Bundaberg Museums
Bundaberg Museums
Bundaberg Museums can be awesome fun for kids. Our current favourites by far are the Hinkler Hall of Aviation followed closely by the Bundaberg and District Historical Museum and the Alloway Observatory. Our Wide Bay Kids love all of these places especially their hands on areas. For younger kids the Bundaberg Railway Museum is also a fun. Here is our take on each of the Museums we have locally.
Bundaberg & District Historical Museum
The Bundaberg & District Historical Museum, is located in the beautiful Botanic Gardens Complex, and is open 7 days each week from 10 am to 4 pm. This museum is a fabulous place for kids to explore things from the ‘olden days’. They will love the hands on area and be amazed by the themed sections within the museum. Make sure you set aside a good 1/2 hour when you visit. Our Wide Bay Kids love going here with their Grandparents.
Alloway Observatory
The Alloway Observatory is located on Goodwood Road and is a place our Wide Bay Kids love to visit. It consists of a club house and an observation dome where a large telescope is housed. The observatory is open Friday evenings to the public where they have 3 to 4 telescopes set up for viewing. You can read our full review on the observatory HERE.
Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Hinkler House
The Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Hinkler House are located side by side at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens. These two museums showcase the personal story of Bert Hinkler, one of Australia’s leading aviators.
The Hall consists of just over 20 exhibits which include touch screens, stationary displays, theatrettes and hands-on stations. This is a great interactive museum for kids and our Wide Bay Kids love it. Read our full review on the Hall HERE
Hinkler House is the home Bert lived in whilst residing in England and is located right next door to the Hall. The Bundaberg Regional Council purchased the house and rebuilt it in the Botanic Gardens brick by brick.
Bundaberg Railway Museum
The Bundaberg Railway Museum was Bundaberg’s first railway station, built in 1881 as an outlet for the Mt Perry railway bringing copper from the mines, and is now preserved as a proper museum. Located some 500 metres from its original site, the museum houses a wide variety of railway items past and present.
The museum is a haven for train buffs. It include photos, uniforms and catering items from dining rooms to the Tilt Train. Books, including office records, engine driver’s manuals, timetables and rule books. Tools of various types: locomotive spanners, heavy jacks and track work tools, Interlocked signal cabin recovered from Lowmead station, the last CTC panel from Bundaberg, and modern day transponders, A 1921 guard’s van (originally a sleeping car) and a butter car insulated with cow’s hair which stays cool even without the ice blocks.
Static displays outside include a diamond crossing for cane trams to cross the government lines and various couplings, buffers, drawhooks and air hoses used on older rolling stock. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm.
Fairymead House Sugar Museum
This grand local homestead Fairymead House houses local sugar industry memorabilia, exploring the development of the local sugar industry from its earliest days. Fairymead House is part of an exhibit of the Hinkler Hall of Aviation. 1 hour Guided Tours are offered at Fairymead House Sunday to Friday – 11am to 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased at Hinkler Hall of Aviation or at the door. Not really enjoyable for for children under 7 or those who do not have an interest in the local sugar industry.
