The Best Weird Museums in Adelaide with Oddities That Will Spark Your Curiosity
From pie floaters to off-the-grid bars, Adelaide has plenty of quirks. It takes eccentricity to a whole new level with its lineup of offbeat museums and collections that will make you do a double-take.
For instance, we found a classic gallery with displays full of vomit-inducing parasites and a century-old prison flaunting equipment that might be haunted.
Curious for more? We put the elbow grease, hit the streets, and scoured the city to find museums that break the mold!
Santos Museum of Economic Botany
From botanicgardenssa
Address: Adelaide Botanic Garden, North Terrace
Contact Details: (08) 8222 9311
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 4 pm
Website
As the name implies, the Santos Museum of Economic Botany is where you can dig into the roots of economic botany. Its main exhibit is composed of beneficial flora that mankind has been using for centuries.
What sets it apart, though, are collections of German-made extinct fruit models that have been around since the 1800s. The level of realism is mind-boggling to the point where you might be tempted to take a bite.
Gander at the art installations. From a potato with slightly unnerving human eyes to sandals made of the bark of birdflower bush, there is a treasure trove of nature-meets-art creations here that will pique your curiosity.
Tip: The museum is free, which means everyone and their grandma will be there. Unless you enjoy elbowing through crowds, try going on weekdays or early afternoons.
David Roche House Museum
Address: 241 Melbourne St, North Adelaide
Contact Details: (08) 8267 3677
Operating Hours: Tue to Sat – 10 am to 4 pm
Website
Opulent is the best way to describe the David Roche Museum. Think 1800s French furniture that dazzles with rich upholstery, impeccably detailed British ceramics, and gilded marble terracotta sculptures of Greek gods and goddesses.
With that said, the museum has its fair share of quirky collectibles that differ from its displays of all things that are golden. For starters, David Roche has a plethora of dog show memorabilia and miniatures of puppers wearing cute attires.
If you head to the toy collection section, you’ll also spot old-but-gold Aussie playthings that brim with nostalgia and character rather than grandeur. But, of course, we can’t forget about the red-faced mannequins with otherworldly faces and costumes!
Tip: Want to know more about the museum’s collection? Hop on a guided tour.
Adelaide Gaol
From lisalhannett
Address: 18 Gaol Rd
Contact Details: (08) 8231 4062
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 4 pm
Website
As a former colonial prison where hangings took place, the Adelaide Gaol has a history and collection that can be more haunting than a ghost story at midnight.
During our visit, we browsed through a gallery displaying the mugshots of prisoners, some of whom met their end just above the gallows. We even examined locations with artifacts such as leg irons and handcuffs—all displayed in dreary cell rooms.
But in terms of peculiarity, nothing tops the supposedly haunted chambers and sections of what used to be a grim prison. We don’t know about you, but we’ve never been in a museum where paranormal experiences are part of the collection.
Tip: Throwing a shindig at the gaol is hard to top. Consider booking this former jail for your next party!
MOD.
Address: North Terrace, adjacent to Morphett St
Contact Details: (08) 8302 6663
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Sat – 10 am to 5 pm
- Sun – Closed
MOD., short for Museum of Discovery, is where futuristic displays mix art and science. This combo results in highly innovative and interactive installations that might make you think you’re in Blade Runner 2049.
For instance, there’s Terra Nil, a fan-favorite exhibit that lets you reconstruct an entire ecosystem with the touch of a finger. You can’t also miss the immersive rooms that will take you on a psychedelic trip to space and beyond.
Tip: Stay in the know with MOD.’s events, whether it’s comedy shows that will tickle your neurons or brainy forums.
South Australian Museum
Address: North Terrace
Contact Details: (08) 8207 7500
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 5 pm
Website
When it comes to ancient curiosities and boundary-breaking art, the South Australian Museum is a go-to destination. Here, you’ll typically see Aboriginal relics, local wildlife portraits, and even Pharaonic Era artifacts.
For us, though, the museum’s most intriguing display is without a doubt the Biological Sciences collection. If you’ve never seen an exhibit with frozen tissue samples of megafauna or jars with thousands of gross parasites, you need to swing by.
Tip: Stay updated with the museum’s schedule to catch what’s currently showcased or upcoming.
Samstag Museum of Art
Address: Hawke Building, City West campus, 55 North Terrace
Contact Details: (08) 8302 0870
Operating Hours: Tue to Sat – 10 am to 5 pm
Website
From abstract architecture to outlandish living sculptures, some of the most surreal displays in Adelaide are perched inside the Samstag Museum of Art.
For example, there’s the Mulka Yata/The Knowledge of Place,” a profound exhibit intertwining ancient landscapes and contemporary art forms.
It’s up until September 2024 and shows the heritage of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges region through one-of-a-kind creations, most notably the curved serpent sculptures with quills and feathers.
Tip: If you’re into art books or catalogs, consider purchasing some from the museum’s publications.
Carrick Hill
Address: 46 Carrick Hill Dr, Springfield
Contact Details: (08) 7424 7900
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – Closed
- Wed to Sun – 10 am to 4:30 pm
Most of what we found at the stunning and historic Carrick Hill were the usual decorative arts, furniture, and sculptures.
Among these treasures, however, there are objects that stand out from the Haywards’ usual collections, from the quirky to the provocative. Our favorite is the 1911-made Wallaby Paw Lighter, an odd-looking portable lighter with a furry tail.
Tip: Don’t forget to visit casually chic Rozelle’s before or after your museum tour. This relaxing resto overlooks the 100-acre estate and has drool-worthy Mediterranean dishes you can’t skip.
Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum
From nationaltrustsa
Address: 3 Perseverance Rd, Tea Tree Gully
Contact Details: 0431 080 062
Operating Hours: Sun only – 10 am to 4 pm
Website
If we’re strictly talking displays, Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum’s collections aren’t exactly winning any awards for weirdness. Like good old galleries, they simply show the yesteryears’ mementos and way of life.
So, why did we bother adding them here? Well, this museum spices things up by incorporating novel experiences into their guided tours.
On our last trip, for example, we joined a murder mystery set in the 1850s. The activities change, though. Depending on your visit’s date, you might join a teddy bear-themed fair or reenact how people from the 1950s celebrated Christmas!
Tip: Visit their Facebook page to learn about the museum’s latest themed events.
