We’ve rounded up the NSW motorcycle museums we think are worth a visit…and a good excuse to head out to the countryside.
If you like speed bikes, love the history of our two wheelers or want to relive your past motorcycling days, you may just find your favourite bike at one of several amazing motorcycle museums across NSW.
The National Motorcycle Museum
Location: 33 Clarkson St, Nabiac, New South Wales 2312 Australia
Hours: Call to find out 0474 788 132
Website: https://nationalmotorcyclemuseum.com.au/
Cost of admission:
- Adults $15.00
- Family (parents + dependant children under 17 years) $45
- Children under 14 $5.00
- School students 14 to 17 years $10.00
About: Brian and Margaret Kelleher had read in a 1988 Bureau of Statistics report that substantial numbers of old motorcycles were being exported to the USA, Japan, and England. Always wanting to start their own motorcycle museum this was the push they needed to start their own museum and stop the loss of Australia’s motorcycling heritage.
Having worked in motorcycle retail industry for many years, their already large collection of motorcycles and memorabilia kick started the museum. They were now able to offer a home to the many old motorcycles sitting in garages and sheds across the country.
With over 800 motorcycles on display, including the world’s largest display of dirt-track and speedway bikes, paying a tribute to past Aussie heroes. Set up in manufacturer order, with the most popular brands displaying a good range across the years. Outstanding exhibits of Ducati, Norton, Motor Guzzi, BSA, AJS, Triumph, Ariel and other classic and vintage motorcycles.
Can’t make it to the museum, visit their 3D video to explore from your computer here.
The Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum
Location: 250 Armidale Road, New Engle Highway, Tamworth NSW 2340
Hours: Open 7 days from 9am to 5pm, closed Christmas Day
Website: https://powerhousemotorcyclemuseum.com.au/
Cost of admission:
- Adult $8
- Pensioner $6
- Child $4
- Family $16
Complimentary coffee and tea
About: This is a private collection of over 50 motorcycles immaculately restored to concourse condition. The exhibit includes Triump, Ducati, Honda, Velocette and Laverda dating from the 1950s right through to the 1980’s. Special mention goes to the rare, limited edition F4 MV Agusta Series ORO.
Robert Stein Motorcycle Museum in NSW
Location: Pipeclay Lane, Mudgee NSW 2850, located at the Robert Stein Winery
Hours: Open 7 days, 10am to 4:30pm
Website: https://www.robertstein.com.au/motorcycle-museum
Cost of admission: Free
About: As a young man, Robert Stein would ride on his 1928 Douglas along the dirt road that was Parramatta Road to work. When his family presented him with a similar model to his original 19238 Douglas for his 40th birthday, this kicked started his collection.
Located on the grounds of the winery, the motorcycle museum displays his private collection of predominantly English motorcycles – Triumph, Norton, Velocette – from the 1920’s through to the 1970’s. There is also an exhibit of rare motorcycle collectables and photographs.
NSW motorcycle museums with a collection of interesting motorcycles
The Australian Motorlife Museum
Location: Integral Energy Recreation Park, 94 Darkes Rd, Kembla Grange NSW 2526
Hours: Thursday to Sunday 9am to 4:30pm (last entry time 3:30pm to give adequate time to look around.)
Website: https://www.australianmotorlifemuseum.com/
Cost of admission:
Adult: $17.50 pp
Child: 6-16 yrs: $6.00 pp
Child Under 6 yrs: free
Concession & Seniors Card: $15.00 pp
*Groups: $15.00 pp (by appointment only to ensure adequate volunteers to show you around)
About: Not a specialised motorcycle museum, the museum houses old technology that helped change the face of Australia during the late 1800’s – an eclectic collection of unusual and rare vehicles, motorbikes, caravans, trucks and other automotive memorabilia. It also is home to tools, gramophones, typewriters, scales and telephones through the decades.
Its range of vintage motorcycles includes the Wayne Gardner Collection of bikes, helmets and trophies and a 1941 vintage-styled Royal Enfield motorcycle.
They also have a library filled with motoring magazines. The cost of the museum gives you access to the library, but you will need to make an appointment to browse.
National Motor Racing Museum
Location: 400 Panorama Avenue, Mount Panorama, Bathurst
Hours: Open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm daily.
Closed on Tuesdays, Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26 December) and New Year’s Day (1 January).
