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Exploring Brisbane's Museums and Art Galleries

Look at things from a different perspective at Brisbane’s best museums and art galleries.

From galleries showcasing contemporary art to museums curating Brisbane’s colourful past and exciting present, there is so much to uncover at Brisbane’s museums and galleries.

Queensland Museum & Sciencentre

Grey St & Melbourne Street, South Brisbane 
As the state museum, Queensland Museum is the keeper of the state's historical collections dating back to colonial times. Located in the Southbank cultural precinct near the CBD, this museum is easily accessible via public transport and only a short stroll from the city. 
Set over several floors with multiple interactive exhibits and exhibitions, Queensland Museum and Sciencentre is sure to keep kids and adults alike entertained all day. The museum’s fantastic and ever-changing programs encourage visitors to interreact, explore their creative side, and most importantly have fun.
Book into a ‘behind the scenes’ tour, come along to Museum After Dark or even sign the kids up for one of the museum’s great school holiday programs.

Queensland’s spectacular natural history and biodiversity is in the spotlight on level four, with our Wild State Gallery and Discovery Centre. Come face to face with Queensland’s biodiversity with a range of objects and digital displays, with museum experts available to answer any questions you may have.

- Dr Jim Thompson, CEO, Queensland Museum Network

Some of the museums most-loved exhibits include:
Wild State: wander through different environments and uncover the native species which live there. 
Discovery Centre: showcasing more than 1,300 objects, digital displays and more, visitors are encouraged to ask questions, discover and play.
Lost Creatures: meet some of Queensland’s long-lost locals, including giant reptiles, dinosaurs, and more.
SparkLab - Sciencentre: step into an interactive science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) space.

Whether you are getting up close to dinosaur bones in Lost Creatures, marvelling at Egyptian mummies in the hands-on Discovery Centre or uncovering your inner scientist at the museum’s SparkLab, there are plenty of fascinating displays to capture your imagination. 
While Queensland Museum is free to the public (with some charges for Brisbane exhibitions or special occasions), you do need to book tickets for the SparkLab Sciencentre

Looking for other great things to do as a family across Brisbane? Read our tips on the top 5 family-friendly activities throughout Brisbane.

How To Get There

The Museum is in TransLink Zone 1, within walking distance of:
South Brisbane railway station,
Cultural Centre Busway station 
South Bank CityCat and Ferry terminals
Alternatively, you can walk from Brisbane CBD, across the river. There is also a public car park directly below the Museum if you are driving.
People enjoying the art at GOMA in Brisbane
Get creative at GOMAs interactive exhibits

Queensland Art Gallery - Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

Stanley Place, South Brisbane
Located across two riverside buildings in Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct, the Queensland Art Museum & Gallery of Modern Art are well recognisable to locals and tourists alike. A must visit for your next weekend trip to Brisbane, this museum, gallery duo showcases an ever-evolving program of both Australian and international exhibitions, with a focus on the contemporary art of Australia, Asia and the Pacific. Entry to both the museum and modern art gallery is free (unless visiting a special exhibition). It is well worth checking out what exhibits are on throughout the year, to help time your visit.

The Gallery of Modern Arts Brisbane (also known as GOMA Brisbane) has a whole range of attractions for visitors to enjoy. Catch a silent film with live musical accompaniment at the Cinémathèque, take your little one along to Toddler Tuesday at the Children’s Art Centre, or keep your eyes peeled for all of the interactive activities on throughout this Brisbane art gallery.

How To Get There

You can easily walk here from the Brisbane central business district.
If you are taking public transport, QAGOMA is only a five minute walk from the South Brisbane train station and near the Cultural Centre Busway.
Parking is also available under the Queensland Art Gallery.
Museum of Brisbane clock tower
When visiting the Museum of Brisbane be sure to take a tour up to the building’s clock tower

Museum of Brisbane (MoB)

Level 3 of City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street, King George Square, Brisbane
This City Council-owned museum offers an insight into the social history and visual arts of Brisbane – its people, places and stories. Offering free year-round exhibitions and programs which support the city’s many talented artists, designers, historians, and storytellers who create art inspired by the city of Brisbane aimed at engaging visitors in conversation. Discussing great Brisbane art, the museum’s guides are seen as ‘Brisbane’s best storytellers’, blending historical fact with tales about some of the city’s biggest personalities, and stories.

Housed inside of City Hall, this museum also offers a free tour up the City Hall clock tower. You can now also visit the Museum of Brisbane on Friday Nights with the museum offering extended opening hours until 7pm. 
If you are looking to grab a bite to eat after your Friday evening explorations, be sure to visit Brisbane’s bustling lanes, offering great food down quaint yet buzzing laneways. Trying to keep things cheap? There is also a great range of BYO restaurants dotted throughout the CBD.

How To Get There

There are a number of buses that stop along Adelaide Street, and the museum is only a 10-minute walk from Central and Roma Street train stations.

Philip Bacon Galleries

2 Arthur Street, Corner Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
The Philip Bacon Galleries have become one of the most celebrated contemporary Australian galleries. Offering an incredible variety of local and international artists, the gallery is renowned for the depth of its stockroom, showcasing some of Australia’s most revered contemporary artists.
From Charles Blackman, Peter Churcher and Robert Dickerson, to major exhibitions of senior Australian artists such as Ian Fairweather, Donald Friend and Rupert Bunny, this Brisbane gallery is well worth the visit.
When visiting this contemporary art gallery in Brisbane, it’s best to start by looking at the gallery’s exhibition calendar so that you can align your visit with one of your favourite artists. 

How To Get To Philip Bacon Galleries

The 196 and 199 bus services have several bus stops nearby on Brunswick Street which are serviced by the 196 and 199.  If you are planning on taking the train, Fortitude Valley Station is a ten to fifteen minute walk away.
Planning a trip to Brisbane this winter? Accor offers a range of budget-friendly and more luxurious accommodation options throughout the CBD and Fortitude Valley. Find your perfect Brisbane accommodation now!

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