Medieval meets modernity: step inside Notre-Dame at Immigration Museum this summer
New exhibition brings 850 years of history to life.
Visitors will travel back in time through the incredible 850-year history and painstaking restoration of the world’s most iconic cathedral in Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition.
Merging the medieval with the modern, the internationally acclaimed exhibition is a 3D, 360-degree journey which opens at the Immigration Museum today on Friday 6 December, just days before the restored cathedral reopens in Paris for the first time since the devastating 2019 fire.
Visitors will embark on a digital adventure through Notre-Dame’s illustrious history using a HistoPad: an augmented reality touchscreen tablet that is designed to be accessible for all ages. The exhibition has been conceived and produced by digital heritage specialists, Histovery, in collaboration with Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris and supported by Presenting Partner L’Oréal Groupe.
‘Aside from being at the re-opening of Notre-Dame itself in Paris, this cutting-edge exhibition is the closest anyone will get to stepping beneath its haloed spire,’ says Lynley Crosswell, Museums Victoria CEO and director.
‘Immigration Museum invites visitors to join us in revelling in Notre-Dame's extraordinary 850-year history.’
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition offers unprecedented access to one of the world’s most famous landmarks, shining a light on the skill, artistry and vision of the cathedral’s architects, craftsmen and builders from the 12th century, all the way to the modern experts restoring the icon to its full glory.
Winding back the clock to 20 key moments in Notre-Dame’s history, visitors will step into the Middle Ages when the first stones of the cathedral were laid, attend the lavish wedding of King Henry IV and Marguerite of Valois in 1572, witness the glittering coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804, and be captivated by many more time-travelling moments.
Bruno de Sa Moreira, Histovery cofounder and CEO, says: ‘This augmented exhibition is a celebration of the extraordinary history and splendour of our beloved Notre-Dame de Paris. We are very grateful to the L'Oréal Groupe for making this exhibition a reality and are honoured to be presenting it at the Immigration Museum. We are particularly thrilled that the Immigration Museum is opening this exhibition in December 2024, a month that coincides with the much-anticipated reopening of Notre Dame after a five-year reconstruction period.’
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition has been an international hit, visited by over 380,000 visitors across eleven cities including Paris itself, Dubai, London and Montreal.
Alex Davison, L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand CEO, says: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be hosting the Notre-Dame de Paris exhibition in Melbourne. As a French company with over 100 years of history, the L’Oréal Groupe is incredibly proud to support the reconstruction of Notre-Dame and, through this exhibition, allow visitors to the Immigration Museum to discover French craftmanship, heritage and culture.’
Access to the immersive exhibition is included with general admission to the Immigration Museum, which is free for all museum members and children aged 16 and under.
Immigration Museum brings Paris’ famous boulangeries to Melbourne with Le Café. Complementing the exhibition experience, this classic Parisian café pop-up will be serving delicious, buttery pastries from Carlton’s Calle Bakery. One of Melbourne’s most popular and queue-worthy hot spots, Calle pastries are exclusive to Immigration Museum within the CBD.
A beautiful example of the power of the old-world colliding with the new, Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition is a visceral celebration of the culture, history and community behind the beloved cathedral and its restoration.
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition
Open: Friday 6 December 2024 – Sunday 27 April 2025
Location: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Tickets: Included with museum entry
Adults: $15 | Seniors: $10 | Members: Free | Concession: Free | Children: Free
Le Café: Pastries by Calle
Open: Tuesday–Sunday throughout summer
Location: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Indulge in a selection of glossy pastries and croissants from Calle Bakery at Immigration Museum’s Le Café.
Programming and Events:
All programs (except Notre-Dame Windows) include entry to Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition and access to all other Immigration Museum exhibitions.
First Saturday monthly: 7 December, 11 January, 1 February, 1 March, 5 April | 10.30am–11.30am | Adult $ 25, Senior $20, Concession $15, Member $15
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, join the Immigration Museum’s monthly conversation club presented by the VoulezVouloz French school. Practise your language skills and explore French culture in an engaging and intimate group setting. Complementary snacks and drinks included.
January school holidays, daily | 10am–5pm | Free, all ages
Bring the whole family to the Immigration Museum over the January school holidays to marvel at the magnificent Notre-Dame cathedral from right here in Melbourne! Learn how stones, statues, glass and gargoyles combine to make this beautiful building, take inspiration from the stunning architecture, and then create your own stained ‘glass’ masterpiece to take home.
Grand Spaces, Gripping Histories Tour
Opening weekend (7 December) and fortnightly Saturdays | 12pm, 1pm and 2pm | Adult $25, Senior $20, Concession $10, Member $10, Child $10
What does 850-year-old Notre-Dame have in common with Old Customs House (Immigration Museum), a 180-year-old Australian public building, have in common? Time-travel through French and Australian history in this rare opportunity to learn about two iconic landmarks in one tour and discover how grand buildings alter the course of history and continue to influence public values.
Notre-Dame Expert Talks
Join a series of fascinating conversations with historians, curators, heritage architects, conservation specialists, journalists and philanthropists as they unlock the secrets of Notre-Dame and the aftermath of the 2019 inferno. Sign-up to the Immigration Museum newsletter for details.
About Immigration Museum
Immigration Museum houses captivating stories that encourage visitors to build human connection and compassion. Through a program of immersive exhibitions, dynamic collections, special events, educational programs and digital content, Immigration Museum celebrates identity and world cultures, providing a safe space for the sharing of ideas and stories.
About Histovery
Histovery is at the cutting edge of innovation, using augmented reality to enhance heritage. HistoPad is the evolving ‘Augmented Visit’ service on tablets that revolutionises the visitor experience through in situ 360-degree reconstructions and interactive content manipulation, always carried out with rigorous respect for scientific knowledge.
About Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris
The public institution responsible for the preservation and restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris to ensure the conduct, coordination and completion of studies and operations contributing to the preservation and restoration of the Notre-Dame cathedral. Created in the aftermath of the 2019 fire, it also has a mission to promote the building site, trades and expertise contributing to this, particularly through the implementation of cultural and educational programmes in France and internationally.
About L’Oréal Groupe
L’Oréal Groupe is a major donor to the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris and is the sponsor of the exhibition. Using the potential of technology to create an augmented experience, accessible to all, is at the heart of the L'Oréal Groupe’s approach to innovation. L'Oréal invites everyone to relive the extraordinary history of Notre-Dame de Paris, that continues to be written today, prior to its reopening to the public, faithful to the Group’s raison d’être and purpose: ‘Create the beauty that moves the world.’
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Interviews available with:
- Lynley Crosswell, Museums Victoria CEO and director
- Alex Davison, L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand CEO
- Bruno de Sa Moreira, Histovery cofounder and CEO
Media enquiries please contact:
