Sharing the secrets of five ancient Peruvian Empires, dating back more than 3000 years, the Australian Museum (AM) has announced the summer cultural blockbuster Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will be exclusively hosted in Sydney from Saturday 23 November 2024.
Created by Peru’s Museo Larco and Museo de Sito Manuel Chavez Ballon, in conjunction with Neon Global, the exhibition features 134 priceless artefacts including gold treasure from royal tombs, glittering jewels, intricate masks and objects of worship.
Visitors will also be able to see the Virtual Reality (VR) experience, Machu Picchu and the Spirit of the Condor, which includes a bird’s-eye tour of Machu Picchu while sharing the intriguing story of grand Inca emperor Pachacuti.
Australian Museum Director and CEO, Kim McKay AO said the Australian Museum is honoured to host this priceless collection of ancient Peruvian artefacts, including the most opulent collection of Andean gold to ever travel outside of Peru.
“One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a top bucket-list destination for many Australians, and this exhibition will further inspire visitors with its state-of-the-art storytelling alongside treasures from these intriguing ancient empires,” she said.
Produced by Neon Global, the exhibition is exclusive to the Australian Museum and Sydney will be the fourth city in the world to host this blockbuster following on from Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Paris, France; and Milan, Italy.
Consul-General of Peru, Mr José Alberto Ortiz, said the exhibition will contribute to the cultural connection between Peru and Australia.
“I’m delighted that the Australian Museum will be hosting this exhibition highlighting the rich history and culture of ancient Peru, enabling the people of NSW and beyond to experience Machu Picchu and all our country has to offer,” said Mr Ortiz.
“Through the representation and interpretation of the myths and rituals of Andean civilizations and their rediscovery and reappraisal in the 21st century, it seems possible to reconstruct the foundational images of modern Peru.”
“I know the public will be captivated by our unique culture dating back more than 3000 years and will be fascinated by the stories of five empires which are still present in our country today,” he said.
According to the Australian Museum, large scale exhibitions like Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru not only contribute to the cultural growth of Sydney, creating vibrant and inclusive intergenerational and cultural experiences, but they also significantly boost the local economy.
“After the success of Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, I’m looking forward to the opening day on 23 November when we will take our visitors on another journey back in time, through the clouds that swirl around the peak of Machu Picchu, and deep dive into a remarkable culture and history,” said Ms McKay.
The previous blockbuster, Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, set new attendance records for the AM during its six-month run (November 2023 – May 2024), and is one of the highest grossing museum exhibitions in NSW’s history, having sold more than 508,000 tickets.
A recently released post-exhibition economic impact report demonstrated Ramses contributed more than $57 million to the NSW economy.
Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru
Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney
On display from Saturday 23 November 2024
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: australian.museum for details.
Image: Frontal adornment of gold headdress depicting feline head with feathers, bird-beak nose, and figure with headdress of plumes and triangular pendants, depiction of two animals (monkeys) on the upper part, stepped designs with volutes and two headed-serpent designs on the lower part. Chimu. Imperial Period (1300 AD – 1532 AD) – photo by Museo Larco