Captain's Cottage Museum

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Captain's Cottage Museum House Rules -> www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au/RCMB-Social-Media-House-Rules Open weekends and public holidays from 10am to 4pm.

The Captain’s Cottage Museum showcases an extensive collection of historic engines &farm machinery, model boat, train & toy exhibits, & an amazing photographic collection. The Captain’s Cottage, built by Captain Adam Johnstone in 1890 for his wife and their nine children, lets you experience life as it was at the turn of the century. You can visit year round and explore all things Murray Bridge, with displays following the development of the town and telling the stories of pioneering life from the dairy industry – with a full model dairy, through to the magic of the paddle steamers and the introduction of railway transport. After your tour, enjoy a quiet family picnic in the gazebo or on the lawns surrounded by beautiful cottage gardens and relics of years gone by.

Remember when keeping your groceries cool didn’t involve a fridge? A meat safe, like this one in our kitchen at the Capt...
22/09/2026

Remember when keeping your groceries cool didn’t involve a fridge?

A meat safe, like this one in our kitchen at the Captain’s Cottage Museum, kept pests out and let the breeze through. Adding wet hessian to the sides made it even cooler on hot days.

Discover what life was really like for our early settlers in the 1890s on a visit this weekend.

Take a guided tour or make your own way through our captivating collections with a self-guided tour.

Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am – 4pm.

Step inside and travel back in time these school holidays at the Captain’s Cottage Museum! Uncover the stories of Murray...
10/09/2026

Step inside and travel back in time these school holidays at the Captain’s Cottage Museum!

Uncover the stories of Murray Bridge’s early days how they built thriving dairy and agricultural industries.

Imagine yourself as captain of the iconic paddle steamers that travelled the Murray marvel at the intricate models of some of our most famous riverboats.

Open this Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am – 4pm.

Can you guess what this is? Found in our Dairy Room collection, this butter churn helped turn rich cream from local dair...
22/08/2026

Can you guess what this is?

Found in our Dairy Room collection, this butter churn helped turn rich cream from local dairies into delicious, fresh butter.

Find out how our dairy industry shaped the local community and economy of Murray Bridge on your next visit to the Captain’s Cottage Museum.

Open this Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am – 4pm.

Ahoy! Jump aboard and learn about our rich riverboat history at the Captain’s Cottage Museum. Our River Room is full of...
08/08/2026

Ahoy! Jump aboard and learn about our rich riverboat history at the Captain’s Cottage Museum.

Our River Room is full of photos, miniature models, memorabilia and stories of the paddle steamers who opened up travel and trade along the Murray River.

Take a guided tour or explore at your own pace with our self-guided tour and informative brochure.

Open this Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am – 4pm.

Remember when you had to use a payphone if you wanted to call home while you were out? Long before mobiles, payphones ke...
22/07/2026

Remember when you had to use a payphone if you wanted to call home while you were out?

Long before mobiles, payphones kept us connected – as long as you had coins or someone who would accept a call reverse charges!

Learn more about Murray Bridge’s early history, including the role of communications, at the Captain’s Cottage Museum.

Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am – 4pm.

From the earth to the table – find out where your food comes from these school holidays. Learn how our early farmers gre...
06/07/2026

From the earth to the table – find out where your food comes from these school holidays.

Learn how our early farmers grew thriving agriculture and dairy industries around Murray Bridge to feed our growing town.

Explore our extensive agriculture and dairy collections – from vintage tools, machines, tractors and more. Step inside the original cottage kitchen and see what was really involved in making a daily meal.

We’re also a Children’s University Learning Destination, so bring your passport and earn a stamp!

Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am – 4pm.

Create an event that’s truly unique at the Captain’s Cottage Museum. Enjoy exclusive use of the venue, including our swe...
22/06/2026

Create an event that’s truly unique at the Captain’s Cottage Museum.

Enjoy exclusive use of the venue, including our sweeping lawns, cottage gardens and large gazebo, for your next club meet, family get-together, birthday, anniversary or social gathering.

Explore our extensive collections of photos, memorabilia, antiques vintage machinery at your own pace.

Book your event or midweek visit now at www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au/captainscottage or call 8539 1142.

It’s harvest time – and the modern machines can’t compare to this beauty! This Sunshine HST Header was made in Victoria ...
06/06/2026

It’s harvest time – and the modern machines can’t compare to this beauty!

This Sunshine HST Header was made in Victoria around 1923.

Measuring 8 feet wide (2.4m) and pulled by a team of horses, it would have taken a lot longer to harvest a paddock than today’s harvesters, which can cover a width of between 9m and 18m at a time.

Find out what early farming was really like in the Murraylands on a visit to the Captain’s Cottage Museum.

We’re open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am – 4pm, or midweek by appointment.

25/05/2026
It’s National Volunteer Week this week – and we want to thank all our dedicated volunteers at the Captain’s Cottage Muse...
20/05/2026

It’s National Volunteer Week this week – and we want to thank all our dedicated volunteers at the Captain’s Cottage Museum.

Our amazing team do so much to keep our heritage alive, from taking guided tours to maintaining the cottage and gardens and preserving our extensive collections of historic items.

Without their efforts, it wouldn’t be the special place it is today.

If you love history, sharing our stories or are passionate about gardening, why not join our team?

Find out more here: https://www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au/council/
employment/volunteering

Address

12 Thomas Street
Murray Bridge, SA
5253

Opening Hours

Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+61885391142

Website

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