SITE PARTNER:

A Guide to Brisbane's Museums

Updated: May 16, 2025

Brisbane and surrounding regions are home to a sizable collection of fascinating museums, from the well-known like Queensland Museum and Museum of Brisbane to medieval, tiny wartime, convict, police and antiquities, as well as maritime, train and tram museums. Here are 20+ that are worth visiting:

Brisbane Motor Museum

Brisbane Motor Museum

A fantastic trip back in time and must-visit for motoring enthusiasts, located in a massive converted warehouse

Queensland Museum Kurilpa

Queensland Museum Kurilpa

Queensland Museum, founded in 1862, is the keeper of the state's historical collections dating back to colonial times

Museum Of Brisbane

This impressive Brisbane City Council owned museum offers an insight into the social history and visual arts of Brisbane.

Queensland Maritime Museum

Ship in dry dock in the Queensland Maritime Museum

You don’t have to be a ship enthusiast to visit this homey museum, which is well laid out and staffed by mostly ex-naval and maritime workers.

Macarthur Museum

General Macarthur's office in the Macarthur Museum in Brisbane.

Few who pass the glass doors of MacArthur Chambers Hotel would know that it was from this building that General Douglas MacArthur directed the Allies in holding back the Japanese invasion.

Commissariat Store Museum

Commissariat Stores building in Brisbane.

Tucked away from the city’s thoroughfares, the convict-built Commissariat Stores are one of only two buildings that survived from the penal settlement.

Queensland Police Museum

Queensland Police Museum, Brisbane

The Queensland Police Museum is a fascinating secret trove that contains the history of crime, law and order

Brisbane Tramway Museum

Brisbane Tramway Museum

This fascinating outdoor museum is where you can ride restored Brisbane trams

SparkLab MDB

Be a scientist at SparkLab, only at Queensland Museum!

Antiquities Museum

Egyptian mask inside Antiquities Museum in Brisbane.

This fascinating little trove of ancient artefacts belonging to UQ and dating back 4000 years is one of the best kept secrets around.

Samford District Historical Museum

Samford District Historical Museum, Queensland, History, Rail Trail

Resembling a mini historical village, the Samford Museum holds one of the most extraordinary collections of heirlooms, memorabilia and building styles of late 19th and early 20th century Queensland life to be found

Fort Lytton Military Museum

People outside ruins at Fort lytton

Housed within the grounds of the 19th century Fort Lytton ruins is the Fort Lytton Military Museum

Tele Museum

Tucked away in Clayfield, this interesting little museum houses the largest display of historical telecommunications items in Queensland

more

Near Brisbane

Pine Rivers Heritage Museum

Museum building adn entrance.

There’s nothing dusty or musty about this slick little timber building on the edge of the Old Petrie Town car park.

Old machines, motorbike and horse carriage inside Redlands Museum in Cleveland.

Behind the plain brick façade of Redland Museum lies a wonderland of memorabilia from the past.

The Workshops Rail Museum

Vintage train inside The Workshops Rail Museum

Whether you have the slightest interest in things that run on tracks or not, this national treasure of a museum is must-visit.

Logan Village Museum

Logan Village Museum

Home to thousands of artefacts, the Logan Village Museum is a must-visit destination for all history buffs

Redcliffe Museum

Exhibit inside Redcliffe Museum

Visitors to this museum will be happily surprised to find a modern well laid out display of the Redcliffe peninsula's 200+ years of European history

Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology provides a unique opportunity to be fully immersed in history for a day

Beenleigh Historical Village

Beenleigh Historical Village & Museum

Leave the 21st century behind and time travel back to another century at Beenleigh Historical Village, a well-kept secret that which would have to rate as

Cobb + Co Museum

Cobb + Co Museum, a must visit if in Toowoomba, is home to Australia’s finest collection of horse-drawn vehicles

Image credit: Tele Museum courtesy of Tele Museum Facebook page.

Top Things To Do In Brisbane This Week

Crowd of people at Careers & Employment Expo

Careers & Employment Expo

Find career opportunities for all ages at the Careers & Employment Expo

Clydesdale horses heads

Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular

Clydesdales great and small will descend on Boonah

Carseldine Wintertide Wonderland Twilight Markets

Wintertide Wonderland Twilight Markets

Experience the magic of a European winter in Brisbane

Performers on stage at Moreton Bay Pridefest

Moreton Bay PrideFest

Get ready to slay because PrideFest is back baby

People raising glass of rum

Rumolution 2025

Rumolution brings together the best rum producers & rum lovers!

RACQ MotorFest 2025

RACQ MotorFest 2025

RACQ's MotorFest is the ultimate car lover's day out

Pop-Up Pooch Party Hanlon Park

Pop-Up Pooch Party

Paws up Brisbane! It’s a Pop-Up Pooch Party!

Out of the Box graphic poster

Out Of The Box Festival 2025

QPAC’s much-loved festival for children 8 years and under is back

musical theatre

Broadway in Love

An entertaining production showcasing romantic songs from hit Broadway musicals.

Redlands Wellington Point

MUST VISIT

Redlands Coast

With the glorious sunshine days of autumn and winter upon us, there's never been a better time to visit the beautiful Redlands Coast

Redlands Coast

The monster returns to QPAC

Win tickets to QPAC's amazing Out of the Box festival 2025!

Win tickets to QPAC's amazing Out of the Box festival 2025!

Win a $1,000 Aussie World family pack!