Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre

Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre is a dedicated play-and-learn space at the National Museum of Australia for children from birth to six years. Designed for children of all abilities, it offers an immersive setting where families can explore through hands-on activity, games, stories and sensory play. The centre suits families looking for an engaging indoor experience in Civic, Canberra, with children supervised by an accompanying adult.

Visits are organised into 75-minute daily sessions, with bookings required. Regular programming includes Mini makers, a self-directed area where children can investigate art, science and games, and Story time, a short session held in the nearby workshop on selected weekdays during the ACT school term. Antarctic antics adds polar exploration themes and sensory activities, drawing inspiration from the museum’s Antarctica exhibition.

The centre also runs occasional free community days, while some programs and events have an additional cost. Entry is charged per child and adult, with family tickets available, and Friends members receive free entry and selected discounts. With scheduled sessions, workshop activities and a play space created specifically for young children, it is best suited to parents, carers and family groups rather than visitors seeking a conventional museum gallery experience. The centre has a 4.4 Google rating from 54 reviews.