[Melbourne] Discover Tinkertown at Scienceworks: A Wold of Playful Engineering and Design
Scienceworks is set to inspire the next generation of engineers, designers and creators with the launch of its newest hands-on exhibition, Tinkertown, opening 5 April 2025. This vibrant, interactive village is designed to ignite creativity and innovation, turning the world of engineering and design upside down with fun and playful experiences.
Tinkertown at Scienceworks. Photographer: Eugene Hyland. Source: Museums Victoria.
In Tinkertown, imagination and innovation go hand in hand. This fictional village springs to life with structures and imaginative landscapes that encourage visitors to think outside the (tool)box. Whether constructing cubby houses, inventing wacky contraptions, solving engineering puzzles, or sending secret messages, every corner of Tinkertown holds a new adventure.
Tinkertown introduces young minds to the nuts and bolts of the iterative design process, teaching them that trial and error is just part of the fun. Through hands-on activities, children learn to test ideas, refine designs, and find creative solutions – building resilience and critical thinking along the way. Key STEM concepts like understanding forces, material properties, and estimation are explored in a fun and accessible way.
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), Tinkertown is the latest representation of Museums Victoria’s ongoing mission to break down barriers to participation in STEM learning, tackling low enrolments in STEM tertiary subjects, and addressing the fact that only 15% of STEM-qualified jobs are held by women. With a focus on enquiry science experiences, Tinkertown is the personification of an experience built for futures literacy, helping mould the next generation of scientists, engineers, astronauts and more.
But Tinkertown isn’t just for kids! It’s an intergenerational space where families of all ages can come together to build, play, and learn together, fostering creativity, curiosity, and teamwork across generations.
Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria, said: ‘Building on the success of past in-house designed exhibitions like Illuminate (2022) and Air Playground (2019, 2024), Tinkertown solidifies Scienceworks standing as the ultimate destination for curious minds. Packed with opportunities to build, invent, and explore, visitors of all ages are invited to unleash their curiosity, push the boundaries of imagination, and tinker to their hearts' content’.
Mei Liu, Tinkertown experience developer, Museums Victoria said: 'Developing Tinkertown has been an exciting journey. We hope that everyone who visits leaves inspired, with a renewed sense of creativity and the confidence to tackle challenges through curiosity and collaboration.'
Gather your village and get ready to tinker your way to fun at Tinkertown – where creativity is always under construction, and innovation is built one playful step at a time!