List of museums in South Australia


This list of museums in South Australia contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and university art galleries.
NameLocationRegionTypeSummary
Adelaide GaolThebartonAdelaide suburbsPrisonPreserved historic prison and function centre
Adelaide Lithuanian Museum NorwoodAdelaide suburbsEthnic, Lithuanian life and culture
Adelaide Masonic Centre MuseumAdelaideAdelaideMasonic
Andamooka Dukes Bottlehouse MuseumAndamookaEyre PeninsulaMining, opal mining, located in a building built from discarded beer bottles
Architecture MuseumAdelaideAdelaideArchitecture, part of the University of South Australia, collection of documents related to the history and practice of architecture in South Australia
Ardrossan Historical MuseumArdrossanYorke PeninsulaLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, located in the Clarence Herbert Smith Implement Factory where the stump-jump plough and other farm machinery were manufactured
Army Museum of South AustraliaKeswickAdelaide suburbsMilitary, located in Keswick Barracks,
Art Gallery of South AustraliaAdelaideAdelaideVisual artsLargest state art collection in Australia
Arts Centre, Port NoarlungaPort NoarlungaAdelaide suburbsArt
Austbuilt Maritime MuseumPeterheadAdelaide suburbsMaritime, operated by the Port Adelaide Historical Society
Australian Museum of ChildhoodPort AdelaideAdelaide suburbsToy, Australian manufactured toys dating back to the 1890s
Axel Stenross Maritime MuseumPort LincolnEyre PeninsulaMaritime, boats and boat building, area maritime heritage
Ayers House AdelaideAdelaideHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust of South Australia, 19th mansion with costumes, silverware, artworks and furniture
Balaklava MuseumBalaklavaMid NorthLocal history
Barbed Wire Pub and MuseumSpaldingMid NorthCommodity, features over 500 examples of barbed wire
Barossa MuseumTanundaBarossa ValleyLocal history, area German heritage
Barossa Regional GalleryTanundaBarossa ValleyArt
Bay Discovery CentreGlenelgAdelaide suburbsMultiple, cultural heritage of South Australia, history, art
Beachport Old Wool and Grain Store MuseumBeachportLimestone CoastLocal history, , operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Bon Accord Mining MuseumBurraMid NorthMining, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Booleroo Steam & Traction Society MuseumBooleroo CentreFlinders RangesTechnology, steam tractors and agriculture equipment
Bourne's Bird MuseumNaracoorteLimestone CoastNatural history, mounted birds, nests and mammals, bird's eggs
Brinkworth Historical Reserve MuseumBrinkworthMid NorthLocal history
Bublacowie Military MuseumYorketownYorke PeninsulaMilitary
Burra Regional Art GalleryBurraMid NorthArt
Cape Jaffa LighthouseKingston SELimestone CoastMaritimeOperated by the National Trust of South Australia, furnished lighthouse with tower to climb
Captain's Cottage MuseumMurray BridgeHistoric house
Carrick HillSpringfieldAdelaide suburbsHistoric houseMid 20th century mansion with collection of drawings, sculptures, antiques and paintings
The Cedars HahndorfAdelaide HillsHistoric house, house and studio of landscape artist Hans Heysen
Ceduna School House MuseumCedunaEyre PeninsulaEducation, operated by the National Trust of Australia
Charles Sturt MuseumGrangeAdelaide suburbsHistoric house, home of explorer Charles Sturt
Chas Roe Electronics MuseumWallarooYorke PeninsulaTechnology, electrical appliances and devices including the telegraph, telephone, radio, television, sound and video recorders, home appliances, medical equipment, computers, TV games and more
Clare Police Station and CourthouseJamestownMid NorthLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Classic Jets Fighter MuseumParafieldAdelaide suburbsAerospace
Clayton Farm Heritage MuseumBordertownLimestone CoastFarmLate 19th century farmstead with historical thatched buildings and sheds, restored historical farm machinery and stationary engines
Cobdogla Irrigation MuseumCobdoglaRiverlandTechnology, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, steam pump, locomotive, traction engine, tractors, machinery and irrigation equipment
Contemporary Art Centre of South AustraliaAdelaideAdelaideArtsContemporary art
Crystal Brook Heritage CentreCrystal BrookMid NorthLocal history
Dingley DellPort MacDonnellLimestone CoastHistoric house, home of poet Adam Lindsay Gordon
Edithburgh MuseumEdithburghYorke PeninsulaLocal history
Embroiderers' Guild of South Australia MuseumMile EndAdelaide suburbsTextile, embroidered, beaded, patchwork and lace pieces - the collection started in 1965 became known officially as the Embroiderers' Guild Museum in 1988.
