Archives: Discovery Centres

The Ballarat Municipal Observatory & Museum is situated at Mount Pleasant in Ballarat. The observatory is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of astronomical instruments in regional Australia including the first disability access telescope. Along with the collection of telescopes the observatory also includes a ‘pipehenge’, AstroTours, cafe and a gift shop. The…

The Yakult factory in Dandenong South, Victoria, allows visitors a glimpse into the entire production process of drinkable yoghurt. The facility incorporates food processing equipment designed specifically for manufacturing Yakult, including the company’s distinctively-shaped bottles, filling and packaging lines, culture and quality control rooms. Visitors will also be able to taste a sample too. Free…

Currently closed for redevelopment. As the National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Reef HQ Aquarium is home to the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium. The aquarium includes a 2.5 million litre coral reef exhibition with over 100 coral species, 100 fish species and hundreds of sea creatures. Reef HQ…

Geoscience Australia welcomes visitors to discover Earth science! The public display area houses the National Mineral and Fossil Collection. Visitors will be captivated by a collection of minerals, fossils, and meteorites, with approximately 700 items on permanent display. Exploration can be done at one’s own pace or through the Mineral Treasure Hunt activity, accessible via…

The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve was established in 1936. Soon after, a koala enclosure was built and the park has since been expanded to cover 54 sq km. The reserve includes Hanging Rock, where excavations have found that Indigenous occupation of the area dates back at least 16 000 years. The reserve has an endangered species…

Brambuk – The National Park and Cultural Centre is the gateway to the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. It is owned and run by five Indigenous communities. The Centre runs Indigenous cultural activities and walks for visitors and has informative displays about the six distinct seasons of the region. There is a giftshop and a cafe…

Healesville Sanctuary is a feral animal proof enclosure with woodland and wetland areas provided for their native marsupials, birds, and reptiles. The Sanctuary is one of only two facilities globally to have a successful platypus breeding program. There are a large number of ranger talks each day, focussing on particular animals and habitats. Closeup encounters…

The Adelaide Desalination Plant opened in 2013 and can provide half of Adelaide’s water supply. The plant uses reverse osmosis to produce fresh drinking water from seawater. A visit to the plant gives students an understanding of sustainable water management and how seawater is treated to become safe, clean drinking water. Students will also learn…

The Daisy Hill Koala Centre opened in 1995 and was refurbished in 2018. The Centre has information displays and a theatrette, as well as live koalas visible from a raised boardwalk. Each day there are ranger talks about the koalas and local conservation efforts. Visitors can also go for a bushwalk, cycle or horseride in…

The Museum houses the collection of the local Historical Society, including displays featuring local goldmining operations dating from 1891 and some of the sets from the Rabbit Proof Fence movie. The Boolgardie State Battery, a historic ore crushing facility, has been rebuilt onsite. The Museum is open seven days per week from April to October,…