An Adelaide Interlude: The Secrets of the Galloway Hoard and Other Hidden Treasures 2025
Status: open
22 Jul – 24 Jul 2025
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An Adelaide Interlude: The Secrets of the Galloway Hoard and Other Hidden Treasures 2025
Tour Highlights
This short tour to Adelaide offers the opportunity to explore some remarkable hidden treasures and to unravel their surprising connections. The program will be led by early medieval historian Assoc. Prof Erin Sebo who was instrumental in bringing the extraordinary Galloway Hoard exhibition to Australia, and classical historian Dr Heather Sebo.
- Visit the Museum of South Australia. Marvel at the “Treasure of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard” – on exhibition for the first time ever outside of Scotland, and take the opportunity to see the Benin Bronze sculptures, stolen cultural artifacts from the royal court of the Kingdom of Benin, now modern Nigeria, and soon to repatriated.
- Visit the Museum of Classical Archaeology at Adelaide University, a collection not open to the public, and enjoy a talk by Museum Director, Dr Margaret O’Hea, an expert on glass from antiquity to the mediaeval period.
- Admire the oldest William Morris (Morris & Co.) stained glass window in Adelaide in its architecturally striking setting in the heritage-listed former Stock Exchange building.
- At the Art Gallery of South Australia be delighted by a major collection of works inspired by William Morris that is second only to the Victoria and Albert Gallery in London.
- Relax and take stock at the National Wine Centre of Australia in its stunning location in the Botanic Gardens. Here we can taste wines that were drunk by the Vikings (as well as other vintages of your choice) and reflect on what we have seen so far.
- Discover the Museum of Economic Botany, a remarkable museum nestled in the heart of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, that is a rare and invaluable resource for understanding the use of plant resources in the Ancient and Medieval worlds.
About the Galloway Hoard
Over a thousand Viking Age hoards have been found – but none like the Galloway Hoard. Discovered by a metal-detectorist in 2014 at Balmaghie in Kirkcudbrightshire (Scotland), this treasure has already changed our understanding of the middle ages, and continues to provoke revolutionising revelations. The Hoard is often touted for its richness; it is the largest ever found in Britain and Ireland, and includes more than 5 kg of silver and more gold than has ever been found before from Viking Age Scotland. However, its real value lies in what it can tell us about the Viking Age. Buried around 900AD, the hoard reflects an event, still unknown to us, that convinced a group of people to bury, or perhaps hide, these items together. They chose objects of the most exquisite gold jewellery that existed in their time, alongside balls of dirt, packed with every care; there are objects from as far away as Iran, and objects that were centuries old by the time they were buried. Intriguingly these people left us clues about themselves. Five of the objects have inscriptions thought to have been made just before they were buried, and which have only been deciphered this year. Associate Professor Erin Sebo assisted in the excavation and analysis of the Galloway Hoard, and has been instrumental in bringing the collection to Australia. This is the first time the hoard has been exhibited outside Scotland, and Adelaide is the only Australian city that will be hosting this very special exhibition.
Itinerary
The following itinerary describes a range of sites which we plan to visit. At the time of publication (May 2025) most visits have been confirmed.
The daily activities described in this itinerary may change or be rotated and/or modified in order to accommodate alterations in opening hours and confirmation of private visits. Participants will receive a final itinerary, together with their tour documents, prior to departure. The tour includes meals indicated in the detailed itinerary where: B=breakfast and L=lunch.
Adelaide - 3 days
Day 1: Tuesday 22 July, Arrive Adelaide
- Meet at hotel at 10.00am
- Introductory Lecture
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- Museum of Economic Biology
- National Wine Centre
Meeting point: Please meet in the foyer of the Majestic Roof Garden Hotel, Adelaide, at 10.00am
After a brief welcome meeting we will transfer to Adelaide’s North Terrace, a grand boulevard that is home to many of the city’s cultural and educational institutions. Our formal program begins with a lecture by Heather Sebo and Erin Sebo that will introduce all the fascinating places we will visit during our program, and explain how these seemingly unrelated site are entwined.
We walk a short way along North Terrace to the Art Gallery of South Australia. Here we will view the exceptional Morris and Co exhibition, part of the gallery’s permanent collection that presents furniture, ceramics, textiles and other decorative arts produced by the company founded by William Morris. A major focus on the goods produced by Morris and Co was handmade craftsmanship and a continual referral back to an idealised past, perceived as being noble, pure and in tune with nature. The display at the Art Gallery of South Australia includes Morris’s first wallpaper design “Trellis” and his celebrated “Honeysuckle and Tulip” wall paper.
Morris’ interest in ‘medievalism’ saw the adoption of motifs that poetically referenced the Middle Ages and nature. We take the theme of depictions of flora to our next visit – the Museum of Economic Botany in Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens. This is a remarkable museum, the last of its kind in the world, with displays of models and botanical specimens designed to show the link between the raw material and the final consumer product. This is a rare and invaluable resource for understanding the use of plant resources in the Ancient and Medieval worlds.
We conclude our day with a convivial visit to the National Wine Centre, where an exceptional number of varietals from around the globe can be explored. Although not commonly associated with medieval Britain, wine was widely produced throughout England, Scotland and Wales, with many monasteries managing their own vineyards. There will be an opportunity to taste wine from the same grapes as that enjoyed by Vikings! (Overnight Adelaide)
Day 2: Wednesday 23 July, Adelaide
- Museum of Classical Archaeology, University of Adelaide
- Lecture by Assoc. Prof. Erin Sebo on the Galloway Hoard
- Museum of South Australia, including the special exhibition “Treasure of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard”
This morning we return to Adelaide’s North Terrace where we make a special visit to the Museum of Classical Archaeology, part of the University of Adelaide and rarely opened to the public. We will be met by Dr Margaret O’Hea, an expert on glass from antiquity to the mediaeval period, who will take us behind the scenes and help us understand the how glass objects from the Middle East ended up buried in the Galloway Hoard in Viking Age Scotland.
