We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which the museum stands and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of our First Nations Peoples on this land.

At the Queanbeyan Museum we tell the stories of our region and the people who lived here in the days before Australia became an independent nation, right up until the present day.

Queanbeyan Museum is open Saturday & Sunday afternoons 1 – 4pm.

Admission is FREE – but donations are most welcome

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Openings are subject to our hard-working volunteers’ availability and if you would like to assist us with the museum you can join our volunteer team: contact via mcglynn_john@hotmail.com, 6297 2730 or qbynhmuseum@gmail.com

Queanbeyan Museum watercolour by Girish Torasker

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History of the building

The Queanbeyan Historical Museum is located in the historic The Old Police Sergeant’s Residence 10 Farrer Pl, Queanbeyan. Built in 1876, this building replaced the former police barracks in Antill Street and served as the Police Sergeant’s Residence for close to 100 years. It was constructed by John Kealman, a well-known local builder, at a cost of £1,000. The bricks for the building, laid in English bond, were made by John Kealman at his own brickworks in nearby Garryowen. This is the residential area directly across from Queanbeyan Park, bordering on Campbell Street. The building is a good example of the Victorian Regency style of the late 19th Century and originally formed part of a complex of official Government buildings, including the courthouse and post office, since replaced by more modern buildings. The rear section of the building, the kitchens, were constructed around 1910. These later became quarters for the local detectives. The lean-tos on either side were added in the late 1950s.

The building and its site is owned by the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

For more information on our historic Museum building please follow the link button below

Telephone: 02 6169 6213 during opening hours 1pm-4pm Sunday (not Easter and Christmas holidays.

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The Museum has a strong focus on the history of Queanbeyan and surrounding district, with a broad collection of over 3,500 items that includes furniture, textiles, technological objects, costumes, pictures, maps, objects, and photographs. There is currently an active programme of changing exhibitions with regular opening hours and regular events.

Take the journey with us:

Explore

The Museum’s 10 galleries and extensive outdoor areas allow visitors to explore topics like:

The Ngambri people before Europeans arrived

How did Queanbeyan develop?

Bushrangers and Larrikins

Stories From a Country Town – Queanbeyan during WW1 1914-1918

The Wash House – cleaning our clothes and ourselves

See

See an original Both Iron Lung used in Queanbeyan during the 1950s poliomyelitis epidemic;

See William Farrer’s parlour piano;

See a magnificent 30 metre mural of late 19th century Queanbeyan.

Events

The Museum hosts regular events with an historical theme.

Where are we?

Queanbeyan Museum, 10 Farrer Pl, Queanbeyan NSW

Opening Times

Open Saturday and Sunday 1-4 and other times by appointment. Closed over Easter and extended Christmas holidays. Re-opening on the first weekend in February 2024.

Management

The Museum was opened by the Queanbeyan & District Historical Museum Society Inc. in 1969. It is currently operated by the Society in partnership with the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council.

QDHMS Inc.

The Society meets regularly and publishes an historical journal, Quinbean.

Contact

For further information about the Museum or the Society contact:

Post: The Secretary QDHMS, P.O. Box 480 QUEANBEYAN NSW 2620

Email: qbynhmuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 02 6169 6213 during opening hours 1-4 Saturday & Sunday

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