Website: https://museumsbathurst.com.au/national-motor-racing-museum-see-do/
https://museumsbathurst.com.au/national-motor-racing-museum/
Cost of admission:
Adult $15.00
Concession $10.00
Child $7.00
Family $35.00
Some of the motorbikes at the National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst. Courtesy: National Motor Racing Museum
About: If speed on two or four wheels is your thing, then the National Motor Racing Museum is for
you. Whilst predominantly a motor racing museum there is a display of past race motorbikes, including a Lindsay Donai Isle of Man and 2001 models, the Honda CR500 and Honda CR125 Longtrack motorcycles.
The collection has been developed over 30 years and includes motor racing cars, motorcycles and outfits, plus other racing memorabilia including programs, images, trophies, helmets and racing suits. Check out Mount Panorama while you are there!
Ash’s Speedway Museum
Location: 2/10 Bradwardine Road Bathurst
Hours: Contact the museum
Cost: Contact the museum
Website: http://www.ashspeedwaymuseum.com.au/
About: Australian Speedway dates to the 1920’s with many speedway stars originating from Bathurst and the surrounding district. Ash’s Speedway Museum is a nod to speedway with a dedication to World Champion Bluey Wilkinson and the largest collection of Ivan Mauger history in the Southern hemisphere.
The museum also includes memorabilia from Australian riders Lionel Van Pragg, Gordon Guasco, Jason Crump, Leigh Adams plus more as well as from all the world – with several video presentations as well. The breastplate exhibition alone covers one whole wall.
McFeeters Motor Museum
Location: Cnr Oxford St and Newell Hwy, Forbes, New South Wales 2871
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm
Cost: Adults $14, Children $5, Seniors $13, Family (2 adults and 2 children) $30, group bookings available.
Website: https://motormuseum.net.au/
About: A small country museum with a large display of cars and motorcycles. This is the private collection of Bill McFeeters and his wife, from when they started collecting in the early 1960’s. The custom building houses a wonderful collection of 60 drivable Australian and foreign vintage cars from 1903 to 2016, complete with mannequins dressed in era clothing. Notable is their first Rolls Royce that was painted white.
Most of the classic motorcycles are on loan to the museum from their owners and are located on a mezzanine level, so are a little hard to get a close look at. Some shining examples in the museum include a TAS minibike, Triumph Trident, Kawasaki GPZ900R, Suzuki GS750 and The Water Bottle Suzuki GT750 and an unrestored 1949 BSA 350.
Parkes Motor Museum
Location: 66-78 Peak Hill Road (Newell Highway), Parkes (part of the Henry Parkes Centre)
Hours: Monday – Friday
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday and Saturday
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Public Holidays
10:00am – 3:00 pm
Cost of admission:
$10 Adults
$8 Concession
$5 Children <18 years
$25 Family (2 adults and up to 3 children)
Tickets are valid for 2 days
Some of the vintage motorcycles at the Parkes Motor Museum. Source: Parkes Motor Museum
About: This impressive collection of motor vehicles is owned by the Parkes Antique Motor Club. An ode to heritage motoring eras displaying up to 24 cars, 10 motorcycles and other motoring memorabilia.
One off motorcycle exhibitions in 2021
The Motorcycle – Design, Art, Desire
This one is in Brisbane, but we thought it worth a mention, if you happen to be in town (and the borders are open!). Many of the bikes in the exhibition have been sourced from overseas and Australian collections with significant Australian history. Rarities, one-offs, race bikes and Australian-made specials, while the boom in the custom bike scene is also covered. The shift from internal combustion engines to electric power is also showcased – an element unseen in previous motorcycle art exhibitions and one that “looks forward” to the future of the motorcycle, as well as looking back at motorcycling’s past.
Notable motorcycles on display include a 1906 Spencer, 1912 Henderson Four, 1920 Indian Scout streamliner (a genuine Burt Munro), 1929 Douglas DT5 Speedway, and a 1940 Indian Chief outfit.
Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, until 26 April 2021.
The Machine Show
Braidwood Showground, 8-9th October 2021
A vintage motorcycle camp-out weekend get-together for folks of all ages, all motorcycle marques, and all motorcycle styles.
Bombala Bike Show
Cnr Wellington Street and Forbes Street, Bombala, 19th to 20th November 2021
Due to COVID-19, we highly recommend you check with the museum or organisers of these events to confirm they are open before heading out.
Do you know of any other motorcycle museums or private collections open to the public that we have missed? We would love to hear about them. Send the details to secretary@mccofnsw.org.au
Read our article on some of the best motorcycle road trips in NSW – you may just be able to take one of these on the way!
