Caboolture, Queensland | September 2026 — From its origins in London to an award-winning festival in Moreton Bay, the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology has spent 40 years finding new ways to share history. The museum will mark its anniversary with the Abbey History Festival at Abbeystowe this weekend on 26 and 27 September.
Opened in Caboolture in 1986, the museum is home to a collection of art and artefacts from around the world. Its story reaches back to the Abbey Folk Park in London, where much of the collection’s history began. Today, visitors can explore objects spanning cultures and centuries, while more than 10,000 students each year take part in the museum’s education programs.
The Abbey Museum’s reach grew in 1989 with the launch of the Abbey Medieval Festival. What began as a way to bring history beyond the galleries has grown into a major event for the Moreton Bay region, welcoming more than 25,000 visitors for jousting, living history encampments, music, crafts and demonstrations.
That work earned national recognition when the Abbey Medieval Festival won Gold in the Festivals and Events category at the 2025 Australian Tourism Awards, held in March 2026. The award recognised the festival among Australia’s leading events and brought attention to the people who create it each year, including museum staff, volunteers and re-enactors.
The museum itself has continued to evolve. The Manuscript Gallery opened in 1999, and a major expansion in 2025 added a new art gallery and café, giving visitors more to discover during a trip to Caboolture. Recognised as a Best of Queensland Experience, the museum offers a year-round cultural attraction alongside its major events.
In February this year, a break-in brought the museum’s Egyptian collection to international attention when several artefacts were stolen. The objects were recovered soon afterwards. The incident was a difficult moment for the museum and its supporters, and a reminder of the importance of caring for the collection and keeping its stories accessible to the public.
For its 40th birthday, the Abbey Museum is inviting visitors to explore an even wider sweep of history at the Abbey History Festival. Across two days at Abbeystowe, historical precincts will bring periods from the Middle Ages to the early 1900’s to life. Visitors can meet re-enactors, watch performances and demonstrations, join workshops, and explore music, dance, food and markets from across cultures and centuries.
The anniversary is also a chance to thank the people who made these 40 years possible: the volunteers, staff, re-enactors, supporters and visitors who have helped care for the collection and share its stories with new generations, shaping the Museum into a leading cultural tourism destination for the Moreton Bay region.
Abbey History Festival
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026
Abbeystowe, Caboolture
For event information and tickets, visit abbeystowe.com/history-festival.
