The Johnston Collection facts for kids
The kitchen inside the museum.
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| Established | 1990 |
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| Location | East Melbourne |
| Founder | William Robert Johnston |
The Johnston Collection is a special museum located in a historic house in East Melbourne, Australia. It is known as an "exhibition house" because it displays beautiful art and furniture in a home-like setting, just as if someone still lived there.
The museum opened in 1990 and features a stunning collection of English Georgian, Regency, and Louis XV art. These are styles of furniture and art that were popular in the 1700s and early 1800s. The entire collection was a gift from William Robert Johnston (1911-1986), who was a well-known antique dealer and collector. He wanted to share his love for beautiful objects with the people of Victoria.
A Museum Like No Other
Unlike most museums, The Johnston Collection doesn't use ropes or signs for its displays. When you visit, you are taken on a guided tour through the rooms of the house, called Fairhall. This makes it feel like you are a guest visiting a grand, private home.
The displays are not permanent. The museum staff rearranges the furniture and art three times a year for different themed tours. This was a tradition started by Mr. Johnston himself. Sometimes, the museum invites famous designers and artists to create their own unique arrangements of the collection.
The Story of Fairhall House
The museum is housed in Fairhall, a two-story brick house built in 1860. When William Johnston bought the house in 1952, he made changes to make it look like a Georgian townhouse from the 18th century. He changed the windows and added a new front door to match the style of his collection.
Johnston lived in the house from 1972 until he passed away in 1986. He left the house and his amazing collection to the public in his will. Today, the house remains mostly as he left it, allowing visitors to step back in time.
Gallery
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The Green Room at The Johnston Collection.
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The Blue Room, showing how furniture is arranged.
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A Minton Potteries cup from around 1811. This was the first object William Johnston ever collected.
