The Discovery Centre tells five stories from Australian history, each one encouraging different types of play.
Discover the five stories through hands-on and immersive activities, virtual storytelling, animation and imaginative play.
Pretend to be a joey in a pouch
In our quiet reading area children can snuggle up and pretend to be a joey in a soft, warm pouch.
They can choose books from our library or listen to the story of Wambuwuny the grey kangaroo.
The space includes the grassland bunker, a secret nook and several large pods, one of which is wheelchair accessible.
Squeeze through the woolly rollers
Meet Chris, the world’s woolliest sheep. He was lost in the bush for about five years before he was found, rescued and shorn.
No one really knows what Chris got up to on his adventure but children can imagine what he might have done when they set off on their own journey, wandering through the bush maze and squeezing or wheeling through woolly rollers.
Children can make their way to the shearing shed where they can create patterns on the giant knitting board before sliding down the shearing chute and onto the next adventure.
Did you know?
The fleece from Chris the sheep holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s heaviest sheep fleece, weighing 41.1 kilograms! See it on display in our Landmarks gallery.
Learn more about the world's woolliest sheep.
Discover the story of Gelam, a boy who became a dugong
Learn the Torres Strait Islander creation story of Gelam, a boy who transformed into a dugong.
Children can help baby turtles make the hazardous journey from their nests to the ocean.
Sit on the ocean floor and watch as different sea creatures travel past. Build a fish trap or collect and sort shells before your next nautical adventure – with Matthew Flinders' cat, Trim.
Try out the wheelchair-accessible rocking deck
Trim was a cat who sailed around Australia with Matthew Flinders and Bungaree.
In this space you'll find ropes to climb, a wheelchair-accessible rocking deck, telescopes, a ship’s wheel and an upper deck to explore.
Play dress-ups in the bunyip billabong
The bunyip is a legendary Australian creature. In the billabong, children can use a range of dress-ups – tails, wings, fins, scales and furs – and become their own mythical creature.
Frolic under the big trees, watch the shadowy projections and listen to the sounds of the water, frogs and animals.