Geelong Showgrounds Museum

31/03/2026

Looking for something interesting to do this Sunday?
The Geelong Showgrounds Museum will be open on Sunday 5 April from 10:00am–2:00pm!

Come and learn about the incredible people who shaped our wonderful city, and the inventions and innovations that changed the world. It’s a beautiful little glimpse into the stories, achievements and history that helped make Geelong what it is today.

📍 Gate 2, Breakwater Rd, East Geelong (turn left on entry)
🎟 Adults $10 | Students (13–18) $5 | Under 13 FREE
🚗 Parking available + accessible toilet on site

For group bookings of 10–45 people at other times, call the office on 03 5221 1707.

19/03/2026

Did you know one of our region’s most remarkable landmarks was once the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world?
Designed by John Monash and built between 1909 and 1912, the Moorabool Viaduct stands as a powerful reminder of the vision, skill and ambition that helped shape Geelong and the surrounding district.

It’s stories like this that make you proud to call this region home. From engineering achievements to everyday local history, the Geelong Showgrounds Museum is full of fascinating discoveries that connect us to the people and projects that built our community.

Come and explore the museum on the first Sunday of every month, 10am–2pm — you never know what incredible piece of Geelong history you’ll uncover next. ✨

18/03/2026

Did you know Geelong once had a giant time ball that dropped at exactly 1pm every day to signal the time to ships anchored in the bay? ⚓🕐
Perched on top of the old Telegraph Station, it was an important daily sight for sailors, navigators and locals alike — just one of the many fascinating stories waiting to be discovered at the Geelong Showgrounds Museum.

If you love a little local history, hidden gems and stories from another time, come and explore with us. The Geelong Showgrounds Museum is open the first Sunday of every month, 10am–2pm — and there’s always something new to learn about our region’s incredible past!

These fascinating insights are thanks to the incredible work of Ted Stephens 😍

25/02/2026

Did you know a young pilot from Inverleigh helped inspire the beginnings of the Royal Flying Doctor Service? 🚁

Come along to the Geelong Showgrounds Museum this Sunday and discover more about John Clifford “Cliff” Peel — plus plenty of other incredible local stories and memorabilia that bring our region’s history to life. A special thank you to Ted Stephens for creating these fantastic information boards and helping preserve and share these stories with the community.

🗓 This Sunday
⏰ 10am–2pm
📍 Geelong Showgrounds Museum

Pop in for a wander and a chat — it’s a lovely way to spend an hour and learn something new about our own backyard!

03/02/2026

A lovely slice of local history! ✨
A small but enthusiastic audience attended! Here are a few of the attendees with Ted Stephens, a founder of both the Vintage Machinery Display & the Geelong Showgrounds Museum.
👉Drop by for our next open day on Sunday the 1st of March, between 10am and 2pm, for a relaxed wander through the museum and a peek at some incredible vintage displays!

Pictured: David and Narn Beard, Fran and Evan Huebnen, and Ted Stephens.

28/01/2026

🏛️ Geelong Showgrounds Museum is OPEN this Sunday (1 Feb)!
Come and check out the stories, displays and memorabilia celebrating Geelong’s agricultural & pastoral history — including the James Harrison refrigeration exhibit.

🗓 Sunday 1 February | ⏰ 10:00am–2:00pm
📍 Gate 2, Breakwater Rd, East Geelong (turn left on entry)

🎟 Entry: Adults $10 | Students (13–18) $5 | Under 13 FREE
🚗 Parking available + accessible toilet on site

For group bookings (10–45 people) at other times, call the office on 03 5221 1707.

More info:

Know More about Our History In response to public demand, the Geelong Showgrounds Museum (GSM) will open from 10 am to 2 pm on the first Sunday of every month,

29/12/2025

29/12/2025

❄️ Meet Warwick Bryce at the Museum – Saturday 10 Jan

Warwick Bryce, engineer and passionate advocate for James Harrison’s refrigeration legacy, will be at the Geelong Showgrounds Museum during the Classic Truck & Machinery Show on Saturday only 10am–4pm.
Come along to hear Warwick explain early refrigeration techniques and the remarkable story behind Geelong’s world-first invention.

29/12/2025

From riverbank experiments to world-changing innovation ❄️

Graham Hobbs (President of the Geelong Showgrounds Museum) films the ABC crew at Rocky Point on the Barwon River — the site where James Harrison conducted his early refrigeration experiments in the 1850s. He often worked in a nearby cave or quarry where some of his experiments were potentially explosive.

See the full video A Very Cool Idea: Discovering the inventor of modern refrigeration here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/programs/landline/2022-04-03/a-very-cool-idea:-discovering-the-inventor-of/13824890

It’s powerful to stand at the very place where ideas that changed food preservation, trade and everyday life first took shape — right here in Geelong.

This local story, and many others, are explored at the Geelong Showgrounds Museum, now open during the Classic Truck & Machinery Show.

📍 Geelong Showgrounds Museum
🗓️ 10–11 Jan | 10am–4pm