The 10 best free museums in Adelaide for your next family trip
In this economy, nothing is free, right? You’re wrong about that!
Adelaide is one fine example of just how good things don’t have to take much of your savings. The city offers an abundance of free-entry museums that won’t cost you a cent, all of which can allow you to explore art, history, science, and culture without straining your pockets.
With a city as vast as Adelaide, we know you can use a helping hand to guide you on where to go next time you’re on a budget for money but not on experience and knowledge. Check out some of Adelaide’s free yet worthy museums that you can go to whenever.
1. South Australian Museum
Media credit: southaustralianmuseum
Website: http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/
Address: North Terrace
Contact details: +61 8 8273 9100
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Founded in 1856, the South Australian Museum hosts the world’s first Viking-age exhibition that showcases rare and unique Viking-age objects that were ever made in Britain or Ireland.
For over 165 years, they’ve been committed to making Australia’s history and culture more accessible and engaging for the general public. They aim to connect generations by showcasing collections of Australian Aboriginal heritage.
It’s known to be a family-friendly place that fosters learning, and intellectual pursuits such as literature, arts, history and natural science with the integration of the Art Gallery and Library into a museum.
While they’re currently not offering group or guided tours, they have optimized people’s experience by offering an optimally accessible place for everyone with sensory or mobility needs.
Aside from the fact that it is free for everyone to enter, it holds an extensive collection of taxidermied animals, which are backed up by comprehensive display data.
Pro tip:
For as low as $70, you can get a one-year individual membership to the museum, which entails a number of benefits. These include a 15% and 10% discount at the Museum Cafe and Museum shop, respectively.
2. Art Gallery of South Australia
Media credit: agsa.adelaide
Website: http://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/
Address: 490 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Contact details: +61 8 8207 7000
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
The Art Gallery of South Australia on the Kaurna land is known to be one of Australia’s museums with the largest art collection, with almost 47,000 works.
The museum holds varied art forms including paintings, jewellery and furniture, all of which are created or collected within 2000 years.
If you are planning to visit the art gallery for specific collections, you can check out their website for a peek at some of the artworks they have in house. While their site only displays 46% of their actual collection, it could still give you an idea of what to expect when you come visit.
The gallery is mostly known for their wide selection of modern art that could easily entice both modern art enthusiasts and non enthusiasts. There’s also a number of installations inside that are the highlights for the patrons of the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Pro tip:
The art gallery has multiple spaces available for hire for your next events. Whether it’s a private event, family gathering, or a special event, you can contact [email protected] for event inquiries.
3. Migration Museum
Media credit: migration_museum
Website: https://migration.history.sa.gov.au/
Address: 82 Kintore Ave, Adelaide SA 5000
Contact details: +61 8 8151 3240
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
The Migration Museum offers a cultural and historical view of Australia during the 20th and 21st-century migration and how it has molded and is continuously molding the Australian community to this day.
It is situated just a short walk away from the SA Museum, Art Gallery of SA and the State Library, which makes it an easy find, should you wish to go on a “museum hopping” for fun.
They have educational tours that you can join for free but donations are very much appreciated to help the museum run its courses smoothly.
Unlike other museums that have permanent exhibitions and installations, the Migration Museum offers temporary exhibitions that you can see for a few months. Just check out their website to know what collections are currently open for viewing.
The museum also offers a bunch of activities, depending on the exhibits, that all ages can enjoy and immerse themselves in throughout their stay.
Pro tip:
Try to visit during a school holiday since that’s when they hold Lego challenges that give anyone a chance to win a Lego set just by guessing words hinted by some of the Lego heroes displayed within the museum.
4. State Library of South Australia
Media credit: statelibrarysa
Website: https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Contact details: +61 8 7424 6300
Operating hours:
- Monday, Wednesday to Friday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Tuesday – 10 AM to 7 PM
- Saturday, Sunday – 12 PM to 5 PM
The State Library of South Australia is one of the state’s largest public libraries and is one of the most iconic institutions in South Australia.
