Everything you need to know to plan your school visit to the museum. Bookings are essential for all schools.
Queensland Museum Rail Workshops is located at North Street, North Ipswich.
By bus
There is a bus loading zone located near the museum entrance. Bus parking is available on North Street.
By train
Queensland Rail operates regular services from Brisbane’s Central station and Roma Street stations to Ipswich. After departing the train, transfer to the Westside Bus Company route 515 at Ipswich station from Stop B in Bell Street.
By car
Parking is free. The car park is approximately 50 metres from the museum entrance.
The museum is open daily from 9.30am to 4.00pm.
With so much to discover, we recommend at least 90 minutes to explore the museum for self-led visits. Options for specific arrival or departure timing, breaks and facilitated programs are included in our online school booking form. The Booking Officer will use this information to build your visit itinerary and discuss your group's needs with you during the booking process.
When you arrive, please assemble students outside the museum entrance while your group organiser makes contact with staff in the Ticket Office. They will confirm the numbers for your group, and discuss your itinerary and invoicing details, if required. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes ahead of any pre-booked experiences.
A school group is identified as having a minimum of 10 students (plus supervising teachers and adults). To ensure students enjoy the best possible learning experience, facilitated program sessions are capped at a maximum of 30 students.
We recommend that large self-led groups break into individual classes or smaller groups to rotate through exploration of the exhibition spaces.
Recommended adult to child supervision ratios are 1:3 for prep, 1:5 for primary and 1:10 for secondary.
Moving around the museum
For more information about moving around the museum, view our map.
Schools Risk Assessment Guide
Download our Schools Risk Assessment Guide for detailed information about access, facilities, health and safety considerations relevant to your visit.
Cloaking and bag storage
Storage is available for school groups needing to bring bags. A staff member will assist you with storage on arrival.
Please note the handling of personal items will be conducted by students and teachers. Museum staff will not handle any personal items. The museum takes no responsibility for any loss of valuables.
Toilets
Toilets are located in the Ticket Office building, in the museum behind the temporary exhibition pods and at the Trackside Café.
Lunch and catering
School groups are welcome to bring lunch, morning or afternoon tea and eat in the museum grounds or in the Moving Goods exhibition space which is undercover. Water bubblers, which can be used to refill water bottles, are located throughout the museum.
Catering is also available; simply indicate your interest in catering options when submitting your booking form.
No food or drink is to be consumed in the museum, unless you have specific medical needs.
Visitors with individual needs
The museum has toilet facilities and ramp access for wheelchairs. The Trackside Café can be accessed from the rear of the building via a ramp or from the front of the building via a chair lift. Please ask staff for assistance if you require use of the chair lift. A manual wheelchair is also available to borrow on request. For further accessibility information, see information for visitors with individual needs.
Some exhibits have timed or movement-activated sounds and other effects.
Our Programming Officer will be happy to discuss individual needs or support for your group; simply make note of these requirements in your booking request.
Everything you need to know to plan your school group visit to Queensland Museum Rail Workshops.
Plan your visit to Queensland Museum Rail Workshops, located in Ipswich.
Open daily 9.30am — 4pm. Paid tickets are required for entry to Queensland Museum Rail Workshops.
