The 10 Best Museums in Brisbane
There are a million reasons you should explore the various museums that can be found in Brisbane.
This coastal city has a lot to offer any visitor, and you will soon discover there are interactive museums and world-class galleries in different parts of the city. They focus on several issues, such as contemporary arts to naval vessels. Here, we list out various museums that stand out as the best in the city.
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
This is a must-see gallery and museum for you if you are Brisbane. It has become an institution of sorts within the city, and when it comes to contemporary art in Australia and the Pacific, this place is one of the best. What you will find here are different art forms that focus on different modern subjects. There are permanent exhibition as well as temporary ones that are changed from time to time. It also has an art centre for children, cinema, and café. So if you are visiting Brisbane or live there, this is one cultural experience you should not miss out on.
Queensland Museum
It is called the museum of natural history, cultural heritage, science, and human achievement. It lives up to this name in its exhibitions. A visit to the Queensland Museum is an educating and informative experience for people of all ages. The museum hosts the World Science Festival and is home to various species, both the fossils and the living. The collection on display in the museum are changed, so no matter when you go. You will always find something new and different.
Surfworld
Surfing is a significant part of the Australian culture, so it feels right that there should be a museum that exclusively celebrates it. That museum is Surfworld in Brisbane. This museum holds the most extensive collection of surfboards in Australia, and there are also surfing memorabilia and iconic photo exhibitions all in the museum. If you are a surfing enthusiast or wish to immerse yourself in that aspect of the Australian culture, this is an excellent place to visit.
Metro Arts
This is another gallery and museum of contemporary art. It is a five-storey building housing art in any imaginable form. This building doesn’t just display arts; it is also an excellent place to find artists. There are artists in residence, forums, events, exhibitions, performances, etc. all happening in one location. This melting pot of creativity can be accessed at no fee.
North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum
This is an award-winning museum located on the island village of Dunwich. You will need a boating trip to get to it from Brisbane, but that’s a little cost when you consider what you stand to gain. The museum contains permanent exhibitions dealing with the life of the Quandamooka people, the maritime history, shipwrecks, and convicts history. A trip
to this museum gives you the chance to explore the island and check out its lakes, beaches, and parks.
Queensland Maritime Museum
This is one of the biggest maritime museums in Australia and a good place to view exhibits of different vessels, ships, and boats. The museum has various collections such as marine engines, shipwreck relics, lighthouse equipment, navigation equipment, etc. There are also big ships such as the Lugger Penguin and Diamantina for you and your family to explore. Each object on display in this museum comes with incredible stories that will leave you informed and impressed. The collections are continually growing, and you will have a great time.
Queensland Police Museum
The Queensland police museum contains everything that has to do with the history of the police in Queensland. This is why you will find representations of various cases that the police have solved in the past as well as unsolved cases and the displays. A significant display is that of the Transport Stations Women. You also get the chance to try solving crimes in simulation modes.
MacArthur Museum Brisbane
This museum was the office that General Douglas MacArthur worked in when he arrived in Australia in 1942. The museum explores the Brisbane atmosphere during World War II.
Commissariat Store Museum
This a museum of Queensland history. The commissariat store is the oldest habitable building in Queensland and considered as a heritage. The exhibitions in the building change from time to time, but everything focuses on the history of Queensland.
William Robinson Gallery
This gallery honours the life of William Robinson, who was an alumnus of the Queensland University of Technology and contemporary painter. The gallery contains all his works along with other temporary exhibitions and other works that focus on his art.