Explore Bathurst Museums These School Holidays
Published on 09 July 2026
Bathurst Museums have a range of fantastic new exhibitions to explore these winter school holidays, providing wonderful entertainment for the whole family.
Chifley Home & Education Centre, the National Motor Racing Museum and the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum are bursting with new exhibitions, which Mayor Robert Taylor remarked make for a great variety of outings in our very own Bathurst backyard.
“With news announced that the Great Western Highway detour will remain in place for another 12 months, school holidays may continue to look a little different. However, with tremendous cultural assets on offer right here in town, there are endless local recreation options for families to enjoy.
“For history and politics buffs, Chifley Home has a terrific new exhibition about Ben Chifley’s political genesis. It explores his work with the union, his role as a leader in the community, and his lasting political reputation. Over at the National Motor Racing Museum, Peter Brock’s striking Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 has officially arrived and is on display for all the revheads to enjoy, and after-hours torchlight tours are back at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, making for an excellent evening outing for the whole family that is just a little bit spooky. Additionally, don’t forget to add the Rail Museum to your holiday agenda too! With one of the largest permanent Brio layouts in the world, it’s a great spot to take the kids,” said Mayor Taylor.
Plus, it’s the perfect time to make the most of your ratepayer museum vouchers. If you haven’t used your 2025/2026 vouchers yet, be sure to do so these school holidays before they expire on 31 July 2026. Your new 2026/2027 vouchers will be included in the upcoming July rates notice.
Exhibition details and museum opening hours can be found below:
Chifley Home & Education Centre:
Tracks to Power: Ben Chifley's Political Genesis
To coincide with the 150th anniversary of the railway arriving in Bathurst, Chifley Home presents Tracks to Power: Ben Chifley’s Political Genesis. This exhibition looks at Chifley’s work with his union, and his role as a leader in the community. The exhibition includes text and supporting objects that help explain how Ben Chifley rose to the highest office in Australian politics. The exhibition is free with museum entry.
The Chifley Home & Education Centre is open Friday – Monday from 11am – 3pm.
National Motor Racing Museum:
On display now at the National Motor Racing Museum is the fantastic Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1, wearing the iconic 05 on the doors! Built by Peter and James Brock to run in the 1999 Targa Tasmania tarmac rally, this car was later set up for circuit racing in the historic touring car competition, driven by both James and Peter Brock. In late 2004, Peter Brock drove one of his last circuit races on Australian soil in this car at Symmons Plains in Tasmania, returning to a machine similar to the Holden Dealer Team XU-1 that he drove to his first victory at Bathurst in 1972.
The National Motor Racing Museum is located at Murray’s Corner on Mount Panorama and is open daily from 9am – 4:30pm during the school holidays.
Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum:
Dinosaurs in the Dark Torchlight Tours
It’s dark, the lights are out and there’s a T-rex in the building! These school holidays, take a spooky after-hours torchlight tour of the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum and see the collection in a new light.
Upcoming date: Tuesday 14 July at 5:30pm & 6:45pm
To view their regular collections, the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum is open daily from 9am – 4:30pm throughout the school holidays, offering fun and educational experiences for all ages.
The Bathurst Rail Museum is a wonderful warm place to while away an afternoon: complete the activities on offer, spot the new details added to the model layout and relax in the reading nook at Kids Central while the younger children play with the Brio set.
The Rail Museum is open daily from 9am – 4:30pm throughout the school holidays.
Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer