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Discover the Biggest Museum in Geelong, Australia

4 min read January 31, 2024

Geelong, a charming city located in the Australian state of Victoria, boasts a rich history and vibrant culture. The city’s diverse museums offer a captivating glimpse into its past, showcasing fascinating artifacts, interactive exhibits, and captivating stories. From art and history to science and nature, Geelong’s museums cater to a wide range of interests, promising an enriching and educational experience for visitors of all ages.

Uncover the hidden gems of Geelong’s museum scene, where you’ll be transported back in time, explore the wonders of the natural world, and discover the stories of the people who have shaped this remarkable city. Immerse yourself in the local culture and heritage, and gain a deeper appreciation for Geelong’s unique identity.

Top Museum in Geelong, Australia

Geelong ( jih-LONG) (Wathawurrung: Djilang/Djalang) is a port city in Victoria, Australia, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River, about 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Melbourne. Geelong is the second largest Victorian city behind Melbourne with an estimated urban population of 268,277 as of June 2018, and is also Australia's second fastest-growing city. Geelong is also known as the "Gateway City" due to its critical location to surrounding western Victorian regional centres including Ballarat in the northwest, Torquay, Great Ocean Road and Warrnambool in the southwest, Hamilton, Colac and Winchelsea to the west, providing a transport corridor past the Central Highlands for these regions to the state capital Melbourne in its northeast. The City of Greater Geelong is also a member of the Gateway Cities Alliance in partnership with Councils from Newcastle and Wollongong. Geelong is the administrative centre for the City of Greater Geelong municipality, which is Port Phillip's only regional metropolitan area, and covers all the urban, rural and coastal reserves around the city including the entire Bellarine Peninsula and running from the plains of Lara in the north to the rolling hills of Waurn Ponds to the south, with Corio Bay to the east and the Barrabool Hills to the west. The traditional owners of the land on which Geelong sits were the Wadawurrung (also known as Wathaurong) Aboriginal people of the Kulin nation. The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation is the Registered Aboriginal Party for the region. The modern name of Geelong, established in 1827, was derived from the local Wadawurrung name for the region, Djilang, thought to mean "land", "cliffs" or "tongue of land or peninsula". The area was first surveyed by the European settlers in 1838, three weeks after Melbourne. A town post office was opened by June 1840, the second to open in the Port Phillip District. The first woolstore was erected in this period and it became the port for the wool industry of the Western District.During the Victorian gold rush, Geelong experienced a brief boom as the main port to the rich goldfields of the Ballarat district. The town then diversified into manufacturing, and during the 1860s became one of the largest manufacturing centres in Australia with its wool mills, ropeworks, and paper mills. It was proclaimed a city in 1910, with industrial growth from this time until the 1960s establishing the city as a manufacturing centre for the state, and the population grew to over 100,000 by the mid-1960s. During the city's early years, an inhabitant of Geelong was often known as a Geelongite or a "Pivotonian", derived from the city's nickname of "The Pivot", referencing the city's role as a shipping and rail hub for the area. Population increases over the last decade were due to growth in service industries, as the manufacturing sector has declined. Redevelopment of the inner city has occurred since the 1990s, as well as gentrification of inner suburbs, and currently has a population growth rate higher than the national average.Today, Geelong stands as an emerging healthcare, education and advanced manufacturing centre. The city's economy is shifting quickly and despite experiencing the drawbacks of losing much of its heavy manufacturing, it is seeing much growth in other tertiary sectors, positioning itself as one of the leading non-capital Australian cities. It is home to the Geelong Football Club, the second oldest club in the Australian Football League.

Top Museum in Geelong, Australia

MoPA: Museum of Play and Art

  • Address: 247 Bay Rd, Sandringham VIC 3191, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (831)
  • Phone: +61 1800 006 672
  • Website:
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fort Queenscliff Museum in Geelong, Australia
Fort Queenscliff Museum in Geelong, Australia

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The 9 Best Museum near Geelong, Australia

Fort Queenscliff Museum in Geelong, Australia
Fort Queenscliff Museum in Geelong, Australia

