Birdwood
A Torrens Valley town built around the National Motor Museum.
A motoring landmark in the Torrens Valley
Set among the rolling Torrens Valley orchards, Birdwood is best known as the home of the National Motor Museum, said to hold the largest collection of historic vehicles in the southern hemisphere. The museum displays more than 300 cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles, housed partly in an 1852 flour mill on the edge of town. Each spring the famous Bay to Birdwood brings a long parade of veteran, vintage and classic vehicles up from the bay to finish here.
A village with a layered history
Birdwood was settled in the 1840s by Silesian Lutheran families and originally named Blumberg. It was renamed during the First World War after Sir William Birdwood, the British general who commanded the Anzacs at Gallipoli. That heritage still shows in the township's bluestone buildings, including the historic Blumberg Hotel, whose name keeps the old place name alive.
What visitors do here
Beyond the museum, Birdwood makes an easy base for the surrounding hills. Cromer Conservation Park sits just to the north, while the trails and picnic grounds of Mount Crawford Forest are a short drive away. The heritage township of Mount Torrens is close by, and the wider valley rewards a slow afternoon of browsing country pubs and galleries.
Visiting Birdwood - frequently asked questions
What is Birdwood known for?
Birdwood is best known as the home of the National Motor Museum, said to hold the largest collection of historic vehicles in the southern hemisphere, housed partly in an 1852 flour mill. It is also the finish point of the annual Bay to Birdwood, one of the country's great gatherings of veteran, vintage and classic vehicles. The town itself is a small, historic settlement set among the Torrens Valley orchards.
How far is Birdwood from Adelaide?
Birdwood sits in the Adelaide Hills about 44 km east of the Adelaide city centre, roughly an hour's drive. The route winds up through the hills and the Torrens Valley, making the journey part of the appeal. It is an easy day trip or a relaxed stop on a longer hills tour.
What is there to do in Birdwood?
The main draw is the National Motor Museum, with its 300-plus cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Visitors also explore the heritage buildings and shops in town, call into country pubs such as the Blumberg Hotel, and head out to Cromer Conservation Park and Mount Crawford Forest for walking and picnics. The nearby heritage township of Mount Torrens is another worthwhile detour.
When is the best time to visit Birdwood?
Birdwood is rewarding year-round, with the National Motor Museum open most days. Spring is a highlight when the Bay to Birdwood finishes in town and the surrounding orchards are in blossom. Autumn brings mild weather ideal for walking in Mount Crawford Forest, while cooler months suit cosy days indoors at the museum.
Why is the town called Birdwood when it was founded by German settlers?
The town was originally named Blumberg by the Silesian Lutheran families who settled it in the 1840s. During the First World War, strong anti-German sentiment led to its renaming after Sir William Birdwood, the British general who commanded the Anzac forces at Gallipoli. The earlier name still survives locally through landmarks such as the Blumberg Hotel.
Things to do in Birdwood
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Stories from Birdwood
When Blumberg became Birdwood: the war that renamed the Hills
Blumberg, Grunthal, Lobethal, Hahndorf - the First World War took the Hills' German names away. Some came back. Some never did.
June 2026 · 7 min read
The Torrens Valley: The Hills' Quiet Heart
Away from the busy Hahndorf–Stirling belt, the Torrens Valley keeps the slower, older soul of the Adelaide Hills - green farmland, heritage villages and a few delightful surprises.
June 2026 · 5 min read
Image credits
- Birdwood-Blumberg plaque.JPG by Marionlad , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons