List of museums in Tasmania facts for kids

Tasmania is an island state in Australia, known for its beautiful nature and rich history. It's also home to many amazing museums! Museums are special places where people collect, care for, and show off interesting objects. These objects can be about art, science, history, or culture. Visiting a museum is a fantastic way to learn about the past, understand different ideas, and see incredible things up close. Whether you love old trains, cool art, or learning about how people lived long ago, Tasmania has a museum for you.

Explore Tasmania's Top Museums

History and Heritage Museums

Tasmania has a deep history, and many museums help us explore it.

Step Back in Time at Historic Houses

• The Clarendon House in Evandale is a grand old home from the early 1800s. It's run by the National Trust of Australia and shows what life was like for wealthy families back then.
• Entally House near Hadspen is another beautiful estate from the early 19th century. You can see old furniture, silver, lovely gardens, and even a chapel and stables.
• In Launceston, Franklin House is also looked after by the National Trust. It's a great example of a historic home.
• Home Hill in Devonport was the home of a former Australian Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, and his wife, Dame Enid Lyons. It shows what life was like in the 20th century.
• Narryna Heritage Museum in Hobart is a 19th-century house that belonged to a rich merchant family. It gives you a peek into their daily lives.
• Oak Lodge in Richmond has a unique 19th-century surgeon's office. It's also run by the National Trust.
• Runnymede in Hobart was the home of a whaling family in the 1800s. It's another fascinating National Trust property.
• Woolmers Estate in Longford is a large 19th-century farm estate with many old buildings and gardens to explore.

Discover Life in Old Tasmania

• The Bark Mill Museum in Swansea shows what life was like in the 19th century.
• The Burnie Regional Museum in Burnie has a special "Federation Street." It's like stepping into an old town with shops like a saddler, a boot maker, and even a dentist!
• The Channel Heritage Centre in Margate shares the history of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel area, including its industries and community life.
• The Cygnet Living History Museum in Cygnet tells the story of the local area.
• The Deloraine and District Folk Museum focuses on the history of the early settlers in the Deloraine area.
• The Furneaux Museum on Flinders Island explores the island's unique past.
• The Huon Valley Apple and Heritage Museum in Grove celebrates Tasmania's famous apple industry. You can learn all about how apples are grown and harvested.
• The Latrobe Courthouse Museum in Latrobe, run by the National Trust, shows local history.
• Old Hobart Town in Richmond is a model village that shows what Hobart looked like in the 1820s. It's like a miniature journey back in time!
• The Tasmanian Wool Centre in Ross is a museum and shop that tells the story of Tasmania's important wool industry.
• The West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan is all about the history and pioneers of Tasmania's rugged West Coast.
• The Woodsdale Museum in Levendale includes a 19th-century house and an old school building.

Uncover Darker Histories

• The Cascades Female Factory in Hobart was once a workhouse for female convicts in the old penal colony of Van Diemen's Land. It's a powerful place to learn about this difficult part of history.
• The Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site was part of the Port Arthur penal settlement. You can see restored officer's quarters and old fort remains.
• The Penitentiary Chapel Historic Site in Hobart was a maximum-security prison. You can explore the chapel and courts where convicts were tried.
• The Port Arthur Historic Sites is a large open-air museum. It includes the old penitentiary, a dock, a church, a hospital, and 19th-century houses. It's a very important place for understanding Australia's convict past.
• The Richmond Gaol in Richmond is another historic prison you can visit.
• The Watch House Museum in George Town was a former prison and now shows local history exhibits.

Art and Culture Galleries

Tasmania has a vibrant art scene, with many galleries showcasing different styles.

