Women’s Museum of Australia and Old Gaol Alice Springs

So much to see! Both in the breadth of information and in hidden connections that you can find within the history of 'old Alice Springs' Friendly volunteer staff always happy to have a chat with you. Be sure to arrive at least an hour before closing time (2 pm for a 3 pm close), but even that is pushing it to really take in what is on offer here.

This museum absolutely blew us away and deserves much more time than we had on the day. The volunteers have done an amazing job at making women’s stories accessible, with not too long, easy to read and visual presentations. The old gaol is a whole visit in itself, with sound bites of stories from guards and inmates (sound was a little too loud, and some of the speakers spoke a bit too fast, but that’s a minor thing). These two joined museums deserves so much more credit than they get, and if you visit make sure you have the time to properly go through it all. Only minus is that it’s not quite geared for the visually impaired (and specifically the women’s museum). But the volunteers have done a great job with what they have! Will definitely come back.

Amazing history of local female pioneers of the area. Allow half a day.

Women's Museum of Australia Visited on 10/7/2019 The compound housed the Alice Springs Old Goal and the Women's Museum of Australia. The entry fee is for both the "attractions". Women's Museum of Australia (formerly known as the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame) is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the place of women in Australian history. There are 4 permanent exhibitions include, 'Ordinary Women/ Extraordinary Lives'; 'the Signature Quilt'; 'Women at the Heart'; and 'the Aviatrix Tapestry'. Ordinary Women/ Extraordinary Lives focuses on Australian women first in their field. Women at the Heart is an exhi­bi­tion about of women with heart, women who embrace courage, endurance, resilience and resource­ful­ness, com­pan­ion­ship and compassion. The Sig­na­ture Quilt holds 342 sig­na­to­ries form­ing a Patch­work of Empowerment. The rec­tan­gles are signed by Aus­tralian women who have record­ed firsts or sig­nif­i­cant achieve­ments in their fields of endeav­our. The Aviatrix Tapestry, or Pioneer Aviation Tapestry honours the Australian wowen in aviation industry. The concept was suggested by the pioneer aviator Nancy-Biro Walton. The museum has excellent exhibits but I feel that the arrangement and lighting of the hall can be improved.