The Great Cobar Museum - MGNSW
Source: https://mgnsw.org.au/organisations/great-cobar-museum
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:35
The Great Cobar Museum - MGNSW
The Great Cobar Museum
The Museum and Visitor Information Centre are housed in the magnificent former offices of the Great Cobar Copper Mine. The Mine was once one of the most important industrial business in NSW and the museum is now one of the best in the state. The building restoration and renewal of exhibitions won the National Trust Judges’ Award in 2022.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum Courtyard Room
From the trail of stories in the building, exit through the Courtyard Room, but before you go, pause to admire the beautiful local artworks that enhance the stories of Cobar. Beyond this room lies a verandah with more items and a huge yard to be explored.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum - Place
Where are you – whose country are you on? This room explains the environment and introduces the visitor to the traditional owners, the Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people.
Zoom
Great Cobar Museum - Town Room
Mining towns go through booms and bust. Cobar is no different, with outlying villages with populations in the thousands flourishing then fading completely. Get a taste of this history in the Town Room and be amazed by the wall-sized image of one of those vanished villages.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum - Country Room
Pastoralism was established in Cobar before the discovery of copper. It has had its problems with drought, rabbit plagues, and other pests, but the people of the Far West are a capable lot, adjusting and adapting to the times. Learn something of the disappeared dairies and the once-huge wool industry along with the lives people led.
This room was once the pay office of the Great Cobar Mine. An interactive gives you an insight into the work of the mining men who lined up to get their pay.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum Easy Access
Part of our recent major restoration and upgrade project was to improve accessibility in a number of ways. The ramp at the side of the building allows prams, wheelchairs and walkers a gentle rising stroll into the building.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum - Mining Room
Cobar is a once and future mining town. This room tells the glory days story from the first discovery of copper in 1870 through the golden years until the aftermath of World War One. It’s a story of humans and machines, of minerals, hard rock and hard work.
Zoom
National Trust NSW Judges' Choice Award
Bursting with pride – architects Dunn & Hillam entered the Great Cobar Museum in the National Trust NSW Awards, winning in two categories and then ‘the big one’, the Judges’ Choice. This Bronze is a Gold.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum
On a clear western night, travellers approaching Cobar could see a sky filled with blazing red light and intermittent splashes of silver and gold. What was this awesome spectacle that could be seen from over 20 miles?
No. It was the smelter of the Great Cobar Copper Mine in full production.
In 1911, Cobar was Australia’s leading producer of copper while gold and silver were found at nearby mines. The richness of these mines is matched by the richness of Cobar’s history, all of which can be explored at the Great Cobar Heritage Centre.
The Great Cobar Museum, completed in 1912, was originally the administration offices of the Great Cobar Copper Mine. The beautiful building is a fitting place for the display of Cobar’s history, having been not only part of a great mining operation but also having spent time divided into flats, as a derelict ‘haunted house’, and boarding house before becoming the museum.
In 2021, the exhibitions were completely redesigned and renewed and the building had conservation works that reveal its original layout in all its glory. Cobar is particularly proud that it is the home of the Royal Far West Health Scheme, which still operates today. A restored Baby Health Clinic railway carriage is part of the extensive outdoor displays.
Cobar is on the crossway of two major highways, the Barrier and the Kidman Way. No matter in which direction you are travelling, don’t miss the chance to stop awhile and soak up some of the history and atmosphere of this very special place.
Contact & Visit
The Great Cobar Museum
Barrier Highway
Cobar
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, Saturday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
including public holidays.
Sunday, Saturday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
including public holidays.
Contacts
(02) 6836 5806
Email Us - visitcobar@cobar.nsw.gov.au
Visit our website
Get directions
The Great Cobar Museum
The Museum and Visitor Information Centre are housed in the magnificent former offices of the Great Cobar Copper Mine. The Mine was once one of the most important industrial business in NSW and the museum is now one of the best in the state. The building restoration and renewal of exhibitions won the National Trust Judges’ Award in 2022.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum Courtyard Room
From the trail of stories in the building, exit through the Courtyard Room, but before you go, pause to admire the beautiful local artworks that enhance the stories of Cobar. Beyond this room lies a verandah with more items and a huge yard to be explored.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum - Place
Where are you – whose country are you on? This room explains the environment and introduces the visitor to the traditional owners, the Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people.
Zoom
Great Cobar Museum - Town Room
Mining towns go through booms and bust. Cobar is no different, with outlying villages with populations in the thousands flourishing then fading completely. Get a taste of this history in the Town Room and be amazed by the wall-sized image of one of those vanished villages.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum - Country Room
Pastoralism was established in Cobar before the discovery of copper. It has had its problems with drought, rabbit plagues, and other pests, but the people of the Far West are a capable lot, adjusting and adapting to the times. Learn something of the disappeared dairies and the once-huge wool industry along with the lives people led.
This room was once the pay office of the Great Cobar Mine. An interactive gives you an insight into the work of the mining men who lined up to get their pay.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum Easy Access
Part of our recent major restoration and upgrade project was to improve accessibility in a number of ways. The ramp at the side of the building allows prams, wheelchairs and walkers a gentle rising stroll into the building.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum - Mining Room
Cobar is a once and future mining town. This room tells the glory days story from the first discovery of copper in 1870 through the golden years until the aftermath of World War One. It’s a story of humans and machines, of minerals, hard rock and hard work.
Zoom
National Trust NSW Judges' Choice Award
Bursting with pride – architects Dunn & Hillam entered the Great Cobar Museum in the National Trust NSW Awards, winning in two categories and then ‘the big one’, the Judges’ Choice. This Bronze is a Gold.
Zoom
The Great Cobar Museum
On a clear western night, travellers approaching Cobar could see a sky filled with blazing red light and intermittent splashes of silver and gold. What was this awesome spectacle that could be seen from over 20 miles?
No. It was the smelter of the Great Cobar Copper Mine in full production.
In 1911, Cobar was Australia’s leading producer of copper while gold and silver were found at nearby mines. The richness of these mines is matched by the richness of Cobar’s history, all of which can be explored at the Great Cobar Heritage Centre.
The Great Cobar Museum, completed in 1912, was originally the administration offices of the Great Cobar Copper Mine. The beautiful building is a fitting place for the display of Cobar’s history, having been not only part of a great mining operation but also having spent time divided into flats, as a derelict ‘haunted house’, and boarding house before becoming the museum.
In 2021, the exhibitions were completely redesigned and renewed and the building had conservation works that reveal its original layout in all its glory. Cobar is particularly proud that it is the home of the Royal Far West Health Scheme, which still operates today. A restored Baby Health Clinic railway carriage is part of the extensive outdoor displays.
Cobar is on the crossway of two major highways, the Barrier and the Kidman Way. No matter in which direction you are travelling, don’t miss the chance to stop awhile and soak up some of the history and atmosphere of this very special place.
Contact & Visit
The Great Cobar Museum
Barrier Highway
Cobar
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, Saturday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
including public holidays.
Sunday, Saturday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
including public holidays.
Contacts
(02) 6836 5806
Email Us - visitcobar@cobar.nsw.gov.au
Visit our website
Get directions