Hugh Jackman as Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, 2006·Photo: Courtesy of Jeff Busby
From Kylie Minogue’s gold hot pants to Baz Luhrmann’s glowing La Bohème sign, some of Australia’s most memorable performing arts objects have been pulled out of the archives and thrust into the spotlight.
Arts Centre Melbourne marks the 50th anniversary of the Australian Performing Arts Collection with a new exhibition celebrating the stories behind the country’s stages, screens and concert halls. Opening at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA), Encore! 50 Objects. 50 Years. One Collection showcases 50 standout pieces from the national collection, many of which have never been displayed publicly before.
The exhibition covers 170 years of Australian performing arts history, moving from opera and ballet to theatre, music, dance, TV and more. Among the headline pieces are Kylie Minogue’s gold lamé hotpants from the music video for Spinning Around; the original neon-red L’Amour sign created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin for Opera Australia’s La Bohème; Rob Hirst’s drumkit from Midnight Oil; and a custom-made vest worn by Archie Roach during his landmark performance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Elsewhere, you’ll find everything from costumes, instruments and puppets to handwritten scripts, set models and personal keepsakes linked to artists including Olivia Newton-John, Nick Cave, Dame Joan Sutherland, Hugh Jackman, Judith Durham, Ella Havelka and Helen Reddy.
The exhibition runs from September 16, 2026 until May 9, 2027.
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Words by Broadsheet · Published on 21 Aug 2026
Broadsheet is a proud media partner of Arts Centre Melbourne
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