One of the most significant Viking Age discoveries and archaeological finds of this century from the United Kingdom, The Galloway Hoard, will go on display from 29 August 2025 at Melbourne Museum.
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard will reveal over 100 rare and unique Viking Age objects ever found in Britain or Ireland. Discovered in 2014 southwest Scotland, the Hoard was buried around AD900 when the region was experiencing a time of upheaval and flux.
“We are delighted to present one of the most significant European archeological discoveries of the century. This is a rare opportunity for our visitors to experience up close a time capsule of 1,000-year-old objects from the Viking Age – a time in history that changed culture, politics and trade,” said Lynley Crosswell, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Museums Victoria.
Found in four distinct parcels, the Hoard contains over 5kg of silver bullion, gold, rock crystals and textiles, with many of the objects never seen in Britain and Ireland before. The rich collection of treasures offers a tantalising glimpse into the people, culture, trade and political structures of early medieval Europe and connections with the wider world.
Decoding the secrets of the Galloway Hoard has been led by a team of experts from National Museums Scotland with conservation work, including painstaking cleaning, combined with cutting-edge research. New insights and discoveries into the mysteries of the Galloway Hoard are as recent as February 2025, when a new translation of a runic inscription found on an 1,100-year-old arm ring shed new light on the mystery of who owned and buried the Hoard.
“The Galloway Hoard has repeatedly drawn international attention since its discovery and we look forward enormously to bringing it to Melbourne,” said Dr Martin Goldberg, Principal Curator, Medieval Archaeology & History, National Museums Scotland.
“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.”
To celebrate the exhibition opening at Melbourne Museum, visitors have the exclusive chance to hear Dr Martin Goldberg share unique insights into the Galloway Hoard’s historical and archaeological significance during a special curator lecture on the opening night, followed by an exhibition viewing on Friday 29 August.
Dr Goldberg will also host a series of pop-up talks on Saturday 30 August and Sunday 31 August, discussing the research that uncovered new discoveries and highlighting objects from the Hoard that reveal stories about the people, culture and trade of the Viking Age.
“Melbourne Museum will once again transport us back in time and across the world with this rare collection of Viking Age treasures. This exhibition adds another exciting drawcard to the museum’s offering this year and is set to attract visitors from near and far,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks.
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard first opened at the National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh in 2021. Following its debut, the exhibition toured Scotland in 2021-2022, stopping at Kirkcudbright Galleries and Aberdeen Art Gallery, where it received record visitor numbers.
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard
Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Exhibition: Friday 29 August 2025 – Monday 26 January 2026
Entry fee apply
For more information, visit: www.museumsvictoria.com.au for details.
Image: The Galloway Hoard – © National Museums Scotland