With over 550,000 visitors per year, it plays a crucial role in bridging generations through the preservation of Australian history with its timeless documentation and abundance of historical information made accessible to all.
The state library has three buildings, the Institute Building, the Spence Wing, and the Mortlock Wing, all of which have significant functions such as study rooms, exhibitions, book collections, etc.
While the library is known for its thousands of volumes and research collections, it also houses certain artworks that are free to view. Some of them are memorials of notable people, foyer artworks, and Ernabella rugs.
The fan favorite, the Mortlock Wing, is known as a well-maintained historical building that spans three storeys high. It looks so appealing that you would want to put your phone down and immerse yourself in a Harry Potter-like ambiance.
Pro tip:
You can hire the Mortlock Chamber for your private events such as dinners, receptions, and cocktail parties. Just contact Andrew Carmichael through the booking page to inquire about your preferred schedule and planned event.
5. MOD (Museum of Discovery)
Media credit: mod_museum
Website: https://mod.org.au/
Address: North Terrace, adjacent, Morphett St
Contact details: +61 8 8302 6663
Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 10 AM to 5 PM
The Museum of Discovery in Adelaide is an award-winning museum that has recently won the Best Interactive Award at the Adelaide Fringe Awards for their newest exhibition, FOREVER.
They’re known for having a futuristic take on the integration of science, art, and innovation. They’ve also been pushing boundaries with their team of researchers, and students to present one in-gallery and one online exhibition each year.
Unlike the previous museums on this list, they hold interactive exhibits that are free to experience, all for the expense of science and art. Their spaces allow for maximum participation and accessibility among their viewers.
While they are all for participatory experiences, they do not disregard the accessibility and inclusiveness of their spaces for everyone interested. Everyone with diverse abilities and identities can come and enjoy their creative spaces openly.
Pro tip:
You can get an idea of the interactive spaces that they offer by checking out their website and playing it yourself, all online!
6. Adelaide Gaol
Media credit: qiudecai
Website: http://www.adelaidegaol.sa.gov.au/
Address: 18 Gaol Rd
Contact details: +61 8 8231 4062
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 4 PM
Established in 1840, Adelaide Gaol has been one of the oldest public buildings in Adelaide that holds a gruesome past.
45 people were hung at Adelaide Gaol as a form of capital punishment for grave causes. Some of those who had interesting stories were turned into unique art installations like Cell 18.
The Mugshot Exhibition features a set of photographs of the nine Adelaide Gaol’s convicted prisoners who had untold stories that had never been publicly released.
There’s also the infamous Adelaide Gaol Museum which showcases artefacts and interactive exhibitions of certain parts of the gaol back when it was still in operation. Here, you can try on handcuffs and leg irons and get a feeling of how it feels to be a prisoner back then.
Be haunted by the spirits of some of the past inmates and prison officers who were thought to be visiting the gaol up to this day, in spirit.
Pro tip:
Believe it or not, they also host birthday parties just by a private outdoor lawn space. For $380, your kid will have 2 hours packed with Gaol themed activities along with a private party host.
7. Adelaide Botanic Garden
Media credit: chihulystudio
Website: http://www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/
Address: North Terrace
Contact details: +61 8 8222 9311
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:15 AM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday, Sunday – 9 AM to 5:30 PM
Spanning 50 hectares, the Adelaide Botanic Garden hosts a diverse range of plants as a well-maintained garden. Aside from its aesthetics, the garden is a source of botanical information that reflects culture and history just like how artworks do.
With 16 botanical collections, the garden is a sight to behold for both plant-lovers and plant-lovers at heart. Through the extensive list and variety of plants available, the garden is able to showcase how something natural can depict growth and development, even in a state.
