Old Treasury Building
@oldtreasurymelb.bsky.social
One of Melbourne's finest 19th century buildings. This free museum showcases the history of Melbourne and Victoria.
The OTB is located on the land of the Kulin Nations. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians, past and present.
The OTB is located on the land of the Kulin Nations. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians, past and present.
Our new exhibition 'Swinging 60s' is now on display! Discover stunning original dresses, protest banners and much more, including a very influential 12.5 inch doll!
'Swinging 60s' was researched and curated by the Old Treasury Building in partnership with @vicarchives.bsky.social. Free entry.
'Swinging 60s' was researched and curated by the Old Treasury Building in partnership with @vicarchives.bsky.social. Free entry.
October 20, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Our new exhibition 'Swinging 60s' is now on display! Discover stunning original dresses, protest banners and much more, including a very influential 12.5 inch doll!
'Swinging 60s' was researched and curated by the Old Treasury Building in partnership with @vicarchives.bsky.social. Free entry.
'Swinging 60s' was researched and curated by the Old Treasury Building in partnership with @vicarchives.bsky.social. Free entry.
There's just 5 days left to see our exhibition 'Belongings: Objects and Family Life'! Join us FREE 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday & Sunday.
September 1, 2025 at 11:33 PM
There's just 5 days left to see our exhibition 'Belongings: Objects and Family Life'! Join us FREE 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday & Sunday.
'Behind the Lines' must close tomorrow at 4pm! Don't miss your opportunity to see this exhibition in its only Melbourne venue!
It's still available to view at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra, and will be opening soon at The Hawke Centre in Adelaide!
It's still available to view at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra, and will be opening soon at The Hawke Centre in Adelaide!
August 27, 2025 at 3:45 AM
'Behind the Lines' must close tomorrow at 4pm! Don't miss your opportunity to see this exhibition in its only Melbourne venue!
It's still available to view at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra, and will be opening soon at The Hawke Centre in Adelaide!
It's still available to view at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra, and will be opening soon at The Hawke Centre in Adelaide!
The countdown is on! 'Behind the Lines' must close next Thursday! That's one week left to see last years best Australian political cartoons in Melbourne!
It's not all local issues as this cartoon from Greg 'Smithy' Smith illustrates.
It's not all local issues as this cartoon from Greg 'Smithy' Smith illustrates.
August 21, 2025 at 4:14 AM
The countdown is on! 'Behind the Lines' must close next Thursday! That's one week left to see last years best Australian political cartoons in Melbourne!
It's not all local issues as this cartoon from Greg 'Smithy' Smith illustrates.
It's not all local issues as this cartoon from Greg 'Smithy' Smith illustrates.
Bad news, there's only two weeks left to see 'Behind the Lines' in Melbourne...
Good news, you have two more weeks to see 'Behind the Lines' in Melbourne!
Thanks to @fionakatauskas.bsky.social for this fabulous cartoon!
Good news, you have two more weeks to see 'Behind the Lines' in Melbourne!
Thanks to @fionakatauskas.bsky.social for this fabulous cartoon!
August 14, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Bad news, there's only two weeks left to see 'Behind the Lines' in Melbourne...
Good news, you have two more weeks to see 'Behind the Lines' in Melbourne!
Thanks to @fionakatauskas.bsky.social for this fabulous cartoon!
Good news, you have two more weeks to see 'Behind the Lines' in Melbourne!
Thanks to @fionakatauskas.bsky.social for this fabulous cartoon!
It may be cold outside (or inside), but it's warm at the Old Treasury! 'Behind the Lines' from the Museum of Australian Democracy is on free display until 28 August!
Cartoon by @jessharwoodart.bsky.social
Cartoon by @jessharwoodart.bsky.social
August 5, 2025 at 11:08 PM
It may be cold outside (or inside), but it's warm at the Old Treasury! 'Behind the Lines' from the Museum of Australian Democracy is on free display until 28 August!
Cartoon by @jessharwoodart.bsky.social
Cartoon by @jessharwoodart.bsky.social
We love sharing our favourite cartoons from the 'Behind the Lines' exhibition, and this one from @nordacious.bsky.social is one of the most popular!
'Behind the Lines' on loan from the Museum of Australian Democracy is on display at OTB until 28 August!
'Behind the Lines' on loan from the Museum of Australian Democracy is on display at OTB until 28 August!
July 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
We love sharing our favourite cartoons from the 'Behind the Lines' exhibition, and this one from @nordacious.bsky.social is one of the most popular!
'Behind the Lines' on loan from the Museum of Australian Democracy is on display at OTB until 28 August!
'Behind the Lines' on loan from the Museum of Australian Democracy is on display at OTB until 28 August!
It's nearly here! "Behind the Lines' opens MONDAY!
Don't miss out on our special talk about all things cartooning with @meganjherbert.bsky.social coming up on Wednesday: events.humanitix.com/in-conversat...
