HMRI's Poo Palace returns to Newcastle Museum for Science Week
Hunter Medical Research Institute(Hunter Medical Research Institute)
Newy 87.8 FM – Hunter Medical Research Institute's Poo Palace will return to Newcastle Museum on August 22-23 as part of the 2026 Hunter Science Festival for National Science Week.
The free, interactive exhibit takes children on a journey through the human digestive system, beginning at the mouth and travelling through the stomach, small intestine and colon before exiting through a giant inflatable bottom.
Created by the University of Newcastle's Gastrointestinal Research Group and HMRI, the Poo Palace has made learning about gut health fun for thousands of families. It is a National Finalist in this year's Australian Marketing Institute Marketing Excellence Awards, in the Experiential and Event Marketing category.
Before entering the Poo Palace, visitors take part in a hands-on science experiment led by gastrointestinal researchers, demonstrating how food is digested and how poo is made. Children can ask questions and learn the science behind digestion.
Four-year-olds Oliver and Isaac, who recently took part in one of the experiments, said their favourite thing to learn about was "poo". Oliver was most interested in the intestine, while Isaac was most excited about the tummy.
Isaac's mum, Jess, and Oliver's mum, Alex, said they hope experiences like the Poo Palace will help nurture the boys' curiosity, believing early exposure to science sparks a lifelong love of learning.
Each session combines an interactive experiment with the immersive Poo Palace experience. Information on session times and tickets is available from HMRI.
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