Description
From museumsvictoria.com.au:
“When we opened Scienceworks in 1992, our vision was a place for young people to play with science. We linked Melbourne’s industry, heritage and applied technology in one place: a new building looking across the arena to the century-old Pumping Station, all under the grand arc of the West Gate Bridge.
Today, Scienceworks is bursting with things to challenge curious minds of all ages. In just one visit, you can stroll among the gigantic machines that kept the city running, enjoy electrifying theatre in the Lightning Room, let your little ones roam safely in enclosed spaces, wander through our immersive exhibitions and drop into deep space in the Melbourne Planetarium.”
Accessibility Information
Arrival
"We have accessible parking spaces in the main Scienceworks car park right near the building entry. Larger buses can park in the Booker Street carpark.
If catching the train to Scienceworks you'll arrive at Spotswood Station and travel a few blocks to get to the museum.
The route from Spotswood station to Scienceworks has kerb ramps at all road crossings. Ramp access to the station is graded in accordance with accessibility standards.
We are proud to support Companion Card and offer complimentary admission upon presentation of a valid companion card at the time of purchase. Companion Card holders can bring their attendant free of charge."
Access
"Accessible lifts are located in the main foyer of Scienceworks and between the Think Ahead and Sportsworks Exhibitions.
Accessible toilets are located on the ground floor of the main building:
- Main entrance (Accessible/ Family toilets/ Parents’ Room)
- Planetarium foyer (Accessible / Baby change table)
- Ground Up Exhibition (Accessible / Family toilets/ Parents’ Room)
- Pumping Station (Accessible)
Service animals are welcome in the museum."
General accessibility features:- Assistance animal welcome
- Disabled parking access
- Accessible public transport nearby
Mobility accessibility features:- Level or ramp access to front entrance
- Lift access to all levels
- Wheelchair hire available
Mobility Information:"There is ramp access to the Pumping station building.
We have wheelchairs that you can borrow from the information desk on a first-come basis.
All exhibition galleries and public spaces have lift and/or ramp access.
There are four dedicated wheelchair spaces in the Planetarium and two in the Lightning Room. We recommend you arrive 10-15 minutes early to make sure you save your place."
Vision Information:"The lift has tactile indicators.
Our exhibitions have tactile components and we have touch trolleys in the exhibition galleries on most days. Please ask at the ticket desk for more information."
Hearing accessibility features:- Hearing loop or infrared assisted listening system
Hearing Information:There are hearing loops in a number of spaces at Scienceworks the Planetarium, Lightning Room, Amphitheatre and Auditorium.
Ground floor
- The Lightning Room x1
- The Amphitheatre x1
- Think Ahead Exhibition x2
- The Planetarium x1
Lower ground floor
- The Energy Lab x1
Autism/Sensory accessibility features:- Quiet hours
- Information available in various types
Autism/Sensory accessibility information:Social scripts
"These social scripts are for families and teachers visiting the museum with children on the autism spectrum. Written for children in consultation with AMAZE, the scripts have photographs to show children what they'll encounter during a visit to Scienceworks.
You can read them online as a webpage, or you can download a Word document to print out. You can also cut and paste the stories to create a story that best suits your child."
Map of high and low sensory spaces
"The museum can be a confronting place for sensitive visitors. Use our map of high and low sensory spaces to plan a visit to suit your child.
Low sensory spaces, coloured blue on the map, are quiet areas that are bright, have few people and no multimedia. High sensory spaces, indicated in pink, are busy places with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low light. The Planetarium, the Lightning Room and the Pumping Station are all areas which visitors may find confronting and these are marked in yellow.
You can borrow a laminated copy of the map from the Scienceworks Information desk or you can download your own."
Quiet times
"Scienceworks Museum tends to be quieter between 3pm and 4.30pm on weekdays during term time. February and December before Christmas are the quietest months."
Avoid queues
"To minimise the time your family spends in a queue, we suggest that you buy tickets online before you visit and bring your printed tickets with you. Show and scan your tickets at the members' entry on the shop side of the ticket desk for quick entry."
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Accessibility Information
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