Abbey opens for 40th anniversary festival

Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, which started in London and is now an award-winning festival, will mark its 40th anniversary with a new event this weekend.

The museum will mark its anniversary at Abbeystowe, off Bribie Island Rd, with the Abbey History Festival on Saturday and Sunday (September 26-27).

Periods from the Middle Ages to the early 1900s will come to life and visitors can meet re-enactors, watch performances, join workshops, explore music, dance, food and markets from across cultures and centuries.

The anniversary is also to thank the people who made these 40 years possible: the volunteers, staff, re-enactors, supporters and visitors who have helped care for the collection.

Opened in Caboolture in 1986, the museum is home to a collection of art and artefacts from around the world.

But its story reaches back to the Abbey Folk Park in London, where much of the collection’s history began. 

Today, visitors can explore objects spanning cultures and centuries, while more than 10,000 students each year take part in the museum’s education programs.

The Abbey Museum’s reach grew in 1989 with the launch of the Abbey Medieval Festival.

From a way to bring history beyond the galleries it has grown into a major event, attracting more than 25,000 visitors for jousting, living history encampments, music, crafts and demonstrations.

That work earned national recognition when the Abbey Medieval Festival won Gold in the Festivals and Events category at the 2025 Australian Tourism Awards, in March.

The museum has continued to evolve. The Manuscript Gallery opened in 1999 and an expansion in 2025 added a new art gallery and café.

Recognised as a Best of Queensland Experience, the museum offers a year-round cultural attraction alongside its major events.

In February this year, a break-in brought the museum’s Egyptian collection to international attention when several artefacts were stolen. The objects were recovered soon afterwards.

For event information and tickets, visit here.