Adelaide’s lively arts and culture scene is accompanied by a number of cool museums that only add to the vibrancy of the city, with most conveniently located around the city centre. Adelaide’s museums will introduce you to not only the colonial history of the city, but international treasures, local art, and niche focuses.
The South Australian Museum is the premier of these museums, over 160 years old and regarded internationally for their collections and work in research, community engagement and Australian Aboriginal heritage. Their collection of Aboriginal material culture is particularly impressive as one of the most important in the world, featuring 30 000 individual items. Its prime location on North Terrace comprises part of the North Terrace Cultural precinct, making a visit here within convenient distance to other amazing arts institutions.
The precinct is also occupied by the State Library of South Australia, neighbouring the museum. Talks, tours, and events are run out of the library, along with regular exhibitions. The exhibitions are the best way to view the collection, as the library curates from their collection different artefacts to paint a picture. The Beyond the Shelves exhibit is a favourite of ours, exploring the unexpected items and stories in their collection and introducing you to the diverse interests of a library collection you may have not realised.
A turn down Kintore Avenue after a visit to the library or museum will take you to the Migration Museum. Still contained within the cultural precinct, this museum uncovers specific stories about Adelaide’s cultural identity. The building was once a destitute asylum in the late 19th century and holds history even without the interesting displays inside. The ‘In This Place’ exhibit explains the heritage of the building and the land from settlement, but there are, too, exhibits focused on more contemporary migration in Adelaide. The ‘Superdiversity’ exhibit is a highlight, where you can learn more about migration in the 21st century. This institution certainly deserves its place in the cultural precinct with its eye-opening displays. This small museum is definitely worth even a pop-in after visiting the other museums in the precinct.
Heading toward the city centre, we find MOD, the Museum of Discovery. This museum is designed for young adults and highlights the impact of research on understanding the world around us. As part of the University of South Australia, the museum is highly educational and interactive, and recommended if you’re a student or student-aged. This one is another short visit, so definitely not a timewaster if you’re in the area.
The North Terrace end of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens is where you’ll find the Museum of Economic Botany. This museum is the last of its kind globally, with a permanent collection dating back 130 years. If you’re in the Botanic Gardens, this museum is a must as it is again another quick visit that you can gain a lot from for free. The focus is the economic uses of different plants, with many different specimens on show. The highlight is the papier-mâché fruit, used as educational tools for farmers on the appearance of different fruit varieties. They’re so realistic you’ll want to eat them!