The Australian MOTORLIFE Museum
Home of the Paul Butler Collection
PATRONS
Pedr Davis OAM, Jeremy Morris SC, Warren Brown AM, Wayne Gardner AM
About the Museum
The Australian MOTORLIFE Museum is a not for profit volunteer organisation with Authority to Fund Raise as a Tax Exempt Charity that began in the early 1990’s with a group of veteran and Vintage motoring enthusiasts building the Illawarra Motor Museum with the sole purpose of showcasing the Veteran and Vintage cars to all Australian and international visitors.
With the inclusion of more exhibits there was a need expand so we moved into the new building with a new name to include “Motorlife” which was chosen from an early magazine publication so as to cover not only the main exhibits, the cars, motorcycles and bicycles but also the technology that helped change the face of Australia during the late 1800’s and so you will see a very wide range of exhibits from tools, gramophones, typewriters, scales, telephones and more, with a lot of the exhibits resorted by our volunteers or on loan from members and friends.
The museum houses: The Paul Butler Collection which is the accumulation of many years of collecting a wide range of cars and memorabilia; one person’s passion. The Wayne Gardner Collection of trophies and motorcycles. The NRMA Heritage display. And some fine examples of Australian motoring heritage.
The Members Room opened by and named in honor of Sir Jack Brabham can be hired for functions with a fully equipped industrial kitchen and bar area. There are also seating nooks in our café area for morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea (bookings required) other facilities include seating on the veranda to enjoy your packed lunch. We are easy walking distance from a BBQ picnic area with full playground setting in a beautiful parkland surround.
Our visitors can take their time exploring our single storey building with easy access for wheelchairs and full amenities including parent changing room. We allow visitors to take photos and we have a few interesting photo opportunities for our visitors.
OPENING HOURS
In the Event of extreme weather conditions the museum may be closed so please ring first
LAST ENTRY TIME: 3.30pm (to give you time to look around)
Open Wednesday to Sunday 9.30 - 4.30pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Open Easter Saturday
Closed ANY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
2023 - 2024 Museum Xmas & New Year period days are:
Sunday 24th December 2023 - Closed
Monday 25th December 2023 - Closed
Tuesday 26th December 2023 - Closed
Wednesday 27th December 2023 - Open
Thursday 28th December 2023 - Open
Friday 29th December 2023 - Open
Saturday 30th December 2023 - Open
Sunday 31st December 2023 - Closed
Monday 1st January 2024 - Closed
Tuesday 2nd January 2024 - Closed
Prices
Family pass (2 adults & 2 children) $45
Adult: $20 pp
Child: 6-16 yrs: $5.00 pp
Child Under 6 yrs: free
Concession & Seniors Card: $15.00 pp
Groups: $15.00 pp
Carers and Bus Driver free
note: No Pets Allowed Unless a Companion Dog.
CATERING & SELF CATERING OPTIONS AVAILABLE BY PRIOR BOOKING
Morning and Afternoon tea Served in the Brabham Room
BBQ or Light Lunch also available
*All meals are Prearranged Only by Calling (02) 42 614 100
*Prices are subject to change without notice
Motoring Library
Anyone who would like to access the library acquisitions can do so by appointment with the Librarian by calling the Museum on 42614100
The museum has an extensive library consisting of:
Magazines: over 12,000 magazines including Autosport, Motorsport, RCN, SCW, Wheels, Modern Motor, Motor Manual, The Autocar, T&CC, C&SC, Road & Track and many motor bike issues.
Follow the magazine link to access the catalogue on magazinecollector.net.
https://www.magazinecollector.net/@motorlife/
General motoring books - over 2500 books covering all aspects of motoring and motor sport
Follow the Books link to access the catalogue on TinyCat.
https://www.librarycat.org/lib/Motorlife
Over 5000 items consisting of reference and technical books, parts catalogues, workshop manuals, ephemera, maps, etc
The catalogue is accessible in the museum library.
All items are accessible for reference/research at the museum with prior arrangement. The museum entry fee includes supervised access to the library contents.
For Sale: We are regularly receiving repair manuals for vehicles from the 1960s onwards that are not consistent with vehicles of a type contained within the museum. These are being offered for sale with over 250 currently available and additional items being continually added. Priced at $15 each plus postage within Australia Post pre-paid parcel satchel @ $14.80.
Follow the link: https://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=Motorlife&collection=766765&shelf=list
Use the search option in the top right hand corner ("Search this library" AND NOT "Search LibraryThing") to search for a particular make of vehicle.
Contact the library at library@motorlifemuseum.com if you are interested in purchasing any of these repair manuals.
For Sale: The museum has accumulated over 2,000 duplicate and surplus magazines and is making them available at nominal cost to avoid sending them to the re-cycling centre.
Follow the link to peruse availability.
https://www.magazinecollector.net/@motorlife/members/6749/?tab=sale
Any and all donations to the library will be gratefully received.
The library is usually staffed on Mondays and Tuesdays between 9am and 3pm or other days by appointment and can be contacted on library@motorlifemuseum.com
Function Venue Hire
Our function Room, The Brabham Room, opens onto a veranda and grassed area which is included in the hire and is a great place to continue the party outdoors or for kids to play in full view.
The layout of the Brabham Room can be changed to best suit the needs of any occasion. Seating for 80 persons, Table seating for meals is 60 persons, Day hire Only, 7 Days a Week, Private, quiet, rural setting, Kitchen for self-catering available for hire
Gallery
Events
National Motoring Heritage Day
NATIONAL MOTORING HERITAGE DAY – Sunday May 21st May 2023 This is the 17th National Historic Motoring Heritage Day, a day celebrated annually on the 3rd Sunday of May is an initiative of the AUSTRALIAN HISTORIC MOTORING FEDERATION and is supported by heritage and historic motoring clubs throughout Australia. The day gives owners of all types of vintage, veteran and classic vehicles an opportunity to get out for a drive and meet other like-minded enthusiasts. Some go for long drives, some prefer a short local trip, some attend club gatherings in large numbers, others choose to go their own way. There are many suitable advertised destinations and this year the Australian Motorlife Museum at Kembla Grange NSW welcomes drivers and riders of all types of historic vehicles to our wonderful facility. We will have ample parking for all in and around the park surrounding the Museum, a sausage sizzle and refreshments available, and offer a special discounted admission to the Museum on the day: $15 adults, $5 kids aged 6 to 16.
- Date: 21-05-2023 09:30 AM - 21-05-2023 04:30 PM
- Location: Australian Motorlife Museum - Integral Energy Recreation Park, 94 Darkes Rd, Kembla Grange 2526 (Map)
Contact
- Integral Energy Recreation Park, 94 Darkes Road, Kembla Grange 2526 N.S.W
