Galleries, Museums and Collections

The Old Treasury is regarded as one of the finest public buildings in Australia. Completed in 1862, it was the major government office in Melbourne throughout the 19th century, and second only to Parliament House as the centre of state affairs.

Designed by a 19 year old architect, John James Clark, it is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of Renaissance Revival architecture in Australia.

Until 1992, the building housed a succession of government departments including the city office of the Victorian Governor.

Restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1994, it provides an ideal orientation to Melbourne for visitors wishing to understand and explore the city’s history, architecture, art and contemporary life.

It houses permanent exhibitions: ‘Yarra: Stories of Melbournes River’, ‘Melbourne: Foundations of a City’, ‘Making Modern Melbourne’ ‘Protest Melbourne’, Growing Up in the Old Treasury’ and the story of gold in the original vaults. Current temporary exhibition ‘Belongings: Objects and Family Life’ looks at the objects you own and how you’ve changed them, and they’ve changed you.

See areas of the building inaccessible to the general public, including the Executive Council Chamber, find out more about Melbourne’s fascinating gold rush past and see rare paintings from the Roy Morgan Research Centre collection by joining their monthly guided tour.