Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre and Holbrook Submarine Museum - Holbrook, New South Wales

Welcome to Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre and Holbrook Submarine Museum

Located in the heart of the beautiful region of Greater Hume, New South Wales, Australia, the Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre and the associated Holbrook Submarine Museum stand as prominent landmarks, serving both tourists and locals alike. Situated at 15 Wallace Street, Holbrook NSW 2644, this complex offers a wealth of information and a fascinating dive into maritime history, making it an essential stop for any visitor exploring the Southern Highlands area.

Location and Accessibility

The centre is easily accessible from major highways, particularly the Hume Highway (A1), which is a significant route through this part of Australia. Its location in Holbrook provides a convenient base for exploring the natural beauty and attractions surrounding the region, including the famous Yass Valley and the Snowy Mountains, reachable via the surrounding road networks.

Accessibility is a key consideration for this facility, ensuring that information and historical exhibits are available to everyone. It boasts a wheelchair-accessible car park and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity. Inside, visitors will find a wheelchair-accessible toilet, further enhancing the experience for visitors with mobility challenges. Standard public toilets are also available for the convenience of all guests.

What to Expect: Information Hub and Maritime Museum

The Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre functions as a vital hub for travellers. Staffed with knowledgeable local experts, it provides comprehensive assistance in planning your itinerary. Visitors receive detailed maps outlining the region's attractions, local contacts for tours or specific activities, and information about upcoming events and festivals. It serves as the perfect starting point for anyone looking to explore the unique charm of the Greater Hume region.

Adjacent to or integrated within this information centre is the Historic Holbrook Submarine Museum. This museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the intriguing history of submarines, with a particular focus on the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) operations in the area. The submarine displayed, often the USS Kutuzov (AGER-2), is a significant piece of maritime heritage, decommissioned but now serving as a museum ship. This vessel played a notable role in the area's naval history, providing educational value for visitors fascinated by underwater exploration and defence technology.

Exhibits and Learning Opportunities

Step aboard the submarine, if accessible, and immerse yourself in its history. The museum typically offers an informative guided tour, providing insights into the vessel's construction, daily life aboard, and its operational significance. These tours cater well to school groups and families with young kids (as mentioned in the 'Good for kids' point), offering an engaging and educational experience for all ages.

Complementing the submarine exhibit, the museum may also feature displays on the broader naval history of the region, including the RAN's role in World War II and peacetime operations. The Visitor Information Centre itself often displays local tourist attractions, regional produce, and provides advice on accommodation and dining options nearby.

Why Choose this Centre and Museum

This combined facility offers a unique blend of practical travel information and deep historical insight. It is particularly noteworthy for its excellent accessibility features, ensuring that the experience is welcoming for visitors regardless of physical ability. Furthermore, the opportunity to explore a decommissioned submarine provides a rare and up-close encounter with naval engineering and history, which is not something readily available everywhere.

For those seeking to understand the maritime past of the Holbrook area or needing guidance to explore the wider New South Wales countryside, the Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre and Holbrook Submarine Museum is an indispensable resource. It combines the practical needs of a tourist information point with the educational and awe-inspiring experience of a submarine museum, all within a single, welcoming location.

Additional Information and Contact

For the most accurate and detailed information regarding opening hours, specific tour schedules, current exhibitions, and visitor capacity (especially post-pandemic), it is highly recommended to consult the official sources. You can reach the Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre directly via telephone at 260362422. The dedicated website, https://www.greaterhume.nsw.gov.au/Contact-us/Greater-Hume-Visitor-Information-Centre, provides further details and is the best place to check for updates or book specific tours.

With 205 reviews on Google My Business reflecting an impressive average score of 4.5 out of 5, the facility has consistently received positive feedback from visitors. This high customer satisfaction rate underscores the quality of the experience offered, whether it's the helpfulness of the staff at the information centre or the educational and captivating nature of the submarine museum exhibits.

A Recommendation for History Buffs and Travel Planners

If you plan to visit the Holbrook area, dedicating time to explore the Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre and the Holbrook Submarine Museum is strongly advised. It offers a comprehensive overview of the local region while simultaneously providing an unparalleled glimpse into Australia's naval heritage. The combination of practical information, historical education, and unique, hands-on experience makes it a standout attraction worthy of inclusion in any itinerary for the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Plan your visit, check their website, and prepare to be informed and impressed

👍 Reviews of Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre and Holbrook Submarine Museum

Hansi D. W.