'Behind the Lines' is in Melbourne for a limited time: 21-7-2025 to 28-8-2025!
Don't miss out on our special talk about all things cartooning with @meganjherbert.bsky.social coming up on Wednesday: events.humanitix.com/in-conversat...
'Behind the Lines' is in Melbourne for a limited time: 21-7-2025 to 28-8-2025!
July 18, 2025 at 5:18 AM
It's nearly here! "Behind the Lines' opens MONDAY!
Don't miss out on our special talk about all things cartooning with @meganjherbert.bsky.social coming up on Wednesday: events.humanitix.com/in-conversat...
'Behind the Lines' is in Melbourne for a limited time: 21-7-2025 to 28-8-2025!
Don't miss out on our special talk about all things cartooning with @meganjherbert.bsky.social coming up on Wednesday: events.humanitix.com/in-conversat...
'Behind the Lines' is in Melbourne for a limited time: 21-7-2025 to 28-8-2025!
Get excited! 'Behind the Lines' opens in 2 weeks!
Enjoy this fabulous political cartoon exhibition on display 21 July - 28 August at its only Melbourne venue!
Enjoy this fabulous political cartoon exhibition on display 21 July - 28 August at its only Melbourne venue!
July 7, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Get excited! 'Behind the Lines' opens in 2 weeks!
Enjoy this fabulous political cartoon exhibition on display 21 July - 28 August at its only Melbourne venue!
Enjoy this fabulous political cartoon exhibition on display 21 July - 28 August at its only Melbourne venue!
Applications for volunteers have OPENED! OTB is recruiting museum greeter volunteers! Find out more: www.oldtreasurybuilding.org.au/opportunitie...
June 6, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Applications for volunteers have OPENED! OTB is recruiting museum greeter volunteers! Find out more: www.oldtreasurybuilding.org.au/opportunitie...
'Making Modern Melbourne' is OPEN! This new exhibition explores Melbourne from 1900 to 2024, from building heights to the Melbourne Olympics and Whelan the Wrecker! This exhibition is on ongoing display.
Many thanks to everyone involved in the exhibition, but particularly our install team!
Many thanks to everyone involved in the exhibition, but particularly our install team!
April 14, 2025 at 4:57 AM
'Making Modern Melbourne' is OPEN! This new exhibition explores Melbourne from 1900 to 2024, from building heights to the Melbourne Olympics and Whelan the Wrecker! This exhibition is on ongoing display.
Many thanks to everyone involved in the exhibition, but particularly our install team!
Many thanks to everyone involved in the exhibition, but particularly our install team!
On this day in 1978, Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act 1977 came into full effect. This Act outlawed "discrimination because of sex or marital status, to promote equality of opportunity"
April 3, 2025 at 5:06 AM
On this day in 1978, Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act 1977 came into full effect. This Act outlawed "discrimination because of sex or marital status, to promote equality of opportunity"
On this day in 1869 the worlds largest gold nugget was found just 3cm beneath the surface!
A replica of this nugget is on display in our gold vaults. If it still existed, the Welcome Stranger would be worth around $10 million today.
A replica of this nugget is on display in our gold vaults. If it still existed, the Welcome Stranger would be worth around $10 million today.
February 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
On this day in 1869 the worlds largest gold nugget was found just 3cm beneath the surface!
A replica of this nugget is on display in our gold vaults. If it still existed, the Welcome Stranger would be worth around $10 million today.
A replica of this nugget is on display in our gold vaults. If it still existed, the Welcome Stranger would be worth around $10 million today.
On this day in 1967, Ronald Ryan became the last person executed in Australia. He was sentenced for killing a prison officer during his escape from Pentridge Prison. Six years later, the Commonwealth Parliament passed the Death Penalty Abolition Act 1973.
Image: National Library of Australia.
Image: National Library of Australia.
February 3, 2025 at 4:23 AM
On this day in 1967, Ronald Ryan became the last person executed in Australia. He was sentenced for killing a prison officer during his escape from Pentridge Prison. Six years later, the Commonwealth Parliament passed the Death Penalty Abolition Act 1973.
Image: National Library of Australia.
Image: National Library of Australia.
An image from the Ballarat Reform League Charter of 1854 is on permanent display at the OTB. Held by @vicarchives.bsky.social, it lays out the democratic demands of miners in Ballarat. It is considered one of Australia's most important historical documents.
#NationalHandwritingDay #HandwritingDay
#NationalHandwritingDay #HandwritingDay
January 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
An image from the Ballarat Reform League Charter of 1854 is on permanent display at the OTB. Held by @vicarchives.bsky.social, it lays out the democratic demands of miners in Ballarat. It is considered one of Australia's most important historical documents.
#NationalHandwritingDay #HandwritingDay
#NationalHandwritingDay #HandwritingDay
On this day in 1901, Australia became a nation! The six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia united to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
Note: we are closed today. We open as usual from January 2nd.
Note: we are closed today. We open as usual from January 2nd.
