Unlocking Australia’s performing arts history: behind-the-scenes tours of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Collections Store 

Arts Centre Melbourne is not just a destination for world-class performances – it’s also home to an exclusive experience that takes you inside the heart of Australian performing arts history.

Through truly unique tours of its extraordinary Collections Store, Arts Centre provides access to the Australian Performing Arts Collection (APAC), the largest and most significant assemblage of its kind in Australia.

With more than 850,000 items, the Collections Store is a treasure trove of original artefacts from across circus, dance, music, opera, and theatre. 

These guided tours offer a rare opportunity to explore this extensive collection and delve into the stories of the performers, creatives, and companies that have shaped Australia’s rich performing arts legacy.

“It’s very back-of-house, very behind-the-scenes. We want people to understand what it takes to preserve a collection,” head of curatorial, Margot Anderson said. 

The APAC is not only nationally significant, but is also of international importance, dating back to the late 1970s, with major early acquisitions including the J.C. Williamson Theatre Archive and the Dame Nellie Melba Collection. 

Today, it boasts notable contributions from icons like Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave, Barry Humphries, Bell Shakespeare, and The Australian Ballet.

On the tours, passionate and knowledgeable front-of-house staff guide visitors through the Collections Store, sharing the fascinating history behind the items and showcasing the painstaking processes involved in their preservation and display. 

One highlight is being able to view the Arts Centre’s conservation lab, where delicate costumes, photographs, and objects are expertly restored.

Currently, the collection includes a costume worn by Dame Joan Sutherland in the 1972 Vancouver Opera production of Lucrezia Borgia, which was carefully preserved as part of the Arts Centre’s internship program. 

However, the team frequently rotates the displays to keep the experience fresh and engaging for returning visitors.

The tours also offer a glimpse into the often unseen aspects of preservation, such as how fragile items are stored and transported, and how custom packaging is created for 3D set designs. 

“It’s not designed to be an exhibition space; it’s a working storage area,” Ms Anderson told Southbank News. 

“Our goal is to show visitors how we carefully pack, move, and protect these objects.”

Although the tour doesn’t cover the entire 850,000-item collection, the team thoughtfully curates a selection of the most captivating and culturally significant pieces, organising them into themed compactors for display.

These include ballerina costumes, pointe shoes, set design models, Dame Edna spectacles, a lion stand, original trapeze ropes, and much more. 

Whether you’re a passionate student of the arts, part of a school group, or a curious traveller, the Collections Store Tours provide a unique chance to engage with Australia’s performing arts heritage.

Even if you’re new to the world of performing arts, the tour provides a captivating introduction to a rich history that the Arts Centre team is devoted to preserving for future generations.

Collections Store Tours run every Sunday until June 2025. •