Current exhibitions and displays
Morpeth Museum’s mission is ‘To collect, preserve and interpret the history of Morpeth and district for future generations'.
Located at the historic Courthouse, Morpeth Museum is home to a range of exhibitions and displays, which range from early and family history to specific industries and the modern perspective.
The exhibitions change as new and exciting historical elements are discovered or restored.
Want to explore some of the Morpeth Museum collection online? Visit the Collections.Maitland website.
When you visit
When visiting the museum, you can:
- Sit in the Judge’s chair and pass sentence, or stand in the dock and confess your misdemeanours
- Spend time in a cell without being convicted
- Visit Morpeth houses without walking the streets
- Explore local history and research local ancestors
- Learn about the Port of Morpeth
- Explore the Arnott’s Collection and see the Tiny Teddies.
Permanent exhibitions
The current range of permanent exhibitions is listed below. You can purchase a full exhibition catalogue for $5.00 when visiting Morpeth Museum.
- Lt Edward Close
- The Local Indigenous People
- The Court Bench and Convicts (colonial justice)
- Shipping
- Industry
- Arnott’s Memorabilia and 148 Swan Street
- Hotels
- National Textiles
- Portus: the old Flour Mill
- Campbell’s Store
- Children’s Exhibition
- Oak (Dairy Farmers) Exhibition
- An old kitchen
- Brooms
- Morpeth institutions: Post Office, Railway, Courthouse Clock, Churches, and Houses
Temporary exhibitions
The current range of temporary exhibitions is listed below. These are updated regularly.
- Now and Then
- Storyplace
- Local Melbourne Cup Horses
Gallery of Morpeth Museum items
Thanks to an extensive digitisation project, supported by the NSW Government's Regional Cultural Fund, Maitland City Council is currently digitising the entire Morpeth Museum collection.
Below is a small sample of some of those most interesting items. The best way to get up close and personal with them is to plan a visit to Morpeth Museum and see them for yourself.
Or, you can visit the catalogue at the Collections.Maitland website and read some of the incredible stories behind these items on the Storyplace website.