Encounter Coast Discovery CentreVictor HarborFleurieu PeninsulaLocal history, , operated by the National Trust of South Australia, located in a former Customs house and station master's residence
Enfield Heritage MuseumRegency ParkAdelaide suburbsOpen air, yown and country life in South Australia from the 1880s to more recent times
Eudunda Family Heritage GalleryEudundaLocal history
Excell Blacksmith and Engineering Workshop MuseumTumby BayEyre PeninsulaHistory
Farm Shed MuseumKadinaYorke PeninsulaAgriculture, farm machinery, role of women on farms, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Fayes Underground HomeCoober PedyFar NorthHistoric house, furnished dugout home
Flinders University Museum of ArtAdelaideAdelaideArt, part of Flinders University
Fort Glanville Conservation ParkSemaphore SouthAdelaide suburbsMilitary19th century fort
Fred Teague's MuseumHawkerFlinders RangesHistory, , includes gemstones, minerals, fossils, photographs, antique bottles and memorabilia
Friedensberg Historic German School MuseumSpringtonBarossa ValleyEducation
Gamble CottageBlackwoodAdelaide suburbsHistoric house, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Gawler Old Telegraph Station MuseumGawlerAdelaide suburbsLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Glencoe WoolshedGlencoeLimestone CoastFarming, 19th century blade shearing and wool handling shed, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Goolwa Motor MuseumGoolwaFleurieu PeninsulaAutomotive
Goolwa MuseumGoolwaFleurieu PeninsulaLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Greenock Aviation MuseumGreenockBarossa ValleyAerospace, preserved and replica aircraft, restoration projects, scale models and aviation memorabilia
Hahndorf AcademyHahndorfAdelaide HillsMultiple, regional art gallery, local history, German migration, drawings of Hans Heysen
Hindmarsh Fire & Folk MuseumHindmarshAdelaide suburbsFirefighting, equipment, clothing and vehicles, operated by the Hindmarsh Historical Society
Holdfast Bay History CentreBrightonAdelaide suburbsLocal history
Hope Cottage MuseumKingscoteKangaroo IslandHistoric house, , mid 19th century period cottage with period rooms, local history displays, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Jamestown Railway Station and Goods Shed MuseumJamestownMid NorthLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Jill and Vic Fauser’s Private MuseumPort NeillEyre PeninsulaHistory, includes stationary engines, a blacksmith shop, shells, rocks and bottles, historic household items
Kapunda Community GalleryKapundaMid NorthArt
Kapunda MuseumKapundaMid NorthLocal history
Kerry Packer Civic GalleryAdelaideAdelaideArt, part of the University of South Australia
Kimba Historical MuseumKimbaEyre PeninsulaOpen air
Kingston Historic HouseKingston ParkAdelaide suburbsHistoric house, mid 19th century home of George Strickland Kingston
Kingston National Trust MuseumKingston SELimestone CoastLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Koppio Smithy MuseumKoppioEyre PeninsulaLocal history, , operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Lobethal Archives and Historical MuseumLobethalAdelaide HillsLocal history, German and English pioneer heritage
LochendCambelltownAdelaide suburbsHistoric house, mid 19th century home of the town's founder
Louise Flierl Mission MuseumHahndorfAdelaide HillsReligious, history of the Lutheran Church of Australia in Papua New Guinea and more recently in South East Asia since 1886
Loxton Historical VillageLoxtonRiverlandOpen air, includes a baker, bank, blacksmith, garage, printer, farm complex, railway, institute, school, operational fruit block and more
Lucindale Agricultural and Folk MuseumLucindaleLimestone CoastLocal history, operated by the Lucindale Historical Society
Mallala MuseumMallalaLocal history
Mallee Tourist and Heritage CentrePinnarooMurray MalleeLocal plus specialities Murray Mallee dryland farming, plus D. A. Wurfel grain collection; extensive range restored farm machinery including replica Ridley stripper; letterpress printing
Malowen Lowarth CottageBurraMid NorthHistoric house, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, mid 19th century period stone cottage
Mannum Dock Museum Of River HistoryMannumLocal history, includes a paddle steamer, dry dock, local history exhibits, fossils, Aboriginal people
Market Square MuseumBurraMid NorthHistory, late 19th century period general store and shopkeeper's residence
Martindale HallMintaroMid NorthHistoric houseOwned by the University of Adelaide, leased as heritage museum and boutique hotel
Mary MacKillop Interpretive CentrePenolaLimestone CoastBiographicalBased on the life and achievements of Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods
Mary MacKillop Museum AdelaideKensingtonAdelaide suburbSocial historyLife and work of Mary MacKillop, Julian Tenison Woods and the Sisters of St Joseph, past and present
Melrose Courthouse Heritage CentreMelroseFlinders RangesLocal history
Meningie Cheese Factory MuseumMeningieLocal history,
Migration Museum, AdelaideAdelaideAdelaideCulturalImmigration and settlement history of South Australia
Milang Historic Railway MuseumMilangFleurieuRailwaySouth Australian Railway and Light Railway displays, many interactive, information
