Australian Museum of Performing Arts |
The Arts Centre Melbourne is opening the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) in December 2025, located in Hamer Hall.
AMPA will showcase the Australian Performing Arts Collection, an archive of over 850,000 items related to circus, dance, music, opera, theatre, and popular entertainment.
The museum aims to bring the stories of the stage to life through iconic performers and a rich theatrical legacy.
Location: Hamer Hall, part of the Arts Centre Melbourne.
Opening Date: December 2025.
Background
For 50 years, Australia's vibrant contributions to music, theatre, opera, circus, and dance have been carefully documented, preserved, and sometimes showcased thanks to the Australian Performing Arts Collection.
With over 850,000 objects housed at Arts Centre Melbourne, it's the largest collection dedicated to our performing arts history. It's a treasure trove that deserves to be on display, and now, even though not every item can be front and center all the time, they soon will be.
From December 2025, the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) will open at Hamer Hall, celebrating the country's rich legacy in performing arts and sharing it with the public.
The museum will open in two phases: the first will cover nearly 500 square meters and be filled with exhibitions, and the second, with no official launch date yet, will expand the space to 800 square meters. AMPA will display both its own collection and host international exhibitions, with the opening display to be revealed in September.
The Australian Performing Arts Collection is truly a national gem, containing iconic items from legends like Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman, Nick Cave, Peter Allen, Chrissy Amphlett, and Olivia Newton-John, as well as treasures from the Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Opera Australia.
While the specific items on display in December are still under wraps, the collection includes Minogue's iconic gold hot pants from her 'Spinning Around' music video, Jackman's costumes from The Boy From Oz, Cave's visual journal (the Handmade Book), maracas from Peter Allen's performances, Amphlett's tunic, and Bon Scott's leather jacket from AC/DC. The collection also includes Dame Nellie Melba's cloak from Lohengrin, Joan Sutherland's costume from Lucrezia Borgia, Helen Reddy's Grammy for I Am Woman, and a set model from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, to name just a few.
Until AMPA opens, you can catch a glimpse of these treasures at Arts Centre Melbourne in Hamer Hall's foyer, the Australian Music Vault, or by joining behind-the-scenes Arts Centre Melbourne: Collection Store Tours at Hamer Hall.
The Australian Museum of Performing Arts will officially open at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Southbank, in December 2025.
More details here
❊ Address ❊
℅ Naarm
⊜ 100 St Kilda Road Melbourne View Map
✆ Telephone: 1300 182 183 | 61 3 9281 8000
❊ Web Links ❊
➼
www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
➼ www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
❊ Also See... ❊
➼ Hamer Hall
➼ Arts Centre Melbourne
➼ Australian Music Vault
Disclaimer: Check with the venue (web links) before making plans, travelling or buying tickets.
Accessibility: Contact the venue for accessibility information.
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