Gravity Discovery Centre

The Gravity Discovery Centre is a science museum and nonprofit organisation in Gingin, Western Australia, with hands-on installations such as the Magnetic Cart, a Bernoulli Ball, and a Space Capsule. Within the facility stands a 45-metre (148-foot) leaning steel tower with 222 steps, used for drop experiments.

The Cosmology Gallery opened in 1993 with NIOBE, the first gravitational wave detector in the southern hemisphere, after 16 years of development. Since then, the centre has expanded its exhibitions to include further physics experiments and astronomy topics.

The name refers to gravity research, while visitors today experiment at stations with exhibits on magnetism, air pressure, and space flight. The centre combines physics experiments with insights into native flora and fauna, so school groups and families can be hands-on.

The centre lies about an hour north of Perth and offers parking as well as outdoor areas to explore. The tower requires climbing 222 steps, so visitors should bring stamina and sturdy footwear.

A one-kilometre walk presents a scale model of the solar system with plaques at each planet, showing the spatial distances. Walking it makes the actual separation between celestial bodies easier to grasp.