When Geelong husband and wife Tim Mahon and Billie Georgieff couldn’t find the perfect place for their two kids to play locally, they created their own space; Geelong’s first Children’s Museum MoPA: Museum of Play and Art which opened on January 7 in the gorgeous and historic Wintergarden Building in McKillop Street.
Home to an impressive collection of fully immersive exhibits and experiences, the play-based-learning offered by the Museum is not only loads of fun, but has also been aligned with the Early Learning Framework for Kindergarten aged children and with the Victorian Curriculum for Children in early primary school.
“All the exhibits and activities at MoPA were inspired by the worlds’ best Children’s Museums. They have been designed, engineered then crafted by designers, craftspeople and artists from all over Australia. We’re so proud of just how much of this Museum we managed to build right here, on-site in Geelong.”
Tom Mahon, Co-director
Families are encouraged to explore, create, play and experiment together with all the features of the Museum. Features include:
Interactive wall of art where you can bring Monet to life, pat a virtual cat and pop your head in a secret black box to hear a cute positive affirmation!
Colourful soft play area designed to support the development of a toddler’s fine-motor skills whilst also incorporating creative block assembly and identity-building sculpture.
Sunset City for the bigger kids to climb and play on, taking in the sights of the museum from the top.
The crowd-favourite Wind Wall which allows kids to race flags up an amazing clear wind pipe.
Bright blue blocks for building set amongst the colourful MoPA monsters.
Upstairs, behind the stunning coloured balcony you’ll find a human kaleidoscope, the Zoom Room filled with LEGO that kids can build with and race down giant ramps and jumps, a performance stage and the ‘quiet room’ which is a beautiful perfect low-sensory space.
Outside The MoPA Art Car allows children to add a layer of colour on a real VW bug, challenging the young artists to consider just how unusual a canvas can be. The garden also hosts a stunning tree to take time out under as well as a really fun magnetic wall where kids can create ball runs with stick on pipes.
MoPA are offering general admission play sessions, memberships and birthday parties, but also educational programs for kindergarten and school excursions, and an after dark series in partnership with Deakin University, that will see parents network, create, learn and discuss a huge range of complex and important topics concerning parents today.
Behind the impressive Wintergarden facade is also a new café, feeding and change facilities, disabled access, pram parking, low-sensory spaces and the Museum will hold special events, community activations, special needs days, and much more.
To ensure every visitor’s experience is comfortable for everyone, entry numbers are limited and visitors are advised to book in advance on MoPA’s website, where they can choose to arrive in the morning, at midday or during the afternoon.
Museum of Play and Art:
Children: $14 (Infants under 12-months FREE) Adults: $10 Seniors: $8
Family Pass: $44 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Memberships: From $19
Bookings essential as places are limited.
For more information and to book, please visit: www.museumofplayandart.com.au