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 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.
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.