Mill Cottage MuseumPort LincolnEyre PeninsulaHistoric house
Millicent Living History MuseumMillicentLimestone CoastLocal history
Millicent MuseumMillicentLimestone CoastLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, features restored buggies, carriages and wagons, a machinery shed
Minlaton MuseumMinlatonYorke PeninsulaLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
MOD. MuseumAdelaideAdelaideFuture, situated in the University_of_South_Australia CRI building on North Terrace
Moonta Mining MuseumMoontaYorke PeninsulaMining, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, life of the copper miners
Moonta Wheal Hughes Copper MineMoontaYorke PeninsulaMining, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, tour of the former copper mine
Morgan MuseumMorganRiverlandLocal history, located in 3 sites, includes farming, riverboat trade, pumping station for the Morgan to Whyalla pipeline, horse-drawn vehicles
Morphetts Enginehouse MuseumBurraMid NorthTechnology, restored mining engine house
Mount Dutton Bay WoolshedWangaryEyre PeninsulaLocal history, shearing, farming and fishing tools and artifacts
Mount Gambier Courthouse MuseumMount GambierLimestone CoastLaw enforcement, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Mount Laura Homestead MuseumWhyallaEyre PeninsulaMultiple, , includes early 20th century homestead, workman's cottage, shed with stationary engines, telecommunications museum, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Murray Bridge Regional GalleryMurray BridgeArt
Museum of Classical Archaeology, AdelaideAdelaideAdelaideArchaeologyArchaeology of Etruria, ancient Greece and ancient Rome, part of the University of Adelaide
Nangwarry Forestry & Logging MuseumNangwarryLimestone CoastForestry
Naracoorte Art GalleryNaracoorteLimestone CoastArt, traditional and contemporary visual arts including etchings by John C. Goodchild, aboriginal prints, paintings and ceramics, furniture and social history items
Naracoorte Caves National ParkNaracoorteLimestone CoastNatural historyFossils found in the caves on display in the Wonambi Fossil Centre
National Military Vehicle MuseumSalisburyAdelaide suburbsMilitaryTrucks, tanks, uniforms, artillery
National Motor Museum, BirdwoodBirdwoodAdelaide HillsTransportationAutomobiles, motorcycles, model cars
National Railway Museum, Port AdelaidePort AdelaideAdelaide suburbsRailwayLocomotives, rolling stock, historic buildings and equipment
National Trust Agricultural and Folk MuseumCleveEyre PeninsulaAgriculture, operated by the National Trust of South Australia in the Cleve Old Council Chambers, open by appointment
Old Government House, South AustraliaBelair National ParkAdelaide HillsHistoric houseFormer summer residence of the Governors of South Australia
Old Timers Mine and MuseumCoober PedyFar NorthMining, opal mining
OlivewoodRenmarkRiverlandHistoric house, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, 1880s period house with a working orangery and olive trees
Onkaparinga Woollen Mill MuseumLobethalAdelaide HillsTextile
Parndana Soldier Settlement MuseumParndanaKangaroo IslandLocal history, history of the soldier settlement scheme on the island after World War II
Penneshaw Maritime and Folk MuseumPenneshawKangaroo IslandLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Peterborough Motorcycle and Antique MuseumPeterboroughMid NorthTransportation, rare and interesting motorcycles and artefacts
Polish Hill River Church MuseumSevenhillMid NorthEthnic, contribution of Polish migrants to the development of the State
Port Elliot National Trust Historic Railway and Seaport CentrePort ElliotFleurieu PeninsulaRailway, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Port Lincoln Railway MuseumPort LincolnEyre PeninsulaRailway
Port MacDonnell and District MuseumPort MacDonnellLimestone CoastLocal history
Port Milang MuseumMilangLocal history
Port Pirie Historic and Folk MuseumPort PirieMid NorthMining, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Port Pirie Regional Art GalleryPort PirieMid NorthArt
Port Pirie RSL & Military MuseumPort PirieMid NorthMilitary
Port Victoria Maritime MuseumMinlatonYorke PeninsulaMaritimeSailing ships, sailing crews, shipwrecks
Prospect Hill Historical MuseumMeadowsAdelaide HillsLocal history
Radium Hill MuseumOlaryLocal history, history of Radium Hill uranium mine
Ray Robinson Memorial Military MuseumKadinaYorke PeninsulaMilitary
Redruth GaolBurraMid NorthPrison, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, mid 19th century prison
Riddoch Art GalleryMount GambierLimestone CoastArt
River Dolls of GoolwaGoolwaFleurieu PeninsulaToy, dolls, bears and toys from 20th century
R.M. Williams Outback Heritage MuseumProspectAdelaide suburbsBiographical, life of R. M. Williams and products of his company
Robe Customs HouseRobeLimestone CoastLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Roseworthy Agricultural MuseumRoseworthyAdelaide suburbsAgriculture, history and the development of agricultural machinery, much of which was invented in South Australia
The Round HouseMurray BridgeMurraylandsLocal historyHomestead museum documenting the early development of the town of Murray Bridge.
