Asian Civilizations Museum at the Empress Place Building

On Saturday I visited the Asian Civilizations Museum.  The building that now houses the Asian Civilizations Museum had been a government office for the most of its life. The construction was designed by colonial engineer JFA McNair in the mid 1860’s, and was built by convict labor at a cost of £53,000. In the past the entire colonial bureaucracy was accommodated in the building. The building was re-named the Empress Place Building at the beginning of the 20th century, in honor of Queen Victoria. The Museum is located at the Empress Place Building since 2003.

In front of the Asian Civilizations Museum

The Asian Civilizations Museum is the first museum in the region that presents a broad perspective of pan-Asian cultures.

Asian Civilizations Museum

The Museum occupies over 14,000 square meters. In 11 galleries over 1300 artefacts presenting the material cultures of the different groups originating from China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia are presenting.

Asian Civilisations Museum

Asian Civilizations Museum

The main reason I decided to visit the Asian Civilizations Museum was to see a special exhibition – The Kangxi Emperor: Treasures from the Forbidden City. The exhibition showcased treasures from The Palace Museum, Beijing. 

Asian Civilisations Museum

In addition, few days before, a well-known photographer Steve McCurry opened his exhibition. The Unguarded Moment exhibition presented photos that McCurry took during his travels of over 30 years thorough Asia. Among others iconic photographs was the famous “Afghan Girl”.

"Afghan Girl" Steve McCurry