The Donald Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame is a cricket lovers paradise. Even if you don’t like or understand cricket, you will discover the history of the game of cricket, pick up an understanding of the game and why people love it so. And you will learn loads about Donald Bradman, the cricketer and the man. I spent a few hours walking around the museum and its grounds, a lot longer than I expected – but I am a cricket tragic. Here is how you can spend a few hours at the Donald Bradman Museum.

What is Cricket?

For all you non-cricket people, cricket is a game of strategy between two teams. One team bats while the other team fields. The aim of the team batting is to make runs (score) by hitting the ball while the fielders’ aim is to stop the batters making runs – and to get them out. The team with the most runs wins. How cricket began is a bit of a mystery however, it is believed the game of cricket was invented by some children who were seeking a game to play. It is believed it was started by hitting stones with sticks! The first definite written reference about cricket is from the end of the 16th century.

Today, there are different styles of cricket that are played. Test cricket was the first and only form of cricket for a long time and this is played over 5 days. Yep, five days of cricket where each team bats and fields twice. Then you have ene day cricket that lasts a day. This is where both teams have 50 overs (a group of six deliveries) each to bat. The team who scores the most runs and has the most batters left, wins. The newest form is 20/20 cricket or T20. This is where two teams have 20 overs each to make as many runs as they can.

Who is Donald Bradman?

‘The Don’ donning his hat in the grounds outside of the Bradman Museum

In a nutshell, Donald Bradman is one of the best, or some would say, the best, cricketer Australia has ever seen. He was actually born in Cootamundra New South Wales on 27 August 1908. His family moved to Bowral when he was young and where he spent most of his early years. It was here in Bowral his passion and skill for the game of cricket was developed and nurtured. He played cricket for the Bowral Cricket Club, and inevitably, for Australia. ‘The Don’ scored 6996 Test runs at an average of 99.94 – which has never been bettered. This is why he is Australia’s, and arguably, the world’s, greatest cricketer.

Where is the Donald Bradman Museum?

The Bradman Museum is located in the town of Bowral which is largest town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Bowral is the main business and entertainment precinct with antique stores, boutiques and gourmet restaurants and cafes. It is probably best known for being home of ‘the boy from Bowral’ – Sir Donald Bradman, The Don, Australian cricket legend.

Bowral is an easy 1.5 hours drive from Sydney making it an easy Sydney day trip or Sydney weekend escape. Bowral is about the same time distance from Canberra and you can reach Bowral from either by driving along the F5 Freeway or the Hume Freeway linking Sydney to Melbourne. You only need to take the signposted exits off the Highway for Bowral. If you don’t have access to a car to drive yourself to Bowral you can always rent one here. Or you can catch a train from Central Station to Bowral Station. The Bradman Museum is about a 20 minute walk from the station and is located on Jude Street, Bowral.

The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame is situated in an area known as Glebe Park. This park includes the museum, Bradman Cricket Oval, parkland, a children’s playground and BBQ areas. A popular area for visitors and locals to enjoy not only the Donald Bradman Museum but the great outdoors of Bowral.

Donald Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame
St Jude Street, Bowral
Open Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm
Entry Prices (as at 9th August 2023): Adult: $30.00 | Children (5-17 years): $16.50 | Senior/Pension: $23.50 | Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children): $75.00 | Family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children): $85.00. Entry to the Donald Bradman Museum can be purchased at the door.

A Walk through the Donald Bradman Museum

It’s OK – You will get the runs next innings!

The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame currently comprises a number of galleries. Each gallery has something to offer the cricket lover of all ages. I suggest visiting them all on your visit to the museum! You will learn the basics of the game and how to hone the basic skills into something special.  Also discover more about the spectators of the game, like the Barmy Army and the Australian Fanatics that bring atmosphere to games. And discover how the media has played its part in showcasing the great game of cricket. The Bradman Gallery is totally devoted to the man and the man behind the bat. I won’t tell you too much more about the galleries and the exhibits as I’ll leave them for you to discover.

