Art and Heritage Collection

The modern city and the museological collection have developed largely in parallel. Melbourne has accumulated an eclectic and important range of cultural material, which numbers over 13,000 items.

A photograph of a building in black and white with red accent lines

Discover the City Collection

The Art and Heritage Collection comprises public art and memorials, contemporary art including work by First Nations artists, historical artefacts, photography and more.

Some of its items were created for posterity, such as the memorials and the mayoral portraits. Others, such as a series of photographs of potholes, a bottle of Moomba spumante and an Aboriginal scar tree, were not.

Explore City Collection website

In May 2023, the Art and Heritage Collection store officially opened in its relocated home of the historic and iconic Melbourne Town Hall. Displayed across 16 heritage rooms, the collection is arranged according to thematically and theatrically organised 'chapters'. This new open display storage method aligns with the more recent museological trend to promote public access to collections material.

Guided tours

Free guided tours of the Collection store are available to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Book tour

The Art and Heritage Collection acquisitions are advised by the City Collection Advisory Panel.

A room containing various framed black and white photographs and other photographic memorabilia

Art and Heritage Collection Store, Melbourne Town Hall

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Photo credit: Tobias Titz

A room containing various historical artefacts which relate to Moomba on display, including costumes and photographs

Art and Heritage Collection Store, Melbourne Town Hall

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Photo credit: Tobias Titz

A room containing First Nations artworks hung on the wall

Art and Heritage Collection Store, Melbourne Town Hall

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Photo credit: Tobias Titz

A room filled with various framed pictures on display on the walls, artefacts displayed on shelves

Art and Heritage Collection Store, Melbourne Town Hall

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Photo credit: Tobias Titz

Contact us

Email

citycollection@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Related pages

City Gallery

Regular, free exhibitions on city life, past and present.

Public art

Creating encounters with the unexpected.

A room containing various historical artefacts which relate to Moomba on display, including costumes and photographs

Guided tours

Take a free guided tour of the Art and Heritage Collection store.

Images: Art and Heritage Collection Store, Melbourne Town Hall

Arts and culture

our acknowledgement

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present.

We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.