• The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts in Hobart is part of the State Library of Tasmania. It has beautiful 19th-century rooms and shows art and history from its collections.
• The Burnie Regional Art Gallery in Burnie displays a variety of art.
• The Carnegie Gallery in Hobart is a city art gallery.
• The Design Centre Tasmania in Launceston focuses on modern craft and design, especially in wood.
• The Devonport Regional Gallery in Devonport is another great place to see art.
• The Lady Franklin Gallery in Lenah Valley is run by The Art Society of Tasmania.
• The Markree Museum in Hobart, part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, has changing exhibitions of art and decorative arts.
• The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart is famous for its unique and sometimes surprising collection of ancient, modern, and contemporary art. It's a must-see!
• The Plimsoll Gallery in Hobart, run by the University of Tasmania, shows exciting local and international contemporary art and design.
• The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston has a wide range of art, including colonial art and modern craft.
• The Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart has several galleries where you can see different artworks.
• The Suzanne Charleston Gallery in Ulverstone is a smaller gallery with fine art, photography, and unique crafts.
• The Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum in Devonport teaches about the history, cultures, and art of Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
• The University of Tasmania Galleries have art on display at their campuses in Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie.

Science and Technology Museums

Learn about how things work and the natural world.

• The Forest EcoCentre in Scottsdale, run by Forestry Tasmania, teaches about forests and their natural history.
• The Grote Reber Museum in Cambridge is dedicated to the life and work of astronomer Grote Reber. You can even tour the Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory!
• The Imaginarium Science Centre in Devonport has hands-on science displays, perfect for exploring and experimenting.
• Pearns Steam World in Westbury has a collection of old steam engines, tractors, and other equipment.
• The Vintage Tractor Shed Museum in Westbury also shows off restored vintage tractors and machinery.
• The Waddamana Power Stations in Waddamana explain the science and equipment behind a former power station.

Transport and Maritime Museums

Discover Tasmania's connection to the sea, railways, and roads.

• The Bass & Flinders Centre in George Town focuses on maritime history.
• The Derwent Valley Railway in New Norfolk is a heritage railway.
• The Devonport Maritime Museum and Historical Society in Devonport explores the region's sea history.
• The Don River Railway in Don is a heritage railway and museum where you can see old trains.
• The Launceston Tramway Museum in Launceston has historic trams.
• The Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum in Low Head is all about maritime history.
• The Maritime Museum of Tasmania in Hobart tells the story of Tasmania's strong connection to the sea, including ships and shipbuilding.
• The National Automobile Museum of Tasmania in Launceston has a cool collection of old cars and motorcycles, plus a hall of fame for Tasmanian motor sports.
• The Tasmanian Transport Museum in Glenorchy has railway equipment, buses, and other road vehicles.
• The Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin teaches about the history of boatbuilding and water transport.

Unique and Specialised Collections

Some museums focus on very specific and interesting topics.

• The Australasian Golf Museum in Bothwell is all about the history of golf.
• The Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre in Beaconsfield is built on a former gold mine. You can see old mining buildings and equipment.
• The Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration in Adventure Bay on Bruny Island has a special collection about explorations in the South Pacific.
• The Galley Museum in Queenstown shows photographs and items from the mining communities of the past.
• The Geeveston Forest & Heritage Center in Geeveston has displays about early settlement and forestry in Far South Tasmania.
• The John Elliott Classics Museum in Hobart, run by the University of Tasmania, has art and items from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome.
• The Mawson's Huts Replica Museum in Hobart is a copy of the huts used by explorer Douglas Mawson during his Antarctic expedition.
• The Military Museum of Tasmania in Hobart is located inside Anglesea Barracks and focuses on military history.
• The Norfolk Plains Heritage Centre in Longford, run by the National Trust, has local history displays and is in a historic Masonic lodge.
• The Salmon Ponds in Plenty is a trout hatchery with a museum about trout fishing.
• The Tasmanian Cricket Museum in Hobart, located at Blundstone Arena, is all about the history of cricket in Tasmania.
• The Tasmanian Police Museum in Hobart tells the story of the Tasmanian police force.

Major Museums with Multiple Collections

Some of Tasmania's biggest museums cover many different topics.

• The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery has two main sites in Launceston. One site focuses on colonial art, contemporary craft, and Tasmanian history and natural history. The other site in Inveresk explores Tasmania's social and natural history, including dinosaurs, railway transport, and geology.
• The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) in Hobart is a large museum with collections covering the history of Tasmania, geology, natural history, Tasmania's Aboriginal population, Antarctica, and an art gallery.

See also

• List of museums in Australia