The Australian Motorlife Museum

The Australian Motorlife Museum houses the Paul Butler Collection in a single level 3,000 square metre hall at Kembla Grange, ten minutes south of Wollongong and about an hour from Sydney. The focus runs from motoring's dawn to 1940, with around 100 vehicles on the floor plus thousands of pieces of automobilia, tools and period technology.

The star is the 1904 Innes, built in Sydney and the only survivor still in Australia from the 1905 Sydney to Melbourne Dunlop Reliability Trial. Nearby sits an early David Spencer motorcycle, Australian made and one of only two known to survive. For motorsport fans the hook is local hero Wayne Gardner: the 1987 500cc World Champion's bikes and trophies are displayed on permanent loan from the man himself.

The NRMA's historic motoring exhibition lives here too, and the grounds add BBQs, a playground and the Brabham Room function space, making it an easy family stop.

A single level hall where Australia's earliest motoring sits beside grand prix silverware.

Look out for:

• The 1904 Innes, Sydney built and the sole Australian survivor of the 1905 Dunlop Reliability Trial.

• Wayne Gardner's 1987 500cc World Championship motorcycles and trophies, on permanent loan from the Wollongong local.

• An early David Spencer motorcycle, one of only two surviving examples of the Australian make.

• Rows of pre-1940 veteran and vintage cars from the Paul Butler Collection.

• The NRMA Historic Motoring Exhibition, from the Morris J van to classic Holdens.

• Automobilia in depth: tools, gramophones, telephones and period workshop technology.

• A picnic and BBQ area with a children's playground outside.

Best way to experience it: arrive mid morning, give the veteran rows time to sink in, and picnic in the grounds afterwards.

• Open Wednesday to Sunday 9:30am to 4:30pm, last entry 3:30pm; closed Monday, Tuesday and public holidays, and may close in extreme weather, so call +61 2 4261 4100 first if the forecast looks wild.

• Entry $20 adult, $15 senior/concession, $5 child 6 to 16 (under 6 free), $45 family.

• Getting there: off the M1 at Kembla Grange, ten minutes south of Wollongong; on-site parking.

• Single level and wheelchair accessible; assistance dogs welcome, other pets stay home.

• The Brabham Room hosts functions; groups get $15 a head with catering options.

Last updated: 3 September 2026