The National Communication Museum (NCM) in Hawthorn is a hands-on museum about technology, from old phone exchanges to robots, tucked inside a converted 1930s telephone building. It’s a genuinely different day out for tech-curious kids, but there’s one thing every parent needs to check before they go: whether it’s actually open.
We know inner east families are often weighing up NCM against Melbourne Museum or Scienceworks for a wet-weather outing. It’s smaller than both, but it makes up for that with genuinely playable exhibits: a working phone exchange, a retro internet cafe, and a Kids Hub built for little hands. This guide covers what your children can actually do there, how long to allow, what it costs, and the practical bits — parking, toilets, prams — that make or break a visit with kids in tow.
What to Expect
NCM is spread across two levels inside a heritage exchange building, and parts of the old equipment are still switched on. That’s the appeal for kids: this isn’t a museum of things behind glass, it’s a building that still works.
On Level One, you’ll find the Kids Hub, built around overhead cables that lead children between different activity stations as they learn how messages travel.
Nearby is the permanent Cyber Cafe, a recreated 1990s internet cafe where kids can sit down at old-school computers, play retro games and see what going online looked like before smartphones. There’s also a working step-by-step telephone exchange, where you can watch a call physically route itself through the old switching gear.
Level Two houses the museum’s changing feature exhibition. From 19 September 2026, that’s Radical Computing, a hands-on look at personal computers through the decades — think Amigas, Ataris and a giant, one-of-a-kind Connection Machine — alongside interactive art and music installations. NCM says the exhibition is designed for all ages, though it leans more toward primary-aged kids and up than toddlers.
Expect flashing lights, loud sound effects and dense visual displays throughout the museum — more on that below, as it’s worth knowing in advance for sensory-sensitive kids.
Highlights for Kids
- The Cyber Cafe — a working recreation of a 90s internet cafe, complete with retro games and old chat programs. Older kids find it novel; parents tend to find it nostalgic.
- The Kids Hub — an interactive, hands-on area on Level One aimed squarely at children, exploring how communication travels around the world.
- The telephone exchange — kids can watch a real, working exchange route a call step by step, which is oddly mesmerising even for adults.
- Robots and interactive tech — past and current exhibitions have featured hands-on robots, talking machines and sound installations that respond to visitors.
- Radical Computing (from 19 September 2026) — a chance to see and touch decades of personal computers, from tiny home machines to a supercomputer built for research.
School holiday workshops also run regularly, covering things like 3D printing, robotics, coding and video game design. These book out, so check the events page and book ahead if your child wants a spot.
What Parents Need to Know
Opening hours NCM is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Ticket prices
- Adult: $24
- Concession: $18
- Blaktix: $12
- Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children): $60
- Child (7–16 years): $8
- Child (6 years and under): Free
- Companion Card: Free
Book online in advance through the official ticketing page for a smoother arrival, or buy at the front desk on the day.
Toilets and baby facilities
There’s an accessible toilet with a baby-changing table and a nursing armchair on Level One, plus all-gender and accessible toilets on the ground floor.
Pram and wheelchair access
The whole museum is wheelchair accessible, including a lift between levels, so prams shouldn’t have any trouble either. A cloakroom at the front desk can hold larger items like bulky bags if you’d rather explore hands-free.
Food options
There’s no dedicated café inside the museum. Bring snacks and water, or plan to eat before or after your visit — Glenferrie Road has plenty of cafes within a short walk.
Parking
The Hawthorn Town Hall car park, directly opposite NCM, offers two hours of free parking. If you need longer, the Burwood Road or Wakefield Street car parks charge around $10 a day and are a five-minute walk away. Street parking is available too, but check the signs for time limits.
Getting there by public transport
NCM is a three-minute walk from Glenferrie Station, and Tram 16 stops right outside on Glenferrie Road.
Sensory considerations
This is a high-sensory space. NCM warns that some displays include flashing lights, rapid imagery and sound reaching up to 90 decibels, which may affect kids sensitive to noise or light, or those with photosensitive epilepsy.
Sensory kits, including earmuffs and tinted glasses, are available free from the front desk if you’d like to borrow one.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Best age groups: Primary school-aged kids (roughly 6 to 12) get the most out of NCM, since a lot of the appeal is in reading, playing games and understanding how things work. Younger kids will still enjoy the Kids Hub and the tactile bits, but they won’t get as much from the historical displays. Tweens and teens who like tech, gaming or retro nostalgia tend to love it.
Time required: Budget around 1.5 to 2 hours for a family visit, longer if there’s a workshop or you want to sit through everything in the Cyber Cafe.
Value for money: At $60 for a family of four, it sits in similar territory to Scienceworks or Melbourne Museum, but it’s a smaller site with fewer exhibits overall. It’s better suited to a shorter, focused outing than a full day out.
Who’ll enjoy it most: Families with tech-curious kids, anyone raising a future coder or gamer, and parents who fancy a hit of 90s nostalgia themselves. If your child needs a lot of physical space to run around, pair this with a nearby park rather than expecting NCM to fill a whole day.
For more indoor options nearby, have a look at our guide to the best museums in Melbourne for kids and our roundup of indoor things to do in Melbourne with kids.
