Treasures of the Viking Age Revealed at Melbourne Museum
The richest collection of rare and unique Viking-age objects ever found in Britain and Ireland will go on display at Melbourne Museum from August 29, 2025.
The Galloway Hoard, one of the most significant European Viking-age discoveries and archaeological finds of the 21st century, opens this Friday 29 August at Melbourne Museum.
Over 100 objects buried for over 1000 years will be showcased in Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard. Discovered in 2014 in southwest Scotland, the Hoard brings together a stunning variety of objects and materials in one find.
The extraordinary collection includes a rare pectoral cross and a rich collection of jewellery including silver arm rings, beads and brooches. It also features the largest surviving collection of gold objects from Viking-age Britain and Ireland and incredibly rare surviving textiles. Some of the objects hint at treasured family heirlooms and may have travelled thousands of miles to reach Scotland.
The Galloway Hoard provides visitors a fascinating glimpse into the early medieval world and sheds light on the identities of those who lived during that time. Buried in four distinct parcels, the exhibition mirrors this sequence as the story of the hoard is revealed. Through AV and 3D reconstructions, visitors will learn about the dedicated and ongoing conservation work that has been carried out on the Galloway Hoard since 2017.
To celebrate the exhibition opening at Melbourne Museum, visitors can join Dr Adrián Maldonado, Galloway Hoard Researcher at National Museums Scotland, for an engaging conversation on Saturday 30 August. This is a unique opportunity to hear firsthand from one of the researchers behind the Galloway Hoard project. Dr Maldonado will also host a series of pop-up talks that reveal stories about the people, culture and trade of the Viking Age.
Lynley Crosswell, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Museums Victoria said: ‘It is an extraordinary honour to bring The Galloway Hoard, one of the United Kingdom’s archaeological finds of the century, to Melbourne Museum. These Viking-age treasures tell captivating stories that still resonate today; tales of wealth, power, identity and the connections that bound distant cultures together. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to come face-to-face with objects that reveal the fascinating complex histories at the crossroads of empire, faith and trade.’
Dr Martin Goldberg, Principal Curator, Medieval Archaeology & History, National Museums Scotland said: ‘The Galloway Hoard has repeatedly drawn international attention since its discovery, and we are delighted to bring it to Melbourne. The exhibition contains a spectacular and varied selection of material, with intricate detail revealed through extensive conservation work. It also showcases the results of nearly a decade’s worth of dedicated research which has enabled us to understand and reveal so much more about the Galloway Hoard and its international medieval context.’
Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks said: ‘Melbourne Museum transports us back in time and across the world with this rare collection of Viking-Age treasures. This exhibition is another exciting offering for Melbourne, further cementing our reputation as the cultural capital and attracting visitors from near and far.’
To accompany the exhibition, Museums Victoria Publishing have released Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard, a rich and detailed book that explores the remarkable discovery, preservation and ongoing research of the Galloway Hoard. Written by acclaimed experts from National Museums Scotland: Dr Martin Goldberg, Principal Curator of Medieval Archaeology and History, and Dr Mary Davis, Galloway Hoard Conservator, this is a compelling account of one of Britain and Ireland’s most significant collections of Viking-age objects ever found.
Visit Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard - Melbourne Museum to find out more and purchase tickets.
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard
Open: Friday 29 August 2025 – Monday 26 January 2026
Location: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street Carlton
Tickets: On sale at Melbourne Museum
Adult $30, Senior $24, Concession $14, Education $9, Children aged 16 and under free. Ticket prices include general admission to Melbourne Museum.
Background information:
The Galloway Hoard was acquired by National Museums Scotland in 2017 with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund and the Scottish Government as well as a major public fundraising campaign. Since then, it has been undergoing extensive conservation and research at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh, supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) who awarded £1m for the three-year research project Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard, led by National Museums Scotland in partnership with the University of Glasgow from 2021-2024. The project has also seen collaboration with experts from across the UK and Ireland, including The British Museum, Oxford University, University of Wales (Trinity St David) St Andrews University, and University College Cork.
About National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in the UK and Europe and it looks after collections of national and international importance. The organisation provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Their individual museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display.
