Redland Museum facts for kids
The Redland Museum's exterior, viewed from the Cleveland Showgrounds, with the blacksmith shop on the left.
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| Established | 1968 |
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| Location | 60 Smith Street, Cleveland, Redland City, Queensland, Australia |
| Type | Local museum, toy museum |
| Collection size | 20,000 |
| Founder | Norman Dean |
| Public transit access | Smith St at Cleveland Showground |
The Redland Museum is a museum in Cleveland, Australia. It tells the story of the Redlands area in South East Queensland. The museum collects and keeps items that show how people lived and what happened there, from long ago until now.
It has almost 20,000 items, some on show and some kept safely. The museum is a special place in Queensland. Besides its main building in Cleveland, it also has a library with historical books. There's even a working blacksmith's shop next door and a small display on Russell Island.
Contents
Museum History and Growth
The idea for the Redland Museum started in 1968 with the Rotary Club of Cleveland. The first part of the museum building was finished and opened to the public in 1970. It was soon given to the people of the Redlands area.
Over time, the museum collected more and more items. It also became very popular, thanks to many local volunteers. The museum grew too big for its first building. Because of this, major new parts were added after 2009. This allowed the museum to show even more of its collection.
What You Can See: The Collection
Most of the items at the Redland Museum were given by people who live in the area. Volunteers at the museum carefully sort and list every item. The collection mainly shows the history of the Redlands. This includes its early settlement and farming days. The Redlands was important for farming and fishing. Some items also come from other parts of South East Queensland.
Some of the most popular things you can see are:
- A fixed-up Ford Model TT truck. A farmer from Mount Cotton first bought it. A local coachbuilder made its wooden frame.
- A working player piano that plays music by itself.
- An original Halladay windpump. This was used on a farm in Cleveland to pump water.
- An 1860s wedding gown. Someone wore this dress at a wedding in Toowoomba.
- A machine that made pills by hand. It was used in a nearby pharmacy.
- A Magneto telephone switchboard from Kingsthorpe. This was used to connect phone calls.
- A large patchwork quilt. This quilt shows the many different cultures in the Redlands area.
Museum Displays and Special Shows
The museum has many displays that are always there. You can see farm equipment in the Dan Holzapfel Farm Pavilion. There are also displays about post offices, bedrooms, dolls, and fabrics. Other displays show important local history items and stories in Stories of the Redlands.
The museum also has special shows that change often. In the past, there have been shows about writing, including a very old 1716 King James Bible. Other shows have featured mannequins, bicycles, and even a play called Reedy River. You might also see large murals, art that mixes different cultures, and displays about Queensland history. There have also been shows about Australian Aboriginal culture.
Australian Toy Hall of Fame
The Australian Toy Hall of Fame is the newest display that stays at the museum. It celebrates toys that have been very popular in Australia throughout history. Toys are chosen based on how popular they were, how long they lasted, and how well people remember them.
Some toys already in the Hall of Fame include Lego, marbles, slingshots, toy cars, and teddy bears. This display also has a fun play area where children can interact with toys.
