downs Heritage Display Centre in Richmond: Learn about local history.
Cardwell Bush Telegraph in Cardwell: Visit a historic post office, telegraph station, and courthouse.
Chinchilla Historical Museum in Chinchilla: Discover the local history of Chinchilla.
Clermont Museum in Clermont: All about the local history of Clermont.
Clifton Historical Museum in Clifton: Focuses on the local history of Clifton.
Cooktown History Centre in Cooktown: Operated by the Cooktown and District Historical Society.
Croydon Heritage Precinct in Croydon: See historic buildings like the Police Station, Gaol, and Court House from the late 1800s.
Customs House Museum in Goondiwindi: A period home that shows what duties and taxes were like long ago.
Dr Arratta Memorial Museum in Muttaburra: Features medical items from the old hospital.
Eumundi Museum in Eumundi: Local history and changing exhibitions. It's free to enter!
Gayndah Museum in Gayndah: A historic house and local history museum.
Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum in Gympie: Covers gold mining, local history, industry, and social life.
Herberton Spy & Camera Museum in Herberton: A unique museum about espionage and photography.
Historic House Museum in Charleville: A historical house run by the Charleville and District Historical Society.
James Cook Historical Museum in Cooktown: Now called Cooktown Museum, it has items Captain James Cook left behind and tells the history of local education.
John Flynn Place in Cloncurry: Learn about John Flynn (minister) and how the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and School of the Air started. It also has an art gallery.
Kilcoy Hall of History in Kilcoy: Local history in a former church building.
Kilkivan Shire Museum in Kilkivan: All about the local history of the Kilkivan Shire.
Kingaroy Heritage Museum in Kingaroy: Explores the local history of Kingaroy.
Kumbia Federation Heritage Centre in Kumbia: Run by the Kumbia and District Historical Society.
Landsborough Shire Museum in Landsborough: Focuses on local and social history.
Langenbaker House in Ilfracombe: A historic house.
Leahy House in Thargomindah: A historical house museum.
Logan City Historical Museum in Kingston: Covers local history.
Loudoun House Museum in Irvinebank: Explores local history.
Magnetic Island Museum in Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island: Tells the local history of the island.
Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre in Mareeba: A historical museum and visitor center.
Marlborough Historical Museum in Marlborough: Presents the natural and social heritage of Marlborough.
Mary Kathleen Memorial Park/ Museum & Information Centre in Cloncurry: Outdoor displays of old steam engines, farm, and mining machines.
Mayes Cottage in Kingston: A late 19th-century colonial house.
Morven Museum in Morven: Focuses on local history.
Mount Morgan Historical Museum in Mount Morgan: All about local history.
Nebo Museum in Nebo: Housed in the old police station, it celebrates the history of the Nebo Shire.
Nobby Forge & Vintage Museum in Nobby: Displays clothes, accessories, and furniture from the 1900s to the 1960s.
Noosa Shire Museum in Pomona: Located in the old Noosa Shire Hall, it covers local history.
North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum in Dunwich: Explores the local history of North Stradbroke Island.
Old Rainworth Fort in Springsure: A mid-19th-century community storehouse with historic items.
Pine Rivers Heritage Museum in Petrie: Focuses on local history.
Port Douglas Court House Museum in Port Douglas: Run by the Douglas Shire Historical Society.
Proserpine Historical Museum in Proserpine: Collects and shares the history of the Whitsunday region.
Rathdowney Historical Museum in Rathdowney: Covers local history.
Ravenswood Court House Museum in Ravenswood: Explores local history.
Redcliffe Museum in Redcliffe: All about local history.
Redland Museum in Cleveland: Shows the social history of the Redlands from 1842 to today, including textiles and toys.
Ringsfield House in Nanango: An early 20th-century period house and gardens, run by the Nanango Historical Society.
RM Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre in Eidsvold: Learn about bush culture and history, and the influence of bushman R. M. Williams.
Samford Museum in Samford: Covers rural, domestic, educational, railway, timber, transport, and village history.
Sarina "Field of Dreams" Historical Centre in Sarina: Focuses on local history.
St George Heritage Centre in St George: Explores local history.
Stanthorpe Heritage Museum in Stanthorpe: All about local history.
Tambo Post & Telegraph Museum in Tambo: Run by the Totally Tambo Heritage Group, it covers post and telegraph history.
Templin Historical Museum in Templin: Features working items, local history, and fashions from the 1880s.
Texas Heritage Centre & Tobacco Museum in Texas: Covers local history.
The Story Bank in Maryborough: Focuses on the author of Mary Poppins, P. L. Travers, who was born in this building.
Townsville Heritage Centre in Townsville: Run by the National Trust of Queensland, it shows the lifestyle of important families in North Queensland's history.
Townsville Museum in Currajong, Townsville: Covers local history.
Wellshot Centre in Ilfracombe: Tells the history of Wellshot Station, one of Australia's largest sheep stations.
Whitula Museum in Windorah: Explores local history.
Wondai Heritage Centre in Wondai: All about local history.
Wowan and District Museum in Wowan: Located in the old butter factory and railway station, it covers local history.
Yandina Historic House in Yandina: Run by the Yandina & District Historical Society, it covers local history.
Yarraman Heritage Centre in Yarraman: Explores local history.
Zara Clark Museum in Charters Towers: Includes transport, local items, mining, medical items, and photos.

