Clive Palmer is building Australia’s largest car museum

Work is underway on Clive Palmer’s new car museum west of Brisbane. He says is will be Australia’s biggest once complete. 

Situated near Lowood, major earthworks are scheduled for the end of 2025. Demolition work on the site has already been completed. 

Tenders have been called for major civil construction works. The undertaking is evidently set to become a major tourism and economic drawcard for the region.

Originally the mining magnate and politician wanted to build the ambitious project at his Palmer Coolum Resort on the Sunshine Coast. But local complained it would be an “eyesore”. He had already built an automotive museum on the site, the Palmer Motorama Vintage Car Museum. It houses around 100 cars.

But this new project is much more ambitious. Palmer says: “This will be a world-class destination and a lasting legacy for automotive history in Australia.” 

“We’re proud to be investing in Somerset and pleased to see the first stages of development now taking shape on the ground.”

The museum will have a 43,000m2 footprint and is located at Patrick Estate, between Lowood and Lake Wivenhoe. Once complete, it will house more than 1000 rare and historic cars, as well as 300 vintage and classic motorcycles.

The development will include a shop, cafe, short-term accommodation and caretaker’s residence.

It is expected to generate about 80 construction jobs and more than 50 ongoing local positions once up and running.