The Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10.00am – 5pm, with safety measures in place.
The Museum is open on Mondays during NSW School Holidays.
Following the NSW Public Health Order requirements, there will be a maximum capacity of up to 200 visitors at one time in the building.
This capacity is less than the allowable 4 square metres of space per person guideline. Counting technology will be installed to ensure capacity is measured. We encourage visitors to maintain 1.5m physical distance from other members of the public.
Newcastle Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10.00am – 5pm. During this time, you can explore the collection and new exhibitions. Visitors will need to scan in at entry points – make sure you bring your phone.
Tues – Sun, 10.00am – 5pm
(and 7 days during NSW School Holidays)
Contact 02 4974 1400 if you have any questions.
Bookings are required for the entry fee special exhibition Colour from Questacon only.
Entry is free for the general exhibition areas. Visitor will need to scan in by a QR code at the entry point for contact tracing purposes.
The Museum team have developed a COVID-19 safe plan in line with industry standards. The Museum team will monitor the movements, attendance numbers, compliance, and comfort levels of the public over the initial opening weeks and will make adjustments as needed.
The COVID-19 safe plan includes:
- An online booking system, to ensure capacity is not exceeded and contact details are collected for tracing purposes.
- Entry and Exit points will be clearly marked, with markers on the floor to guide patrons through the Museum at comfortable distances from other members of the public.
- Hand sanitiser stations will be in place at the point of entry and staff will commence increased cleaning regimes between session times with a focus on high-touch surfaces.
When attending the Museum, we ask all visitors to help to keep each other safe from viruses, please:
- Keep a distance of 1.5m between you and other people
- Clean your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
- Avoid close contact with anyone with cold and flu-like symptoms
- Stay at home if you are sick or have any flu-like symptoms
Supernova and Mininova galleries remain closed to the public at this stage.
The Link, Kuueeyung and A Newcastle Story galleries are open.
To keep our visitors safe, we will not have access to interactive spaces, therefore Supernova & Mininova remain closed at this time. Fire and Earth Gallery is closed to allow for staff to concentrate their efforts on the two new special exhibitions.
Special Exhibition, Colour from Questacon, will be open from 25 September and will require prior booking online. Find out more https://www.newcastlemuseum.com.au/exhibitions/exhibitions/colour-see-the-world-in-a-new-light
Isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19 will be open from 25 September with free general admission. Find out more https://www.newcastlemuseum.com.au/exhibitions/exhibitions/isolation-portraits-of-newcastle-during-covid-19
Group tours and school visits have been suspended until further notice.
All public programs like Hunter Past in Photos, Tuesday Tales, remain temporarily suspended or online until further notice.
Visit our Discover page to find exciting online activities, join us weekly on Facebook @newcastlemuseum for Tuesday Tales and to keep up to date with further announcements, such as online school holidays programs.
Science shows will be delivered with limited capacity. Attendees will be drawn from a free ballot. Walk ups will not be permitted. Read more
If you would like to find out what else is on across the City, visit the What’s On(line) Calendar.
Fire & Earth, Coal, Link and A Newcastle Story galleries are open. Each visitor will be able to enjoy a 6-minute Steelmaking Simulation Show during their visit.
To keep our visitors safe, we will not have access to interactive spaces, therefore Supernova & Mininova remain closed at this time.
Museum Park is open to the public, however, please continue to use social distancing measures when visiting.
Members of the public are welcome to contact the collections team via phone or email to discuss object donations. At this stage, objects cannot be handed over until restrictions are further eased. In normal operating conditions objects cannot be received by the Museum without prior arrangement with the museum curator or registrar.
Find out more about our Collection Policy.
The Museum will be open on Mondays during NSW School Holidays (includes Monday 28 September and 5 October). Find out more about our opening hours.