The garden also showcases Chihuly sculptures that enhance the whole experience for all the visitors. There’s also an all-glass greenhouse that houses more plants for the public to enjoy.
For the critics, the garden is a point of attraction as its layout and design are carefully thought out and in symmetry with the stunning architecture that’s surrounding the garden.
There’s also the North Lodge, a gift shop where you can grab some of their botanically-themed products that provide you a piece of the garden wherever you go.
Pro tip:
Do note that there aren’t any car parks, so if you’re visiting the garden on a busy day, secure your parking at a place that’s both beneficial to you and other visitors.
8. Bay Discovery Centre
Media credit: tommmmmoore
Website: https://www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/bdc
Address: Town Hall Moseley Square, Glenelg SA 5045
Contact details: +61 8 8179 9599
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 4 PM
The Bay Discovery Centre at the Glenelg Town Hall serves as both a museum and an information center that offers insights into the rich cultural heritage of Holdfast Bay and South Australia.
Some of its notable displays are the Voyage and Arrival, which explores the journeys of the early settlers, and the Colonel William Light – Soldier/Surveyor/Founder of a City, which highlights the life and experiences of the founder of Adelaide.
The center also features the Tiati Wangkanthi Kumangka (Truth-Telling Together) exhibition, which is a collaborative project with the Kaurna people, the traditional community of the Adelaide Plains.
It presents the various narratives of South Australia’s colonial past, incorporating indigenous perspectives to foster cultural preservation and understanding across generations.
Pro tip:
Visit the center early in the day so you can explore the exhibits with fewer visitors around. Crowds usually arrive at noon or late afternoon so be sure to be there during the morning hours.
9. National Railway Museum
Media credit: nrmportadelaide
Website: http://www.nrm.org.au/
Address: 76 Lipson St, Port
Contact details: +61 8 8341 1690
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 4:30 PM
The National Railway Museum is one of Australia’s largest undercover railway museums that offers a comprehensive journey through the nation’s rich rail history. Established in 1970, the museum spans 3.5 hectares and houses over 100 major exhibits.
It includes locomotives, carriages, and railway artifacts from the South Australian Railways, Commonwealth Railways, and other operators in the history of Australia.
The museum also provides an interactive ride on the museum’s 457mm-gauge steam and diesel locomotives. The type of locomotives varies depending on the month or schedule that the museum has intended.
The museum also hosts several historic structures like the Port Dock station that was built in 1878, the Callington shelter shed, and the Woodville signal cabin.
For train nerds, the museum is a haven. There’s a vast collection of steam and diesel locomotives, including the SAR Rx 93, SAR 504 “Tom Barr Smith,” and Commonwealth Railways GM2, that train enthusiasts will go “loco” for.
Pro tip:
Take the miniature train ride that loops around the museum grounds, early into your visit. By doing this, you can avoid longer wait times and make the most of your experience since it is one of the famous attractions in the museum.
10. Museum of Economic Botany
Media credit: opiloom
Website: https://www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/
Address: Adelaide Botanic Garden, North Terrace
Contact details: +61 8 8222 9311
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 4 PM
Established in 1881, the Museum of Economic Botany is a unique display of practical, medicinal, and economic uses of plant materials that reflects the rich legacy of economic botany in South Australia.
The museum houses over 3,000 specimens, many of which are from the 19th century. The displays offer insights into how various cultures have gathered plant resources to live.
The museum also has contemporary art exhibitions that integrate modern touch with historical context.
It explores how plants were used throughout history for food, medicine, tools, and materials, which have led to the innovations that are currently available to modern man.
Housed in a restored 19th-century building, the museum combines history with science and architecture, making it a unique destination for both botany and heritage enthusiasts.
Pro tip:
Since the museum is inside the Adelaide Botanic Garden, you can try to manage your day and explore both at the same time. Highlights like the Bicentennial Conservatory, the Amazon Waterlily Pavilion, and the Mediterranean Garden are also nearby so check those out too!