Santos Museum of Economic Botany

Santos Museum of Economic Botany in Adelaide is a botanical museum featuring dried plant specimens, botanical materials, and handcrafted educational models. The displays show how raw plant materials become everyday products we use, from foods to textiles and dyes.

The museum was founded in 1881 and drew inspiration from European botanical institutions. It developed as an educational center documenting plant resources for farming and commercial use.

The collection reflects how different cultures have used plants for practical and creative purposes, from textiles to traditional crafted items. You can observe the creative ways people around the world turned botanical materials into everyday objects.

The space is easy to navigate and the exhibits are designed for visitors of all ages. It is worth taking time to look closely at the models and materials, as many objects reward careful viewing.

The museum holds around 200 detailed papier-mache fungal models that served as learning tools for farmers in the 1800s. These handcrafted teaching objects were essential before photographic images became available.

Location: Adelaide

Inception: 1881

Part of: Adelaide Botanic Garden

Website: https://botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/visit/adelaide-botanic-garden/santos-museum-economic-botany

GPS coordinates: -34.91804,138.61127

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:04