Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate
The historic buildings of Erchless Estate were once home to Oakville’s founding family but are now the setting for Oakville's community museum. Colonel William Chisholm, an enterprising merchant and shipbuilder, founded the town and built Erchless overlooking his new harbour and Lake Ontario.
Today, visitors can still enjoy that magnificent view and explore the beautiful buildings, grounds and gardens of Erchless. The Oakville Museum offers guided tours of the Chisholm family home, changing exhibitions, special events and programs that tell the fascinating stories of our town.
Contact us
8 Navy Street
Oakville, Ontario L6J 2Y5
tel: 905-338-4400
email: oakvillemuseum@oakville.ca
Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate, 8 Navy Street
Regular hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.
General admission to the Museum is by donation. (Suggested $7 per person)
For larger groups of 10 or more, please contact us to confirm rates and availability.
Oakville's First Post Office, 144 Front Street (Lakeside Park)
August: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Free admission. Donations welcome.
Oakville Museum @ QEPCCC, 2302 Bridge Road
The Oakville Museum's satellite exhibit gallery at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre is available during regular hours of operation. For current hours please visit their facility page or call 905-815-5979.
Free admission.
The Museum is accepting applications for the following position:
This posting is for current and future opportunities and will be filled on an as needed basis. Applications will be considered for any openings that become available between now and December 31, 2022.
We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
The Oakville Museum Coach House Restoration Project will create a much anticipated addition to the Oakville Museum’s cultural and heritage programming capacity. Learn more on our Coach House Restoration Project page.
The newly restored Oakville Museum Coach House will soon be available for small meeting and special event rentals. Rental information, rates and booking details coming soon!
Please visit the Facility Bookings page for rental facilities currently available at the Town of Oakville.
The grounds at Erchless Estate provide the perfect backdrop for special occasion photos, including weddings, engagements, family gatherings and graduations. Advance reservations are required and can be booked online up to 45 days before your event date.
Visit the Photography in Parks page to check availability and book your permit online.
Please note:
- Parking is limited and not guaranteed and is restricted to designated areas only.
- Vehicles are not allowed on any grassed areas. Limousine parking is not allowed.
- There is no access to indoor facilities or washrooms. Please plan to make your event weather appropriate, rain or shine.
- Outdoor photography is available in 90 minute intervals, including arrival and departure times.
For more information, contact Facility Bookings at 905-815-2000 or bookafacility@oakville.ca.
We want to document the everyday lives of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Share your stories and help us capture how Oakville is experiencing history in the making. Let’s work together to preserve this chapter of our story for future generations. Visit our Exhibit Open Call page for more information.
