The Aussie summer is all about having fun in the sun and playing cricket.
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At the Bradman Centre, there’s something for everyone this Christmas season and well into the summer.
The summer exhibition, Kapil to Kohli, tells the amazing story of Indian cricket’s rise to cricket greatness.
It coincides with team India’s Australian visit and runs from November to February.
The museum is open 10am to 5pm daily and the exhibition is free with general admission.
November 28 was the 30th anniversary of the historic first ever night match at the SCG.
To celebrate, the museum has an entire gallery dedicated to Kerry Packer’s World Series cricket, along with the first ever night-ball on display, along with cricket legend/commentator Richie Benaud’s cream blazer on display, worn on Wide World of Sports and a bonus 30 minute movie in the museum theatre.
In January, children can enjoy three fun-packed days on iconic Bradman Oval, being coached by Australia’s cricketing best, Steve Waugh Cricket Clinics.
Running from January 7-9, the clinic is ideal for boys and girls aged six to 16 years at any level.
The inaugural Highlands Beer and Wine Festival will be held on January 26-27.
It will be held on the iconic Bradman Oval and will include more than 50 hand-picked local and national Australian and New Zealand brewers and cideries showcasing over 200 brews.
Plus there will be street food stalls and local produce, and live music/roving entertainers as well as a sideshow alley on the oval.
For more info and tickets visit https://www.facebook.com/highlandsbeercider/
There will be a bumper cricket season on offer.
Other fun things to do throughout summer at Bradman
‘HERITAGE RAIDER’ cricket curator a day: Kids get to be a cricket curator for a day. An interactive experience for all budding cricket historians. Discover the history and explore the Bradman Museum. Learn what’s inside the museum collections and what it takes to be a ‘heritage raider’ curator, hold artefacts and discover more about your favourite game. School Holiday workshops. Bookings essential. See website for more details.
Take the Bradman Trail: free trail maps are available from the museum front counter. Trail walks take about 90 minutes.
See Mary Poppins statue: At the Bradman precinct, it’s a favourite for families to grab a selfie with the statue.
Find out more at bradman.com.au or visit the museum at St Jude Street, Bowral.
The Bradman Centre is famous for its world-class Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame - Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum.
It is nestled alongside historic Bradman Oval – the home-ground of Sir Donald Bradman.
Opened in 1989 by ‘The Don’, the Bradman Museum celebrates the rich history of the noble game from its humble origins in medieval England, to the present global game.
At the heart of the Bradman experience is the memorial grounds for Sir Donald Bradman.
A final salute is the life-sized statue of Sir Donald (located in the courtyard), unveiled in 2002 to commemorate his life.
It is complimented by a reflection pool, opened by then Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 1996.
Immediately adjacent is the Bradman Rose Garden, the location which Sir Donald and Lady Bradman chose as their final resting place and it is where their combined ashes were laid to rest in 2001.
The Bradman Museum collects, conserves, researches and exhibits cricket heritage in order to raise the public appreciation of the game and reflects the impact it has had on national identity throughout the world.
Many of the 45,000 objects held at the museum are on display for public viewing in the museum’s permanent collection.
The Bradman Museum exhibits the heritage of cricket from its beginnings through to the modern era.
The oldest artefact on display is a cricket bat from 1750 and the most recent are from matches played in 2018.
By researching, interpreting and displaying cricket heritage, the Bradman Museum is able to address cricket history, throughout the world and its telling of social history.
In the first half of the museum you will see exhibits spanning more than 100 years and is focused on the game in Australia: from the 1868 Aboriginal XI cricket team, the first Women’s Ashes, Bodyline and the ‘Bradman Era’ of the 1930s - 1940s, and the 1970s World Series Cricket.
The International Cricket Hall is where cricket’s story is told as a global game, highlighting international cricket, women’s cricket, and world events.
The Bodyline Gallery
The 1932-33 Ashes Test series was defined by acrimony and remains controversial today. A seven-minute video shows how England devised a scheme to curb Bradman’s batting. Harold Larwood’s family donated the England bowler’s substantial collection of cricket memorabilia to the museum, some of which is available in the Bodyline gallery.
The Bradman gallery
The world-famous Bradman collection of the museum is showcased in the Bradman Galllery. Consisting of thousands of objects it holds Bradman’s first bat – which he was gifted as a young boy in Bowral, with which he honed his fine skills as a young local cricketer. His captain’s baggy green is on display as well. Prior to his death in 2001, and in support of the museum, he donated a substantial collection of personal documents, blazers, cap, trophies. These are on display for public viewing in this gallery along with interactive displays and videos of interviews Sir Don recorded exclusively of the museum.
The World Series Cricket Gallery and theatre
Australians continued to shape the game of cricket after Sir Donald’s playing era. In 1977, the introduction of World Series Cricket by Australian media mogul Kerry Packer was both controversial and significant. This gallery traces the night game and one-day rise, with colourful uniforms, original and memorable marketing campaign material, Richie Benaud’s original cream blazer for wide world of sports, the first ever night ball, and Kerry Packer’s own first season WSC signed bat. There are player interviews you can watch at the interactive Revolution Wall, or enjoy watching ‘Packer, Lights, Action’, a 17-minute film in the theatre.
The International Cricket Hall of Fame
Five towering monoliths showcase precious artefacts from around the world, with dynamic cricket footage on mega-screens, from 1838 until today. Unique cricket artefacts compliment world events that shaped societies and the global game. Touch-screens contain memorable ‘on demand’ footage. You’ll also find famous cricket trophies, match-used BBL, ODI and Test items from every team, all over the world. The Baggy Green showcase in the International Hall displays many famous Australian Test cricketer’s most precious item – their baggy green cap. You’ll also find in here the world-famous portrait of Sir Donald Bradman by the late Bill Leak. Alongside are other outstanding portraits of Adam Gilchrist and Sir Vivian Richards, by acclaimed Australian Artist Dave Thomas.
World of Cricket Gallery
Discover the enormous reach of cricket around the globe on the interactive Touchtable or watch famous players talk candidly about the game they love at the ‘champions’ interview lounge, over hundreds of hours of footage filmed exclusively for the Bradman Museum. Plus, see all the amazing places around the world that people first played cricket, immortalised in Plot Your Pitch.
Greats of the Game Gallery
Learn about the best of the best and their inspirational achievements in the Greats Gallery, where you’ll also find amazing match-used objects by some of cricket’s finest players, from Victor Trumper to Shane Warne.
Allow at least 90 minutes to see the museum, another 30 for their summer exhibition, and 30-60 minutes to take in the many attractions outside in the Bradman precinct. You may want to extend your tour by following the self- guided Bradman Walk (90 minutes). Complimentary trail maps are available from the museum counter.
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