South Australia’s Migration Museum will temporarily close to the public from Friday, July 3, as essential heritage, structural and accessibility works get underway at its Kintore Avenue home.
The closure is expected to last for at least two years, allowing planned conservation works to be carried out across the museum’s historic buildings.
The Migration Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and was the first museum of its kind in the world. Since opening in 1986, it has shared the stories of migration and settlement that have helped shape South Australia, while also becoming a key space for cultural events, education programs and community connection.
Its state heritage-listed bluestone buildings date back to 1860 and 1889, and now require important upgrades to ensure the site can continue to safely house collections and welcome visitors into the future.
Before works begin, all museum objects currently held at the Kintore Avenue site will be safely returned to the State History Collection.
The renewal follows the State Government’s 2024 announcement of $6.3 million to support repairs to the museum’s heritage buildings.
The broader renewal process has also been shaped by community consultation. A report prepared for the History Trust of South Australia noted that the museum’s site and permanent exhibition had remained largely unchanged, with the buildings housing the permanent exhibition facing major structural issues and the next phase of repairs requiring the removal of the permanent display.
The report also found strong community support for renewal, with consultation involving 145 voluntary contributors from 53 cultures and cultural organisations, alongside a community consultation evening attended by contributors.
Alongside the building works, the History Trust of South Australia is seeking donations to support new exhibitions, programs and events, with the aim of sharing more migration stories in new ways when the museum returns.
The Migration Museum is located on Kintore Avenue in Adelaide’s cultural precinct, near the State Library of South Australia, South Australian Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia.
For more information, visit: https://www.history.sa.gov.au/migration-museum-renewal/