Ruston's Classic Car MuseumRenmarkRiverlandAutomotive, vintage and historic racing cars
Samstag Museum of ArtAdelaideAdelaideArtPart of the University of South Australia, contemporary art
Sansouci Puppet Museum and GalleryWilmingtonFlinders RangesPuppetry, puppets, marionettes and ventriloquist dolls
Santos Museum of Economic BotanyAdelaideAdelaideNatural history, part of Adelaide Botanic Garden, botanical specimens and art
Sheep's Back MuseumNaracoorteLimestone CoastFarming, sheep raising and the wool industry, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
South Australian Aviation MuseumPort AdelaideAdelaide suburbsAerospaceDisplays aircraft and aircraft engines of relevance to South Australia
South Australian Maritime MuseumPort AdelaideAdelaide suburbsMaritimeImmigration to South Australia, maritime history, fleet of historic ships
South Australian Whale CentreVictor HarborFleurieu PeninsulaNatural history, whales and regional marine life
South Australian MuseumAdelaideAdelaideNatural historyNatural history museum and research institution
South Australia Police Historical SocietyThebartonAdelaide suburbsLaw enforcementHistory of South Australia Police and of law enforcement in South Australia
South Coast Regional Arts CentreGoolwaFleurieu PeninsulaArt
Stangate House and GardenAldgateAdelaide HillsHistoric houseOperated by the National Trust of South Australia, 1940s house with camellia gardens
Stansbury MuseumStansburyYorke PeninsulaLocal history, 1910 period rooms, collections of clothing, gemstones, bottles, shells and dolls, farming, industry
SteamRangerAdelaide HillsAdelaide HillsRailwayHeritage railway using broad gauge steam locomotives
Steamtown Heritage Rail CentrePeterboroughMid NorthRailway
Strathalbyn and District Heritage CentreStrathalbynFleurieu PeninsulaLocal history, 19th century police station and courthouse with Victorian period rooms
Streaky Bay MuseumStreaky BayEyre PeninsulaLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
St John Ambulance Historical Society of South AustraliaUnleyAdelaide suburbsMedical
Swan Reach MuseumSwan ReachLocal history
Tailem Rail MuseumTailem BendRailway
Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural InstituteAdelaideAdelaideArtsSpecialises in Indigenous Australian art including visual art, music and storytelling
Tea Tree Gully Heritage MuseumTea Tree GullyAdelaide suburbsLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, a member of National Trust of South Australia, lifestyles of residents in the Tea Tree Gully area from the 1850s to 1950s,, Accredited museum in History Trust of SA's Museums and Collections program.
Terowie Pioneer Gallery and MuseumsTerowieMid NorthLocal history
Tramway Museum, St KildaSt KildaAdelaide suburbsRailwayLarge collection of trams, some of which are used to carry visitors to the St Kilda Adventure Playground.
Tumby Bay Branch MuseumTumby BayEyre PeninsulaLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Ukrainian Museum HindmarshAdelaide suburbsEthnic, Ukrainian history and artisan traditions
Uleybury School MuseumOne Tree HillAdelaide suburbsEducation
Umoona Opan Mine and MuseumCoober PedyFar NorthMining, opal mining, fossils, aboriginal heritage, dugout homes
Unley MuseumUnleyAdelaide suburbsLocal history
Urlwin Park Agricultural MuseumBalaklavaMid NorthAgriculture, farm tractors, equipment, tools, vehicles, buildings
Urrbrae HouseUrrbraeAdelaide suburbsHistoric houseOperated by the University of Adelaide, late 19th century mansion
Wallaroo Heritage and Nautical MuseumWallarooYorke PeninsulaLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Willunga Courthouse MuseumWillungaAdelaide suburbsLaw enforcement, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, courthouse complex including cells, stable and police residence
Willunga Slate MuseumWillungaAdelaide suburbsMining, operated by the National Trust of South Australia, located in the Courthouse Museum stables, area slate mining
Winn's BakehouseCoromandel ValleyAdelaide suburbsLocal history, operated by the National Trust of South Australia
Whyalla Maritime MuseumWhyallaEyre PeninsulaMaritime, includes the landlocked HMAS Whyalla, a Bathurst class corvette museum ship
Yankalilla District Historical MuseumYankalillaFleurieu PeninsulaLocal history