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Museum
Governance
Welcome to the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, a
priceless treasure-house of antiquities and fine
arts from around the world.
The Abbey Museum is a public museum almost unique in
Australia. Its collections are derived from Britain’s
first social history museum – the Abbey Folk Park (see
HISTORY). The Museum has won international acclaim for
the quality of its displays and the scope of its
collections, from many different civilisations and
cultures. Its European collections of medieval art have
a premier place in Australia. It has collections of
prehistoric artefacts, ceramics, glass, stained glass,
metalwork, woodwork, lacquer, sculpture, manuscripts and
rare books, Renaissance and Baroque paintings,
watercolours, icons and frescos.
You will find the Abbey Museum is divided into two
themes.
A time passage explores the exciting history of Western
Europe over the last million years to modern times.
Plaque of
Roman god, Apollo; 1st – 2nd cent AD; London
Photo: B
Cowell
The
past unfolds like a storybook of the centuries…
prehistoric hunters, the age of bronze and gold, Rome's
iron legions, fierce Saxon and Viking invaders,
plague-ridden towns, knights and manors, the clash
between church and state, Europe's golden age of
Renaissance, of exploration and discovery, the
Industrial revolution, distant empires….
The second half of the Museum focuses on the ancient and
classical world - the timeless fascination of ancient
Egypt, enduring civilizations from Mesopotamia, Israel,
Greece and Persia, tiny many-conquered Cyprus, the
Islamic world, and the rich heritage from China, India,
Japan and the ancient Americas.
A panorama of history, spanning many centuries, a
priceless heritage here in Australia
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About the Museum
Roman Britain
display, Photo: B Cowell
Highlights
of the Museum include a death mask from ancient Egypt; a
rare armoured shoe from Olympia, Greece; gifts from
Queen Mary of Teck; Old Master paintings, magnificent
icons, illuminated manuscripts; part of the Rosary
Palace of Edward II; a rare l2th century Islamic bronze
dish and beautiful stained glass dating back to the l3th
century in the nearby Abbey Church, possibly the most
important in Australia. This includes a
world-significant collection of medieval glass from
Winchester Cathedral (see COLLECTIONS).
Our staff maintains an active program of research with
international scholars and other collections, including
the British Museum, Museum of London, the
Middelaldercentret in Denmark, Oxford University and
many other institutions.
The Museum attracts thousands
of school students because of its unique educational
value, from throughout Australia to enjoy the
collections (see
SCHOOLS PROGRAMS), take part in the
Archaeological Dig programs, or one of the highly
successful Environmental Heritage Trails through the
beautiful Pumicestone Passage and dramatic Glass House
Mountains, rich in Aboriginal legend and historical
heritage.
The Museum Shop contains an outstanding selection of
fine historical jewellery, ideal for gifts or
souvenirs. A wide range of books and other items are
also carried. Mail orders are welcomed (see
MUSEUM
SHOP).
Each Winter in July, the Museum hosts its famous Abbey
Medieval Festival (see ABBEY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL).
Thousands of people flock to watch the colourful
spectacle of jousting, mock combats, archery, dancing,
music, crafts, living history encampments and live
theatre. The week-long festival begins with its
renowned Banquet and culminates in a two day Tournament
with a masked ball, jousting, children's activities,
archery, medieval arts and crafts and grand parade of
re-enactment groups from all over Australia.
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