Adjacent to the Abbey Church is the Abbey Museum and Art Gallery. The Museum is custodian of a remarkable collection of international artefacts that tell the human story over the last one million years. It features prehistoric artefacts, glassware, stained glass, ceramics, metalwork, sculpture, wood carvings, lacquer ware, illuminated manuscripts and rare books, Old Masters, water colours, icons and frescos. Opening on 28th June, 1986, the Museum displayed artefacts collected by Rev John SM Ward that had previously been displayed in the Abbey Folk Park, New Barnet, England.
On the 1st February 2025, the Abbey Art Gallery was opened with its inaugural exhibition Inspired Images: the Arts of Faith.
Large numbers of students from primary and secondary schools throughout Australia use the Museum for their studies in history and art. Many of these take part in one of the very popular mock archaeological digs conducted by museum educators to give young people a ‘hands-on’ experience of archaeology.
The Abbey Museum also hosts an annual calendar of historically themed activities and events such as the award-winning Abbey Medieval Festival. The Abbey Medieval Festival has become the largest and most authentic medieval living history re-enactment in Australia. Tens of thousands of people come to see exciting spectacles of jousting, armed combats, wrestling, archery, dance and music.
The Abbey Museum is responsible for the care and maintenance of the historical objects in the Abbey Church. For twelve years, from 2008 – 2020, the Museum raised funds for a major conservation program of the stained glass in the Abbey Church to ensure its preservation for future generations.
The Abbey Museum also offers guided tours of the stained glass in the Abbey Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.00 am, or for groups by appointment.
Visit the Abbey Museum website.