Art Galleries

If you love art, these places are for you!

Artspace Mackay in Mackay: A place for art exhibitions.
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery in Bundaberg: Features various art displays.
Butter Factory Arts Centre in Cooroy: Shows art and local history.
Caboolture Regional Art Gallery in Caboolture: Has four exhibition spaces.
Cairns Regional Gallery in Cairns: Shows historical and modern art by local, national, and international artists.
Caloundra Regional Gallery in Caloundra: Displays various art.
Centre of Contemporary Arts Cairns in Cairns: A hub for contemporary art.
Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery in Crows Nest: Features art exhibitions.
Dogwood Crossing, Miles in Miles: A cultural center with an art gallery, library, and social history displays.
Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough: A space for art.
Gold Coast City Art Gallery in Surfers Paradise: Features various art.
Gympie Regional Art Gallery in Gympie: Displays art.
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery in Pialba: Shows art.
Ipswich Art Gallery in Ipswich: A place to see art.
Kingaroy Art Gallery in Kingaroy: Hosts monthly exhibitions by local and visiting artists.
Logan Art Gallery in Logan Central: Features art.
Noosa Regional Gallery in Tewantin: Displays art.
Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Townsville: An art gallery.
Pinnacles Gallery in Thuringowa Central: Located in the Riverway Arts Centre.
Redland Art Gallery in Cleveland: Has art displays (also in Capalaba).
Rockhampton Museum of Art in Rockhampton: An art museum.
Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery in Stanthorpe: Shows regional and national art, both modern and traditional.
Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns: A performing and visual arts center in a former WWII fuel depot.
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery in Toowoomba: Displays art.
TYTO Regional Art Gallery in Ingham: An art gallery.
University of Southern Queensland Artsworx in Toowoomba: Part of the University of Southern Queensland, it features art.
University of the Sunshine Coast Art Gallery in Sippy Downs: Part of the University of the Sunshine Coast, it displays art.
Warwick Art Gallery in Warwick: An art museum.
Wondai Regional Art Gallery in Wondai: Displays art.

Open-Air and Village Museums

These museums let you walk through history with old buildings and displays set up like a village.

Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum in Beenleigh: Features twenty old buildings with original items from the 1860s.
Caboolture Historical Village in Caboolture: Includes over 70 historic buildings.
Calliope River Historical Village in River Ranch: Has old buildings like houses, a school, and a church, moved from other places.
Capella Pioneer Village in Capella: An open-air museum.
Crows Nest Folk Museum & Village in Crows Nest: An open-air museum.
Dalby Pioneer Park Museum in Dalby: Features many historic buildings, old tractors, and farm machines.
Gatton Historical Village in Gatton: Operated by the Gatton & District Historical Society.
Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum in Hervey Bay: Shows local history in a village setting with working displays.
Highfields Pioneer Village in Highfields: Features over 60 restored old buildings.
Historic Village Herberton in Herberton: Has over 50 restored buildings from the 1860s, set up like an old tin mining town.
Jondaryan Woolshed in Oakey: Shows rural life in pioneering Australia and how sheep were raised.
Laidley Pioneer Village in Laidley: Operated by the Laidley Historical Society.
Maclagan Memories Museum in Maclagan: An open-air museum.
Miles Historical Village and Museum in Miles: A village set up like it was in the 1920s.
Pittsworth Pioneer Historical Village in Pittsworth: An open-air museum.
Pringle Cottage Museum in Warwick: Includes two cottages with old furniture, a church, and a printing museum.
Queensland Heritage Park in Biloela: Focuses on agriculture and rural life.
Rockhampton Heritage Village in Parkhurst: Features buildings from 1850 to 1950.