5/5

One would wonder why there is a submarine inland but, We had a fantastic experience at the Holbrook Submarine Museum! The picnic area was lovely, providing a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings. The staff at the museum were incredibly friendly and helpful, making the visit even more enjoyable.

The exhibits were very well-presented and detail-oriented, showcasing the history and stories with great care. Exploring the interior of the submarine was an absolute highlight, and the hologram was both fascinating and engaging—it truly brought the experience to life.

This museum is also an excellent stop on the way to Sydney, offering a chance to stretch your legs and enjoy clean, well-maintained washrooms. It’s a great combination of education, relaxation, and convenience.

Highly recommend visiting this gem of a museum—it’s a wonderful way to break up a road trip and learn something new!

Ashlee J.

4/5

What a cool place to stop on your road trip between Canberra, Sydney or Melbourne. Holbrook is home to some truly impressive submarine displays, with a lot to explore as you wander the grounds. Whether you’re after a photo opportunity, a chance to stretch your legs, or a relaxing picnic in the park, this is the perfect place to take a break.

The outdoor submarine is open all day, every day, and the surrounding park is a lovely space to unwind during your journey. Even if the museum itself is closed, it’s still well worth pulling over to climb aboard the submarine and snap a few photos.

Update: I went back on another trip through Holbrook in November 2023 and finally visited the Information Centre and museum properly. Entry was affordable, and with all proceeds going toward maintaining the centre, it felt like great value for the experience on offer.

A lovely staff member welcomed us in, helped with payment, and gave us a bit of background on the exhibits. The museum includes fantastic replicas of submarine interiors you can walk through and interact with. We had heaps of fun pretending to use the defence systems and imagining life onboard. It really gave us a sense of what life was like for navy personnel.

There’s so much to read and learn, with displays covering the history of submarines, the lives of naval men and women, and a variety of historical artefacts on show. We spent quite a while here, taking it all in.

The centre also features fun photo spots and large replicas of machinery and moments from the submarine’s operational days. We enjoyed taking snaps and walking down this fascinating lane of history. There was even a short projection show that shared the story of the community and its connection to the submarine, which was a really lovely touch.

I highly recommend stopping in! It’s fun for all ages, educational, and supports a beautiful local community and its history. Whether you’ve got ten minutes or an hour, there’s something here for everyone. Don’t miss it!

Saad H. A.

5/5

Two attractions are worth visiting. One is depiction of WW story through Hologram and second is the submarine control room, where you can actually use the periscope. Beside those, there are several other pieces of information. 🙂

Josh S.

4/5

Awesome museum, which is not in the submarine like I thought it was 😅
It's close to it.
Lots of history and cool things to check out.

Miriam W.

5/5

Fantastic experience!! So much information and great displays. What an amazing story behind the submarine and the town's name. Thank you Beck for your help 🙂

mel P.

5/5

Absolutely 💯 loved it ❤️ the kids and I loved every aspect of this ,how it is set-up in different areas but still so close , very Informative and the hologram room was "super cool" from my sons words lol

Doug E.

4/5

What a picturesque place to stop on your way to or from Sydney.

We stopped here for lunch at the Holbrook bakery. Fantastic baked goods and delicious coffee, a must-visit for a snack.

The Oberon class submarine is a fantastic place to learn about Australian and British naval history. Take a photo with the huge half-submerged submarine in the park.

After this, you must visit the museum/visitors centre to take a walk through time. Stick around and watch the holographic history lesson in the centre's theatre.

As of 08/03/22, the cost for an adult ticket to the museum is $7. Well worth it.

Nitin G.

5/5

One of the must do stopover when driving between Melbourne and Sydney/Canberra.

I know its weired to imagine a submarine displayed inland but hey the name of this town was changed to honour decorated WW1 hero Lt Norman Douglas Holbrook who captained the unsinkable terror (submarine HMS B11).

The submarine displayed is the hull of real HMS B11 submarine and you can see the sheer size of it.

The museum is great as it offers a great insight into the life of the mariners in submarine. There are 6 displays to showcase various sections of the submarine.

They have a good 3d holographic story narration for the curious minds that takes you through the achivements of HMS B11.