Blog
Let’s talk about Mead and it’s revival!
In July 2020, we launched a specially made Abbey label Mead to our supporters through a wonderful collaboration with Amrita Park Meadery. Production for these custom batches began 12 months earlier at their Meadery in the Noosa Hinterland, and we planned for...
Celebrating grant funding success!
In an unusual year when nothing has been what one might call “normal”, the availability of grants has been a lifesaver in some ways for the Museum. The Director, Edith Cuffe, in fact, spent most of the time during ‘COVID lockdown’ scouring the internet for potential...
A Toss of a Coin
One of the exciting things about working at the Abbey Museum is being there when a new object is donated. Recently, the Abbey was given a fabulous example of a silver 30-tari coin from Malta. This coin was issued in 1798 during the brief reign of Ferdinand von...
A Very Brief History of Camping
Here in Australia, camping is a huge past time – you can go camping with your friends, family, and children. Sometimes you go camping for a weekend out, sometimes you can camp for weeks on end for your school or work holidays. But did you know the history of this past...
Camping Through The Ages Raffles!
Updated 15 November, 2020 - The Abbey Museum's 'Camping Through The Ages' were two concurrent online raffles that offered the chance to win two different sets of camping themed prizes! It officially ended 31st October, 2020. See below for the winners!1420 1st PRIZE...
Desalination of ancient artefacts
Salt can have devastating effects on ancient artefacts. It also can be a tricky process to deal with these salts to protect an artefact over time. Such is the case with one particular process taken on an artefact in the Abbey Museum Collection, the circular plaque of...
Museum Reborn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itCw4LRMy0o This is story of John Ward and the Abbey Museum, from its genesis in England as the Abbey Folk Park, to its re-emergence in Caboolture QLD, as the Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology. The remarkable story started with a...
Abbey Roman Flask – still in one piece after 2,000 years.
Among the Abbey Museum’s more recent acquisitions is a collection of forty-four objects from Turkey, Tunisia and Papua New Guinea including an amazing intact Roman glass flask. It is incredible to have such a fragile object in our collection, considering it was...
A world icon at the Abbey
From the collection of the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology,‘Ehon Azuma-asobi’ (Picture book of the pleasure spots of the Eastern Capital) Here at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology we are the fortunate custodians of a series of woodblock printed illustrations...
Buy An Oxgang of Land
Imagine walking into a real estate agent’s office and asking to buy an oxgang of land. You would most likely receive some very strange looks and be sent packing. Or you might just be lucky enough to talk to a real estate agent who knew something about historical land...
The Story of a Clockmaker
Sometimes it is extraordinary how small serendipitous consequences can have great results. Such was the outcome from a recent visitor to the Museum who came from Bedale, a tiny village in the Yorkshire Dales. They reported back to their local newspaper that they had...
Symbols in Art – Clues and Problems
When we explore medieval religious art you could be astonished by the number of objects being held by the figures depicted either in paint or in stained glass windows. Looking at some of the stained glass windows in the Abbey Church there are a number of saints that...
Curator Interview with Michael Strong
This interview was intended to capture a relatable snapshot of Michael Strong’s life, so that every-day South East Queenslanders (or anyone for that matter!) could find out a little about his humble beginnings, his long connection to the Abbey Museum of Art and...
Musketeer Makeover
After completing the fundraising for the conservation of the medieval and Victorian Stained glass in the Abbey Church and a window of one of the Three Magi above the door to the Abbey Museum, focus has turned to fundraising for the conservation of smaller, but still...
New Addition to the Abbey Museum’s Collection
An Unusual Object in our Collection – The Roman Balance One of the latest additions to our ever-growing collection is an unusual-looking metal device that one has to wonder about. Mind boggling – yes, but in fact this implement has a very practical application. Then,...
The Abbey Museum’s Black Rider
In mid-2016, the Abbey Museum finally fulfilled a long-held dream to acquire a complete medieval suit of armour to complement the existing stories of the Abbey collection of medieval artefacts. With the support of the Abbey Museum Friends and a private donor a...
Favourite Things of the Abbey Museum
Most of us know that the Abbey Museum has some special items in their collection – but what do you really know about it and do you have a favourite thing? Have you ever walked through the museum and a special object has caught your eye? What was it? Where...
Abbey Museum is a GAMAA Award Winner
The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology was last night announced as a winner and a finalist at the GAMAA awards. The awards – Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards – are presented annually to honour the achievements of individuals and organisations in striving...