The museum holds the original 'Red Terror', a 1925 Bean car that was the first to cross the Australian continent from west to east.
It is situated on the site of the former Birdwood Mill, which was built in 1860.
The collection includes the first car to be registered in South Australia.
The museum acts as the official finish line for the historic Bay to Birdwood car rally.
The site features a significant collection of rare Australian-made prototypes that never entered mass production.
The National Motor Museum in Birdwood, South Australia, houses one of the world's most significant collections of historic vehicles and motoring memorabilia. Established in 1964, the museum is located on the grounds of an old flour mill, integrating industrial heritage with automotive history. The collection features over 400 vehicles, ranging from veteran, vintage, and classic cars to commercial trucks and rare motorcycles. It serves as the home of the Bay to Birdwood run, one of the world’s largest annual historic motoring events. The facility includes expansive indoor exhibition halls and extensive landscaped grounds suitable for picnicking. The museum preserves the social history of Australian travel, emphasizing how the motor car shaped the nation's development. Permanent displays track the technological evolution of transport from the late 19th century to the modern era. Visitors can view various interactive exhibits that detail the influence of motoring on remote Australian communities.
The restored 1860s flour mill building exterior provides a classic backdrop for the collection's vintage automobiles.
Allow extra time to explore the historic flour mill structure and the adjacent outdoor grounds.
Check the museum's calendar before visiting if you wish to witness the annual Bay to Birdwood event influx.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the exhibition space covers multiple large halls and outdoor zones.
Do not attempt to touch or climb into the displayed vehicles, as most are fragile historic artifacts.
Open daily except for Christmas Day.