Our afternoon will be spent at the Museum of South Australia. Following a lecture by Erin on the Galloway Hoard, its excavation, objects and significance to scholars, we will enter the exhibition and immerse ourselves in the world of the Viking Age. Erin has been involved in every stage of the exhibition and is a recognized authority on the Early Medieval world and Viking Hoards.
We will also have the opportunity to see the Benin Bronze sculptures, small Bronzes that commemorate seminal moments and important themes in the history of the Kingdom of Benin. The Museum is actively involved in the global effort to repatriate stolen cultural artifacts, and the Benin Bronzes are soon to be returned to their home in Africa. The sculptures were created from about 1500 by a specialist guild working for the royal court of the Kingdom of Benin. (Overnight Adelaide) B
Day 3: Thursday 24 July, Adelaide – Mount Barker – Hahndorf – Adelaide Airport
- Former Adelaide Stock Exchange
- Auchendarroch House
- Farewell Winery Lunch at Sidewood Estate
- Tour ends at Adelaide Airport at 1600hrs
This morning we check-out of the hotel and travel by private coach to the heritage-listed former Stock Exchange building. Within this architecturally striking setting we can admire the oldest William Morris (Morris & Co.) stained glass window in Adelaide. Although the window was commissioned to commemorate Australian Federation, it was not installed until 1902 and is actually a celebration of the British Empire. The three upper panels, Sun, Morning and Evening Stars were designed by pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Byrne-Jones and draws strongly on fin de siècle ideas of the middle ages. Overall, it gives us an opportunity to consider the enduring appeal of the medieval world.
We continue on to Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills where we visit the beautifully restored historic home where Morris interiors have been lovingly brought back to life by the Wallis Family. We then drive to the nearby Sidewood Estate winery for a farewell lunch with wine pairing before continuing to Adelaide Airport where the tour concludes at 1600hrs. BL
Accommodation
Adelaide (2 nights): 4-star Majestic Roof Garden Hotel– a modern hotel located in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD, close to restaurants and the Botanic Gardens.
Note: Hotels are subject to change, in which case a hotel of similar standard will be provided.
Single Supplement
Payment of this supplement will ensure accommodation in a double/twin room for single occupancy throughout the tour. People wishing to take this supplement are therefore advised to book well in advance.
How to Book
ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION FORM
Please complete the ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION and send it to Australians Studying Abroad together with your non-refundable deposit of AUD $500.00 per person payable to Australians Studying Abroad.
Practical Information
Fitness Criteria
Level 1 ACTIVE
For people with active lives and good mobilityThe number of flags is a guide to the degree of difficulty of ASA tours relative to each other (not to those of other tour companies). It is neither absolute nor literal. One flag is given to the least taxing tours, seven to the most. All ASA tours are active programs. They are not suitable for people who lack stamina, have difficulty walking at the group’s pace or who have mobility issues. An unavoidable aspect of every tour is the need to manage walking, stair-climbing and standing for long periods of time.
Fitness Level: Active
This tours is appropriate for people with a reasonable level of fitness and good mobility. You must be able to:
- manage at least four to five hours of physical activity per day with ease
- walk at an easy to moderate pace
- keep up with the group at all times
- climb a few flights of stairs without duress
- get on and off a coach with steep steps unassisted
- stand for one to two hours during visits to museums and galleries without the need to sit
- handle your own luggage at the hotel
Please note: it is a condition of travel that all participants agree to accept ASA’s directions in relation to their suitability to participate in activities undertaken on the tour, and that ASA retains the sole discretion to direct a tour participant to refrain from a particular activity on part of the tour. For further information please refer to the Terms and Conditions section given below.
Tour Price & Inclusions
AUD $1980.00 Land Content Only
AUD $260.00 Single Supplement
Tour Price (Land Content Only) includes:
- Accommodation in twin-share rooms with en suite bathroom at the 4-star Majestic Roof Garden Hotel in Adelaide CBD
- Meals as indicated in the tour itinerary where: B= breakfast and L=lunch
- Drinks at the farewell lunch.
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach on day 3
- Departure airport transfer according to the times as indicated in the tour itinerary
- Lecture and site-visit program
- Entrance fees
- Tips for the coach driver, local guides and restaurants for included meals
Tour Price (Land Content Only) does not include:
- Return airfare to Adelaide
- Personal spending money
- Luggage in excess of 20kg (44lbs)
- Travel insurance
- Porterage
Tour Map
Gallery
A deposit of $500.00 AUD per person is required to reserve a place on an ASA tour.
Cancellation Fees
If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply:
- Your initial deposit of $500.00 is non-refundable.**
- 45-31 days prior 50% of total amount due
- 30-0 days prior 100% of total amount due
**$250.00 of this amount (ie 50% of your deposit) may be credited to another ASA tour departing within 12 months of the original tour you booked. We regret, in this case earlybird discounts will not apply.
We take the day on which you cancel as being that on which we receive written confirmation of cancellation.
Unused Portions of the Tour
We regret that refunds will not be given for any unused portions or services of the tour, such as meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights or transfers.
Will the Tour Price or Itinerary Change?
If the number of participants on a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates ASA reserves the right to amend the advertised price. We shall, however, do all in our power to maintain the published price. Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of ASA make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to make amendments to itineraries. We will inform you of any changes in due course.
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