The Australian MOTORLIFE Museum

Home of the Paul Butler Collection

PATRONS
Pedr Davis OAM, Jeremy Morris SC, Warren Brown AM, Wayne Gardner AM

                   The Australian MOTORLIFE Museum Video - Click on this link to open
The Australian MOTORLIFE Museum is a not for profit volunteer organisation with Authority to Fund Raise as a Tax Exempt Charity that began in the early 1990’s with a group of veteran and Vintage motoring enthusiasts building the Illawarra Motor Museum with the sole purpose of showcasing the Veteran and Vintage cars to all Australian and international visitors.

With the inclusion of more exhibits there was a need expand so we moved into the new building with a new name to include “Motorlife” which was chosen from an early magazine publication so as to cover not only the main exhibits, the cars, motorcycles and bicycles but also the technology that helped change the face of Australia during the late 1800’s and so you will see a very wide range of exhibits from tools, gramophones, typewriters, scales, telephones and more, with a lot of the exhibits resorted by our volunteers or on loan from members and friends.

The museum houses: The Paul Butler Collection which is the accumulation of many years of collecting a wide range of cars and memorabilia; one person’s passion. There is an NRMA Heritage display and some fine examples of Australian motoring heritage.

The Members Room opened by and named in honor of Sir Jack Brabham can be hired for functions with a fully equipped industrial kitchen and bar area. There are also seating nooks in our café area for morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea (bookings required) other facilities include seating on the veranda to enjoy your packed lunch. We are easy walking distance from a BBQ picnic area with full playground setting in a beautiful parkland surround.

Our visitors can take their time exploring our single storey building with easy access for wheelchairs and full amenities including parent changing room. We allow visitors to take photos and we have a few interesting photo opportunities for our visitors.


In the Event of extreme weather conditions the museum may be closed so please ring first

LAST ENTRY TIME:  3.30pm    (to give you time to look around)

                                                                                   Open Wednesday to Sunday 9.30 - 4.30pm

                                                                                          Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

      Easter Weekend Hours - 2025 to be confirmed

Closed - PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

XMAS 2024 - NEW YEAR 2025 Museum Open & Closed times: yet to be confirmed


Prices image
ENTRY COST
Family pass (2 adults & 2 children) $45 
Adult: $20 pp
Child: 6-16 yrs: $5.00 pp
Child Under 6 yrs: free
Concession & Seniors Card: $15.00 pp
Groups: $15.00 pp

Carers and Bus Driver free 
note: No Pets Allowed Unless a Companion Dog.

National Motoring Heritage Day 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024.
A special discounted admission to the Museum on the day. 
Adult: $15 per adult & Children FREE with a paying adult
 
CATERING & SELF CATERING OPTIONS AVAILABLE BY PRIOR BOOKING 
Morning and Afternoon tea Served in the Brabham Room
BBQ or Light Lunch also available 

                            *All meals are Prearranged Only by Calling (02) 42 614 100
*Prices are subject to change without notice

Anyone who would like to access the library acquisitions can do so by appointment with the Librarian by calling the Museum on 42614100

The museum has an extensive library consisting of:
Magazines: over 12,000 magazines including Autosport, Motorsport, RCN, SCW, Wheels, Modern Motor, Motor Manual, The Autocar, T&CC, C&SC, Road & Track and many motor bike issues.
Follow the magazine link to access the catalogue on magazinecollector.net.
https://www.magazinecollector.net/@motorlife/

General motoring books - over 2500 books covering all aspects of motoring and motor sport
Follow the Books link to access the catalogue on TinyCat.
https://www.librarycat.org/lib/Motorlife

Over 5000 items consisting of reference and technical books, parts catalogues, workshop manuals, ephemera, maps, etc
The catalogue is accessible in the museum library.

All items are accessible for reference/research at the museum with prior arrangement. The museum entry fee includes supervised access to the library contents.

For Sale: We are regularly receiving repair manuals for vehicles from the 1960s onwards that are not consistent with vehicles of a type contained within the museum.  These are being offered for sale with over 300 currently available and additional items being continually added.  Priced at $15 each plus postage within Australia Post pre-paid parcel satchel @ $14.30.

Follow the link: https://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=Motorlife&collection=766765&shelf=list

Use the search option in the top right hand corner ("Search this library" AND NOT "Search LibraryThing") to search for a particular make of vehicle.

Contact the library at library@motorlifemuseum.com if you are interested in purchasing any of these repair manuals.

For SaleThe museum has accumulated over 2,000 duplicate and surplus magazines and is making them available at nominal cost.

Follow the link to peruse availability.

https://www.magazinecollector.net/@motorlife/members/6749/?tab=sale

Any and all donations to the library will be gratefully received.

The library is usually staffed on Mondays and Tuesdays between 9am and 3pm or other days by appointment and can be contacted on library@motorlifemuseum.com 


Function Venue Hire image
                                                                         
Our function Room, The Brabham Room, opens onto a veranda and grassed area which is included in the hire and is a great place to continue the party outdoors or for kids to play in full view.
The layout of the Brabham Room can be changed to best suit the needs of any occasion.  Seating for 80 persons, Table seating for meals is 60 persons, Day hire Only, 7 Days a Week, Private, quiet, rural setting, Kitchen for self-catering available for hire

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18th NATIONAL MOTORING HERITAGE DAY – Sunday 19th May 2024. A special discounted admission to the Museum on the day. Adult: $15 per adult & Children: FREE with a paying Adult. Proud to have been an approved destination for the National Motoring Heritage Day since 2008. A day celebrated annually on the 3rd Sunday of May is an initiative of the AUSTRALIAN HISTORIC MOTORING FEDERATION and is supported by heritage and historic motoring clubs throughout Australia. The day gives owners of all types of vintage, veteran and classic vehicles an opportunity to get out for a drive and meet other like-minded enthusiasts. Some go for long drives, some prefer a short local trip, some attend club gatherings in large numbers, others choose to go their own way. There are many suitable advertised destinations and this year the Australian Motorlife Museum at Stream Hill NSW welcomes drivers and riders of all types of historic vehicles to our wonderful facility. We will have ample parking for all in and around the park surrounding the Museum, a sausage sizzle and refreshments will be available to purchase as well. We advertising our museum as a great venue for car clubs looking for somewhere different to go and with enough advance publicity this year we hope to attract a bigger attendance than before. Spread the word!Read More


  • Date: 19-05-2024 09:30 AM - 19-05-2024 04:00 PM
  • Location: Australian Motorlife Museum - Integral Energy Recreation Park, 94 Darkes Rd, STREAM HILL 2526 (Map)

  • Integral Energy Recreation Park, 94 Darkes Road, Stream Hill 2526 N.S.W