In 1963, the purchase at a London auction-house of a Red-figure Attic amphora marked the establishment of a collection of Antiquities designed to enrich the teaching programs of Classics and Ancient History at The University of Queensland.
Over a period of thirty years the collection grew steadily in size and in reputation under the guidance during that time of Classics and Ancient History staff members Gordon Cooper, Don Barrett, Max Kanowski and Bruce Gollan, and today the Antiquities Museum has on display a broad range of ancient artefacts stemming from Western Asia, Egypt, Greece and Rome.
This archaeological material reflects the achievements of the great ancient civilisations which developed in the lands ordering the Mediterranean Sea. The collection provides the only comprehensive survey of ancient Mediterranean antiquities on public view in Queensland. The objects span almost 3500 years of history, and are in a variety of materials - stone, pottery, terracotta, metalware and glass. Together they give a picture of the technological and artistic advances made over that time by the forerunners of Western civilisation.
Many acquisitions in the collection have been made possible through gifts from the Alumni Association and a number of benefactors. Generous donations made in recent times, consisting of coins, terracottas, glassware, pottery, and pictorial material, have greatly enhanced the range and depth of the collection's teaching function, as have a number of red and black figure Greek vases on long-term loan from Mr G. Geddes of Melbourne. Visitors to the Museum will see there a memorial plaque to Mrs Betty Fletcher, a long-time benefactor of the Museum.
Virtual Museum
A Register of all artefacts held in the Museum, either on display or in storage, is maintained. The Register is being progressively transferred to a computer database, which is also accessible by Internet to students, researchers and other interested persons. For further information, visit the "Virtual Museum".
Apart from being put to good use in the teaching and research activities of Classics and Ancient History, the Antiquities Museum enhances the ancient world studies of the many secondary school students who visit it throughout the year. It forms one of the University of Queensland's most valuable cultural resources available to the community. It is currently upgrading its accessibility by development of a series of CD-ROMs entitled "Deciphering Antiquity".
Mission Statement
The mission of the Antiquities Museum is to play a major role in Classics and Ancient History as a teaching and research tool for staff and students and in the promotion of the program to the community.
Development Policy
View and/or print out a copy of the Antiquities Museum Development Policy 2001-2006.