The lovingly gathered curiosities of Brisbane’s private collectors are on display for the first time at the Museum of Brisbane.
Precious showcases more than 3000 items loaned from 30 collectors to offer a glimpse into the cherished collections that lie within suburban homes and buildings across Brisbane.
Rare, beautiful and intriguing, there are international dolls, Queensland Ruby League memorabilia, model ships, ornamental eggs, wind-up tin toys, woven textiles from First Nations communities, and rare band posters tracing Brisbane’s music scene.
Personal collections featuring antique beaded purses, self-pouring teapots, intricate picture frames, and ‘Aboriginalia’ from the collection of one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists, Tony Albert are on display alongside objects from the Embroiders’ Guild (Qld), Queensland Maritime Museum and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Qld).
These lovingly gathered curiosities are complemented with pieces from the Museum of Brisbane’s own prized collections, including garments from the Easton Pearson archive and other city treasures.
Exhibition curator Sarah Engledow said Precious offered a tantalising peek into the hidden world of Brisbane collectors.
“This is an exhibition of objects designed to astound visitors of all kinds through its sheer scale and variety,” Dr Engledow said.
“But it’s really an exhibition about people and the stories told through the objects they seek out and cherish.
“Precious marks the first time these collections have been brought together and it has been a fascinating process of discovery to curate this show.”
The exhibition is one of the largest collections presented at MOB and will run daily from 10am – 5pm until autumn 2026.
Entry is free. For more information, click here.
