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 travelers, 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.
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
∗ Our feature display comprise exhibitions from local artists, photographers, or special interest groups. We change these displays monthly.
∗ The Channel Museum Year Book has now been released.
∗ We have EFTPOS facilities
Our current feature display is:
Peter MacFarlane landscapes
Margate Artist Peter MacFarlane will exhibit some of his landscapes from Friday 6 December 2019. His works will be exhibited at the Channel Museum, Margate until 31 January 2020.
Peter completed a Batchelor of Fine Art in 1999 at Hobart, and is working as a teacher with the Education Department.
Inspired by local scenery, Peter spends much of his time outdoors and endeavours to capture local scenery on canvas from his travels. Most of his exhibits will be Tasmanian Landscapes, but a few will represent interstate travels.
“I like painting because of the unique nature of it, the astonishing colours available nowadays, and the way painting can be composed not only of colour, line and shape, but also texture in the form of a heavy impasto, something that is perhaps being lost in the flat, reproductible world of digital art. The texture of the paint on canvas is a direct and undiluted result of the hand of the artist; the maker’s mark.”
The Channel Museum encourages and supports local artists by attracting quality artists, such as Peter MacFarlane. The Museum looks to continue to attract strong interest from locals and tourists alike.
This exhibit can be viewed from 9:00am to 4:00pm daily at the Channel Museum, 1755 Channel Highway, Margate
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.
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. However, 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.
Opening Hours
Daily 09:00 – 16:00
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