National Motor Museum

The National Motor Museum in Birdwood is Australia's largest motoring museum, run by the History Trust of South Australia with around 300 cars and commercial vehicles and 100 motorcycles in the Adelaide Hills, an hour from Adelaide.

The collection bookends Australian car manufacturing: the first production Holden, the 48-215, shares the site with the final VF Commodore to leave the Elizabeth line in 2017, signed by the workers who built it. Around them sit the 1899 Shearer Steam Carriage, one of Australia's earliest motor vehicles, the 1908 Talbot that made the first crossing of the continent, Tom Kruse's Leyland Badger outback mail truck, a Chrysler Charger from the 1971 Bathurst race, Paul Keating's armoured Caprice and the only complete set of SA-built Lightburn Zetas.

Every October the RAA Bay to Birdwood run brings more than 1,500 historic vehicles 67 km from West Beach to the museum's gates, the biggest event of its kind in the country.

Australia's national motoring collection at full scale: plan a half day if you read everything.

Look out for:

• The Holden bookends: the first production 48-215 and the signed final VF Commodore from the Elizabeth plant.

• The 1908 Talbot, first car to cross the Australian continent, and the 1899 Shearer Steam Carriage.

• Tom Kruse's Leyland Badger, the Birdsville Track mail truck.

• Around 100 motorcycles, including founder Jack Kaines's Brough Superior, a 1946 Indian Chief and Kel Carruthers's Benelli racer.

• Permanent displays: [Re]assembled on Australia's manufacturing journey, Alice Anderson's Motor Service (Australia's first female run garage, est. 1919) and a recreated 1920s workshop.

• A rotating special exhibition program; Holden Heroes: A Retrospective runs through 31 December 2026.

• Picnic grounds with free BBQs and a gift shop in the foyer.

Best way to experience it: allow 2 to 3 hours, pack a picnic for the grounds, and pair the drive with the Adelaide Hills towns along the way.

• Hours: daily 10am to 5pm; closed Christmas Day and on catastrophic fire danger days.

• Tickets: $23.50 adult, $18.50 concession, $9.50 child (under 5 free), $57.50 family. The museum is cashless; book online or pay by card.

• Getting there: about an hour's drive from Adelaide through the Hills; no practical public transport, so drive or join a tour.

• Bay to Birdwood day (Sunday 18 October in 2026) transforms the town; expect crowds and plan parking.

• Guide and service dogs welcome; sensory bags and ambulant facilities available.

Last updated: 3 September 2026