Welcome to the Channel Museum
We tell the many, varied, and quirky stories of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel region of Southern Tasmania.
Located just 20 km south of Hobart, the museum welcomes independent travellers, tour groups and cruise ship visitors.
The Channel Museum was presented with a Bronze Award for Cultural Tourism in 2017 by the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania.
WE ARE OPEN!
SUNDAY to THURSDAY from September 20th.
Group visits available for other days by prior arrangement
Admission Price
$5 per adult. Children under 16 free.
Residents of Kingborough Municipality free., but a donation is requested
Opening Hours
Sunday to Thursday 11:00 – 15:00. Closed Friday and Saturday.
Except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, ANZAC Day (closed am) and Easter Friday.
Facilities
- Extensive car park, parking for large vehicles and caravans nearby
- Toilet facilities - including disabled toilets
- Disabled level access throughout the museum
1755 Channel Highway
Margate 7054 Tasmania
Tel: 03 6267 2333
or Contact Us here
Permanent Displays and Library
Our permanent displays and library are packed with rare and fascinating insights into the cultural, social, artistic, and industrial life of the Channel pioneers and early settlers.
These displays highlight the original Aboriginal inhabitants, the early explorers, and various Channel industries. There are also specialty displays featuring the 1967 bushfires, the Don Norton Camera Collection, the Electrona Carbide Works, and the life of Dutch migrants.
A collection of vintage farming machinery is housed in a separate exhibition space.
News and feature displays
- We are open to the public from Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 3pm, hopefully expanding our open days in the weeks ahead. Other days by appointment for school and other groups.
The cafe, now called The Channel Cafe, is now open, 7 days a week from 8 until 4
Hope to welcome you back soon! - LIVING HISTORY - how has COVID-19 affected you? For many this has been a major life-changing event on a par (almost!) with the 1967 bushfires and the Tasman Bridge disaster. We'd love to record your experiences for posterity. Please write them down and take photos now, quick, before we get back to normal (or proceed to the "New Normal") and share them with us via Facebook, email, post, or drop them in when we re-open.
- House Histories now available! Go to "Services" button below to find out more.
Our current feature display is:
The History of Surfing in Tasmania
This is a "travelling display" created by the Maritime Museum of Tasmania depicting the surf culture of our State in past decades.
If you remember the Holden Sandman panel vans, this one is for you!
What our visitors say about us
Reviews:
Amazing morning in the museum and cafe! Highly recommended to anyone visiting the area. Angela on Google 19 March 2019
This is absolutely awesome. It was a bit of a surprise for me. A lot of things to see including different cameras. Not a tourist spot but very worthy to go. Fred on Google 7 January 2019.
Volunteers, members, and friends
We are wholly operated by volunteers and always welcome new members, volunteers and friends to support our activities.
Visitors and Tour Groups
We welcome all visitors and tour groups. Our proximity to Hobart (only 20 minutes) makes us especially suitable for cruise ship tour groups.
If you are planning a group visit, we can organise specialist volunteer guides and food service at our cafe.
Phone us to book a tour of the Museum!
School Group Tours
In collaboration with school staff, we conduct specialist guided educational tours for school children.
Book a school group tour of the Museum.
Research
Our library is available to the public for research. We also offer a research service for a small fee.
Cafe and gift shop
Our cafe serves delicious light meals, snacks, and drinks. The coffee is great!!!
Donations gratefully received
Channel Museum Admission is free for residents of Kingborough but we ask that you make a donation. We are a 'not-for-profit' incorporated association staffed entirely by volunteers. We are a registered Deductible Gift Recipient. We rely on donations to continue our work to preserve and promote the history, culture, and heritage of the Channel area of Southern Tasmania.
You can provide a donation, which is tax-deductible over $2, directly to our account at Bendigo Bank:
Account Name: Channel Historical and Folk Museum Inc trading as Channel Museum
BSB: 633-000
Account Number: 1615 90203
Please include the word “donation” and your name on the deposit. To gain a tax deduction, we need to supply you with a receipt. So email the details to us, together with your address and we will reply with a receipt for tax deduction purposes.