Specialty Museums

These museums focus on specific topics like transport, science, or unique collections.

Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture: Explore archaeology and art from Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and the Medieval and Renaissance periods.
Aramac Tramway Museum in Aramac: All about railways.
Archer Park Rail Museum in Rockhampton: A historic rail station with a working steam rail tram.
Army Museum of North Queensland in Townsville: Learn about the history of the Australian Army in North Queensland.
Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton: Discover the natural history of Australian dinosaurs.
The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum in Cairns: See tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery from World War II and later.
Australian Sugar Heritage Centre in Mourilyan: Learn about sugar farming and processing.
Blackwater International Coal Centre in Blackwater: Focuses on coal mining in Australia.
Bundaberg Railway Museum in Bundaberg: Located in the North Bundaberg Railway Station, it has photos, uniforms, tools, and railway cars.
Burnett War Museum in Kingaroy: A military museum at Kingaroy Airport.
Caboolture Warplane Museum in Caboolture: Displays wartime aircraft, memorabilia, and engine displays.
Central Queensland Military Museum in Rockhampton: A military museum.
Childers Pharmaceutical Museum in Childers: A pharmacy from the early 20th century.
Cobb & Co Museum in Toowoomba: Run by the Queensland Museum, it features horse-drawn vehicles.
Cosmos Centre in Charleville: An observatory with meteorites.
Daintree Discovery Centre in Daintree: Learn about the ecology of the Daintree Rainforest.
Dairy and Heritage Museum in Murgon: Shows dairying equipment and a pioneer homestead.
Das Neumann Haus Museum in Laidley: A 1930s period home.
Diamantina Health Care Museum in Woolloongabba: Covers the history of the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Drover's Camp in Camooweal: Learn about droving and drovers (people who moved livestock).
Emu Park Museum in Emu Park: Includes a railway collection.
Fairymead House Sugar Museum in Bundaberg: All about the area's sugar industry.
Flinders Discovery Centre in Hughenden: Features dinosaur fossils.
Gab Titui Cultural Centre in Thursday Island: Explores Aboriginal culture, history, and art.
Gladstone Maritime History Museum in Gladstone: Focuses on maritime history.
Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum in Gladstone: Covers art, local culture, and history.
Glengallan Homestead and Heritage Centre in Warwick: A 19th-century country house.
Greycliffe Homestead in Biloela: A late 19th-century pioneer homestead, run by the Banana Shire Historical Society.
Herberton Mining Museum in Herberton: All about tin mining.
Heritage Centre Toowoomba in Toowoomba: Focuses on road history in Queensland.
Hinkler Hall of Aviation in Bundaberg: Learn about the life of aviation pioneer Bert Hinkler.
Ilfracombe Machinery and Heritage Museum in Ilfracombe: An open-air display of agriculture machinery.
Jackson Collections in Ilfracombe: Lifetime collections of various items like bottles, hubcaps, and buttons.
Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond: Features marine fossils.
Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways in Winton: Take guided tours of protected dinosaur footprints and fossils.
Longreach Powerhouse Museum in Longreach: A rural generating station with engines and local history displays.
Maritime Museum of Townsville in Townsville: Focuses on maritime history.
Maroochydore RSL Museum in Maroochydore: A military museum.
Meandarra ANZAC Memorial Museum in Meandarra: Contains a large collection of ANZAC memorabilia, including a Canberra bomber and a German U-boat engine.
Milne Bay Military Museum in Toowoomba: Displays items and history of the 25th Battalion.
Min Min Encounter in Boulia: Hear stories of the mysterious Min Min light.
Miner's Cottage in Charters Towers: A late 1800s worker's cottage.
Miner's Heritage in Mount Morgan: Focuses on mining.
Montys Garage Vintage Car Museum in Glenmorgan: A 1940s style auto garage with restored vintage cars and trucks.
Mount Morgan Railway Museum in Mount Morgan: All about railways.
Museum of Australian Military Intelligence in Canungra: Located at Kokoda Barracks, it covers military intelligence.
