The museum showcases the local history of Gawler and its district through various displays of objects in context. The building has had several uses throughout its history, including a telegraph station, a school of mines, an electoral office, and most recently as the Gawler Museum. Some significant items in the museum's collection include a Triola, Aoelian Orchestralle, box piano, Paternosters' musical instrument, John McKinlay's traveling chests, Timer fashion dresses, and Hoffman's pottery. The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, or by appointment.
The Cultural Heritage Centre is situated at the Gawler Civic Centre and offers the community a chance to experience and interact with specialized education programs, expert talks, and research opportunities. The center is open from Monday to Wednesday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Thursday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Heritage Gallery, which opened in April 2019, has already received an Interpretation Australia National Award for Excellence. The Cultural Heritage Research Centre, located on the lower ground floor, allows researchers, students, and the public access to a vast collection of artifacts, archives, photographs, and books that make up the Gawler Heritage Collection. The Local History Collection is also available at the Research Centre.
The gallery features a large modern exhibition space and a smaller, more intimate space for art displays. Exhibitions change every six weeks, and the gallery also offers a range of events and workshops. Gawler, South Australia's oldest country town, is located on the route to the Barossa when coming from Adelaide and only 14 km from the start of the Barossa wine region.