MoPA: Museum of Play and Art

  • Address: 51 McKillop St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (773)
  • Phone: +61 1800 006 672
  • Website:
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Reviews:
    Tim Moore✭✭✭✭✭
    in the last week
    The kids enjoyed themselves at MoPA. Various activities for them to do, some were at certain times such as painting the car. It took an hour from Melbourne to get there and parking wasn’t a problem, and free. Easy to entertain the kids for 2h. They moved from activity to activity at their pace and went back to the ones they enjoyed a few times. The staff were friendly and were cleaning up after the session so the place was nice and clean.
    Kara Robinson✭✭✭✭✭
    3 months ago
    Oh my goodness, what a place! Next level awesome for kids fun time… Great location for adults and kids alike. (hard to take photos without kids, and makes it look strange… But you get the idea)

    Sensory magic everywhere – well designed safety conscience space – large variety of activities to suit different interests (and ages) – indoor and outdoor adventure – great use of a beautiful old building

    Seriously considering the membership, even though we live in Melbourne over an hour away. It was just so great! Thank you, we will be back!

    anne michelle polandaya✭✭✭✭✭
    in the last week
    There were lots of activities, they have scheduled of activities for the 2 hours to make sure your 2hr visit is maximized. Friendly and helpful staff. My kids enjoyed every bits of it. Thank you for making this happen ?
    Jenny Chen✭✭✭✭✭
    4 months ago
    You definitely want to arrive on time for your session to make FULL use of the two hours, because it will not be enough! My kids aged 4, 6 and 8 all loved it, especially the water run, zoom room, and interactive colouring screens. Staff is amazingly helpful and friendly, I was there alone with three kids all spread out and they helped me keep an eye on them. We were lucky to find street parking right in front of the museum, but when it gets busy parking might be tricky. Cafe selection is very small and pricey, but kids will probably be too busy playing to eat anyway.
    Jessica Thomas✭✭✭✭✭
    2 weeks ago
    My daughter had the time of her life. Engaging, friendly and safe environment. We’ll be back.

Geelong Gallery

  • Address: 55 Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.5 (766)
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National Wool Museum

  • Address: 26 Moorabool St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (682)

Geelong Gaol Museum

  • Address: 202 Myers St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.5 (317)

Queenscliffe Maritime Museum

  • Address: Maritime Museum, 2 Wharf St, Queenscliff VIC 3225, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (177)

Fort Queenscliff Museum

  • Address: Cnr King &, Gellibrand St, Queenscliff VIC 3225, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.4 (151)

Geelong Bollard Trail Walk

  • Address: Geelong VIC 3220, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (43)
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Lara Heritage & Historical Museum

  • Address: 2-10 Canterbury Rd W, Lara VIC 3212, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (18)

Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the best Museum in Geelong, Australia, please leave a comment above. We would love to hear from you!

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5 Replies to Discover the Biggest Museum in Geelong, Australia

  1. Such a fun place! Heaps of parking out front, all the staff were so friendly and helpful. There is nothing about the whole experience I didn’t like. Being a weekday afternoon it was not too busy. I loved how the staff came over to invite the kids to the activities happening (story time, craft time, dance party) Cafe was well stocked with adult and kid friendly food which was a relief after big morning. We were able to have a cafe table and the kids could come and go because of the open plan design. The gift shop at entry actually had decent items and not just the usual junky stuff and quite reasonably priced. If we lived local we would definitely have annual passes! 10/10

    Reply

  2. Always enjoyed MOPA, so much fun Even for adults, i don’t have to worry about my daughter running out of the venue. She’d be entertained for 30mins playing with the ball tubes. Really enjoyed the host led dance party too. I would do a party here if it wasn’t so far away.
    Service, above and beyond great. Helped me watch my two infant and toddler while i ran to get the car in the rain, played with them and kept them entertained.

    Reply

  3. We have visited MoPA at least 4 times in the last 2 years and it never fails to delight and impress us. The varied activities are so well designed, the space is open, light and clean, the staff are fabulous and the coffee is pretty good too. Best value 2 hours of fun and entertainment around. I have recommended it to a number of fellow grandparents and always get great feedback.

    Reply

  4. All you have to do is remove your inner Karen, remember every child is different, they don’t follow rules, they’re just having fun, some parents need a respite and you’ll have an amazing time with your child.

    We spent two hours there with our 18 month old. He loved it.

    The coffee and food were great, plenty of seats, and also a good place to find a single mum if you’re looking ?

    100% recommend

    Reply

  5. Spectacular place for kids to play and learn. Our 1 year old had the best time, having a dedicated soft play area for under 2’s was so appreciated, but she also loved the other spaces. We’ll definitely be back and wish you had one in Brisbane too!

    Reply

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