Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology

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. 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.

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, 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.


Each Winter in July, the Museum hosts its famous 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.