Museum of Australian Army Flying in Oakey: Displays historical aircraft, tracing the history of Australian Army Aviation.
Museum of Tropical Queensland in Townsville: Run by the Queensland Museum, it covers natural history, marine archaeology, and history.
Museum of Underwater Art in John Brewer Reef, Townsville: A series of amazing underwater art installations.
Quilpie Museum in Quilpie: Covers local history and has an art gallery.
Quinkan and Regional Cultural Centre in Laura: Explores Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage, and the natural environment.
RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre in Amberley: See historic military aircraft and Australian military memorabilia.
RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre in Garbutt: Focuses on military aviation heritage in North Queensland.
Raspberry Creek Homestead in Byfield: Operated by the Byfield and District Historical Society, it covers local history.
Ration Shed Museum in Cherbourg: Explores Aboriginal culture and life under the Aboriginal Protection Act.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Surfers Paradise: A fun museum with unusual exhibits.
Riversleigh Fossil Centre in Mount Isa: Features fossils from the Riversleigh fossil site.
Rosewood Railway Museum in Rosewood: Run by the Australian Railway Historical Society.
Roy Emerson Museum in Blackbutt: Housed in a former school building, it's dedicated to tennis player Roy Emerson.
Royal Bull's Head Inn in Drayton: A mid-19th-century inn, dairy, and stables, run by the National Trust of Queensland.
Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre in Charleville: Learn about the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
Samurai Gallery Australia in Cairns: Displays arts, armor, and weapons of the Japanese samurai warriors.
Shell World Yeppoon in Yeppoon: Features over 20,000 shells, including marine, land, and fossil molluscs.
South Burnett Energy Centre in Nanango: A science museum.
South Burnett Regional Timber Museum in Wondai: Covers the area's timber industry.
Springsure Hospital Museum in Springsure: Shows old hospital equipment like beds and medical tools.
Stonehouse Museum in Boulia: Includes marine fossils, Aboriginal items, and agriculture equipment.
Surf World Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise: Celebrates surfing champions and memorabilia.
Terrestrial in Georgetown: Has a large collection of rocks, minerals, and old gold mine equipment.
The Wax Museum in Surfers Paradise: Features wax figures of movie stars, scientists, and world leaders.
Winton's Diamantina Heritage Truck & Machinery Museum in Winton: Focuses on transportation.
Woodworks Museum & Interpretive Centre in Gympie: Covers the timber and forestry industries up to the 1950s.
Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich: Run by the Queensland Museum, it shows the impact of rail travel in Queensland and has a model railway.
Qantas Founders Outback Museum in Longreach: Learn about aviation history.
Quarantine Museum in Pallarenda: A medical museum.
Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra West: Located at Caloundra Airport, it has over 94 aircraft on display.
Queensland Ambulance Museum, Barcaldine in Barcaldine: Displays historic ambulances and equipment.
Queensland Ambulance Museum, Charters Towers in Charters Towers: Shows historic ambulances and equipment.
Queensland Motorsport Museum in Sumner: A museum for cars and bikes, with memorabilia and die-cast models.
Queensland Transport Museum in Gatton: Located in the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, it has vintage vehicles and models.
Underground Hospital and Beth Anderson Museum in Mount Isa: A World War II-era hospital built underground.
Venus Gold Battery in Charters Towers: Learn about gold mining.
Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton: Includes the Outback Regional Gallery and Qantilda Museum.

Historic Houses and Homesteads

These museums are often old homes that show what life was like in the past.

Boondooma Homestead in Proston: A mid-19th-century homestead.
Ormiston House in Ormiston: A mid-19th-century plantation house and gardens.

Closed Museums

Some museums have closed over time.

Australian Motorcycle Museum, Haigslea, closed in 2014.
North Queensland Military Museum.
Queensland Energy Museum (most of its displays moved to the Highfields Pioneer Village).