December 31, 2024 at 11:53 PM
On this day in 1901, Australia became a nation! The six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia united to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
Note: we are closed today. We open as usual from January 2nd.
Note: we are closed today. We open as usual from January 2nd.
The Museum is OPEN today! We will close tomorrow for New Years Day, and reopen for the new year on the 2nd of January!
December 31, 2024 at 2:41 AM
The Museum is OPEN today! We will close tomorrow for New Years Day, and reopen for the new year on the 2nd of January!
Please note, the museum will be CLOSED during the coming public holidays.
We wish you all a happy festive season.
We wish you all a happy festive season.
December 23, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Please note, the museum will be CLOSED during the coming public holidays.
We wish you all a happy festive season.
We wish you all a happy festive season.
At 11am on this day in 1924, the Victorian Parliament began what would become their longest sitting day. After 48 hours and 59 minutes they finally concluded for the year. A reported 47 Bills were passed including changes to income tax, the Motor Omnibus Bill and the Dried Fruit Bill!
December 18, 2024 at 2:53 AM
At 11am on this day in 1924, the Victorian Parliament began what would become their longest sitting day. After 48 hours and 59 minutes they finally concluded for the year. A reported 47 Bills were passed including changes to income tax, the Motor Omnibus Bill and the Dried Fruit Bill!
On this day in 1967 then Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach. While Prime Minister his government made changes to Australia's migration laws which would lead to abolishing the White Australia Policy. He is remembered with the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre.
December 16, 2024 at 11:25 PM
On this day in 1967 then Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach. While Prime Minister his government made changes to Australia's migration laws which would lead to abolishing the White Australia Policy. He is remembered with the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre.
The election held Wednesday 16 December 1903 was Australia's second federal election, and the first to allow women to vote!
It was also the first to ask the voter to place a mark in a box, rather than cross out names. This probably contributed to over 30,000 informal (not counted) votes!
It was also the first to ask the voter to place a mark in a box, rather than cross out names. This probably contributed to over 30,000 informal (not counted) votes!
December 16, 2024 at 1:15 AM
The election held Wednesday 16 December 1903 was Australia's second federal election, and the first to allow women to vote!
It was also the first to ask the voter to place a mark in a box, rather than cross out names. This probably contributed to over 30,000 informal (not counted) votes!
It was also the first to ask the voter to place a mark in a box, rather than cross out names. This probably contributed to over 30,000 informal (not counted) votes!
The architect of the Old Treasury was only 19 years old when he drew the first plans in 1857!
JJ Clark's family came to Australia from Liverpool, England for the gold rush in 1852. At 14 he joined the Colonial Architects Office on full wage and became the main breadwinner for his family.
JJ Clark's family came to Australia from Liverpool, England for the gold rush in 1852. At 14 he joined the Colonial Architects Office on full wage and became the main breadwinner for his family.
December 12, 2024 at 10:10 PM
The architect of the Old Treasury was only 19 years old when he drew the first plans in 1857!
JJ Clark's family came to Australia from Liverpool, England for the gold rush in 1852. At 14 he joined the Colonial Architects Office on full wage and became the main breadwinner for his family.
JJ Clark's family came to Australia from Liverpool, England for the gold rush in 1852. At 14 he joined the Colonial Architects Office on full wage and became the main breadwinner for his family.
Hello to all our new followers! We're so excited to see you grow so quickly!
Comment below, where are you following us from (geographically speaking) and have you visited our museum in Melbourne, Australia?
Comment below, where are you following us from (geographically speaking) and have you visited our museum in Melbourne, Australia?
December 12, 2024 at 2:56 AM
Hello to all our new followers! We're so excited to see you grow so quickly!
Comment below, where are you following us from (geographically speaking) and have you visited our museum in Melbourne, Australia?
Comment below, where are you following us from (geographically speaking) and have you visited our museum in Melbourne, Australia?
Now OPEN! 'Toilet Tales', discover the story of one of our most eccentric and elaborate collection items: the Governors lavatory.
December 3, 2024 at 2:45 AM
Now OPEN! 'Toilet Tales', discover the story of one of our most eccentric and elaborate collection items: the Governors lavatory.
It's the final day of #Museum30 and we are asked, #WhyMuseums?
Museums give us a sense of ourselves. They link past, present and future and allow us to hold a mirror to our own lives now, suggesting how we came to be this way, in this place.
Museums give us a sense of ourselves. They link past, present and future and allow us to hold a mirror to our own lives now, suggesting how we came to be this way, in this place.
December 2, 2024 at 4:48 AM
It's the final day of #Museum30 and we are asked, #WhyMuseums?
Museums give us a sense of ourselves. They link past, present and future and allow us to hold a mirror to our own lives now, suggesting how we came to be this way, in this place.
Museums give us a sense of ourselves. They link past, present and future and allow us to hold a mirror to our own lives now, suggesting how we came to be this way, in this place.