Museum of Brisbane is a free history museum and art gallery on Level 3 of Brisbane City Hall in the middle of the Brisbane CBD, open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. It is Brisbane City Council’s leading history and art museum, and it tells the story of the city through its people, its art and its changing exhibitions.
It suits a wet day, a quiet hour in the city or a free outing with kids. Because it sits inside City Hall, it is easy to combine with the clock tower tour in the same building.
What is Museum of Brisbane?
Museum of Brisbane, often shortened to MoB, is a social history museum and art gallery. It is the council’s own museum, and it is on the top floor of Brisbane City Hall, beside the clock tower lift and with views of the building’s copper dome.
It opened in October 2003 on the ground floor of City Hall. When City Hall closed for restoration in 2010 the museum moved temporarily to nearby Ann Street, and it reopened in April 2013 in a purpose-built gallery on the top floor.
The museum’s collection, together with the City of Brisbane collection, holds more than 9,000 artworks and objects. Collecting began in 1859 with the founding of local government in Brisbane, and the holdings include paintings, drawings, historical ceramics and works commissioned from contemporary Brisbane artists. The collection also includes the Easton Pearson Archive, more than 3,300 garments from the Brisbane fashion house Easton Pearson, which Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson led from 1988 to 2016.
What you will see
The museum runs a changing program of exhibitions, so what is on differs from one visit to the next. The museum describes itself as exploring contemporary and historic Brisbane and its people through art and social history. The Museum of Brisbane visit page lists what is on now.
The galleries are on Level 3, so you can see City Hall’s copper dome and heritage windows from inside the museum as well as the exhibitions themselves. Some exhibitions include sound works, so it can get noisy in places.
Free tours at Museum of Brisbane
The Museum Highlights Tour is free and runs daily from 11 am to 11.30 am on Level 3. It is for all ages, and you book a ticket online through the link on the tour page. Tours in Spanish and Mandarin are booked separately, and the museum takes other languages by email.
Two more free tours cover the building, both booked through the museum’s website. The City Hall tour takes 45 minutes and starts from the King George Square foyer at 10.30 am and 11.30 am daily, with a 1.30 pm tour as well from Friday to Sunday. The clock tower tour runs daily between 10.15 am and 4.45 pm and rides a cage lift to a platform 76 metres up. The clock tower is not wheelchair or pram accessible.
Groups of 10 or more can book a guided visit through the museum’s group visits page.
Kids and families
MoB Kids runs school holiday programs, BYO Baby Tours and Bilingual Storytime, all listed on the museum’s website. Schools can book curriculum-aligned excursions and programs for primary and secondary students through MoB Learn.
The museum is pram friendly: prams can be parked at reception or taken into the gallery. There is a change table in the accessible toilet on Level 3.
Accessibility at Museum of Brisbane
- The museum and City Hall are wheelchair accessible. Reach Level 3 by the lifts from the King George Square foyer; there are no stairs.
- Free wheelchairs and wheeled walkers can be borrowed. Book through the City Hall information desk on 07 3014 4702.
- The accessible toilet on Level 3 has step-free access, grab rails and a change table.
- The museum offers a Visual Story, a Sensory Venue Map and touch trolleys on request for select exhibitions, and it is a registered Dementia Friendly venue.
- The building is temperature controlled, so a jumper or blanket helps if you feel the cold. Bring noise-cancelling headphones if you are sensitive to sound.
- Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.
For other questions call the museum on (07) 3339 0800, or call (07) 2102 6856 for access assistance before you arrive.
Is there a shop or cafe?
The MoB Shop is online only, at mobshop.com.au. For a coffee, City Hall has the Shingle Inn on the ground floor, open 9 am to 4 pm daily, and Marhaba Cafe in the basement, open 7 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday.
A small number of lockers are available for bags, but they do not fit large suitcases and staff cannot mind bags. Luggage facilities are near City Hall in Queen Street Mall.
Planning your visit
- Hours: 10 am to 5 pm every day, including most public holidays. Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday, and open from 1.30 pm on Anzac Day.
- Cost: free. Parking nearby is the main cost.
- Tours: the Museum Highlights Tour is 30 minutes; the City Hall tour is 45 minutes.
- Best time: arrive before 11 am if you want the Highlights Tour.
- Booking: entry needs no ticket. The tours do.
Getting there and parking
The museum is on Level 3 of City Hall on King George Square. Go in through the King George Square foyer, turn right and take the lifts. The museum is in the middle of the CBD, so it is an easy walk from Queen Street Mall.
Public transport
Central and Roma Street train stations are each about a 10 minute walk. Several bus routes stop on Adelaide and Ann streets, and the King George Square and Queen Street bus terminals are beside City Hall. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30. For the river ferries, see the guide to Brisbane’s cross river ferries.
Parking
The closest option is the undercover King George Square Car Park under City Hall, with entry at 100 Adelaide Street and an entry and exit at 87 Roma Street. It has a height limit of 1.93 metres. Weekday parking is free for the first 15 minutes, then about $24 for up to an hour and $49 for the day. On weekends it costs $10 for the first three hours and $20 at most. Check the council car parks page for current hours and prices.
The museum’s own page on visiting has the latest on hours and transport. Details can change, so check before you go.
Nearby
- Brisbane City Hall – the building the museum sits in, with free clock tower and building tours.
- Queen Street Mall – the CBD’s main shopping street, a short walk away.
- Anzac Square – the memorial park a few minutes’ walk up Adelaide Street.
- Roma Street Parkland – free city gardens and playgrounds.
- Queensland Museum and Gallery of Modern Art – more free culture across the river at South Bank.
- Story Bridge – another Brisbane landmark worth seeing up close.
Browse more museums and art galleries.
Quick answers
Is Museum of Brisbane free?
Yes. Entry is free. The Museum Highlights Tour, the City Hall tour and the clock tower tour are free too, but the tours need a booking.
What are the Museum of Brisbane opening hours?
10 am to 5 pm every day. It is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday, and opens at 1.30 pm on Anzac Day.
Where is Museum of Brisbane?
On Level 3 of Brisbane City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane City. Enter through the King George Square foyer, turn right and take the lifts.
Where do you park for Museum of Brisbane?
The King George Square Car Park under City Hall is the closest, with entry at 100 Adelaide Street. It is paid parking.
Is Museum of Brisbane wheelchair and pram accessible?
Yes, by lift, with free wheelchair loans and an accessible toilet on Level 3. The clock tower tour is not wheelchair or pram accessible.
Can I bring a dog to Museum of Brisbane?
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome. The museum does not list other dogs.
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