Discover more about the greats of the game of cricket that are honoured at the International Cricket Hall of Fame. Sydney Barnes, Sunil Gavaskar, Adam Gilchrist, Dr W.G. Grace, Sir Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, George Headley, Sir John (Jack) Hobbs, Imran Khan, Dennis Lillee, Muttiah Muralitharan, Bill O’Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sachin Tendulkar, Victor Trumper, Shane Warne, Sir Frank Worrell and of course, Sir Donald Bradman.

Interact with the Cricket Exhibits

Being a cricket tragic, I enjoyed every gallery, though some of the interactive exhibits were my favourite parts. Particularly the one where you use a cricket stump to hit a cricket ball against a water tank. This is what Don Bradman did each day to hone his batting skills. It is a lot harder to do than it looks! And it was really fun giving it a go. And if you are visiting Bowral with kids, they will love this too!

The Bradman Oval

Enjoying a cricket match on the Bradman Oval

The grounds outside of the Bradman Museum offer a a nice walk. Have your photo taken with The Don statue in the grounds and don your hat just like him. Sit at the pavilion or around the Bradman Oval and watch a game of cricket that may be in progress. The Bradman Oval was formally The Glebe Wicket, being renamed the Bradman Oval in 1947. A young Donald Bradman first played on this oval when he was12 for the Bowral Cricket Club. He scored 29 runs that day. One of his most memorable games for Bowral was when he scored 234 against Wingello a local team. 

Today the Bradman Oval is a sought-after playing ground and can be hired for a fee if you want to play a game on it. However, the ground regularly hosts one-day international matches, cricket coaching camps and social matches. The Bowral Cricket Club was formed in 1883 and cricket has been played on this ground since 1891. And it remains a recreation area for the township of Bowral.

Take the Bradman Walk

Mary Poppins statue in Glebe Park

After you have spent hours walking around the museum, sat down at the Bradman Oval, another option you could consider is taking the Bradman Walk. The walk is 1.7km and takes about 45 minutes, depending on how fast you walk! It will take you to his childhood homes, school, church, the cinema, the first office he worked in and other places he frequented. It is a very pleasant walk and you see a lot of Bowral as well as just Don Bradman-related places. You can pick up a free map of the walk at the museum or you can download one from the website www.bradman.com.au. 

While on the walk, in Glebe Park behind Bradman Oval you will find a statue of Mary Poppins. And what does this have to do with cricket? Nothing. The author of Mary Poppins, PL Travers, spent much of her youth in Bowral and this statue was erected in her honour. It is so close to Bradman Oval and should be seen.

Bradman Cafe and Shop

After your visit to the museum, and having undertaken the Bradman Walk, the Bradman Cafe is located at the museum end of the ground. You can sit either inside or outside in the courtyard for a coffee, cake, meal or a Devonshire tea! Purchase a souvenir from the shop, like an Ashes Cricket Urn replica or as I did, a set of cricket ball coasters. There are plenty of cricket-related souvenirs to buy at the Donald Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame.

Where to Stay in Bowral?

Welcome to Bowral

Bowral is an easy day trip from Sydney or weekend escape from Sydney and other towns in NSW. When coming to spend a couple of days in Bowral, you will need a place to stay and there is plenty of accommodation in Bowral and the Southern Highlands to choose from. From budget hotels to five star luxury. Whether you are there solo, in a couple or with family there are accommodation places that will suit for a romantic weekend in Bowral or Bowral kid friendly accommodation.

For budget and family friendly accommodation in Bowral check out Golfview Lodge, Oxley Motel, Bowral Hotel and Briars Country Lodge. For a romantic getaway in Bowral check out Peppers Craigieburn Lodge and Berida Hotel. For more Bowral accommodation options visit Booking.com.

A Visit to Donald Bradman Museum Conclusion

And so ends a great few hours at the Donald Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame. No matter if you are into cricket, or not, a visit to Bowral for a day, weekend or longer will reveal a very interesting and picturesque place. And give you an in-depth insight into the game of cricket, the legends that play it – and the not so legends – that love it. Have you been to the Donald Bradman Museum? I’d love to hear.

Other places to visit around the NSW Southern Highlands
Kangaroo Valley
Jamberoo