When LEGO® Meets the Future: RELICS Rises at the Australian Museum

If you thought LEGO® was just for the living room floor, think again. The Australian Museum’s newest exhibition, RELICS: A New World Rises, is set to blow your mind — and possibly make you rethink that old fridge sitting in the garage. Opening Saturday 16 August, it’s a wild mash-up of sustainability, sci-fi, and nostalgic brick-building genius.

The masterminds behind it? Former LEGO® Masters champions Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, who have spent years perfecting the art of turning discarded objects into intricate LEGO® civilisations. We’re talking thousands of tiny pieces, each one placed with purpose. “It’s important to us that every Minifigure we place in the exhibition is telling its own story,” Alex says. “By thinking about their stories, it helps bring the Minifigures to life as they inhabit their RELICS world.”

The result is part art installation, part science fiction — and 100% addictive to explore. A retro refrigerator becomes a cryogenic health resort. An old typewriter morphs into a bustling newspaper HQ. And debuting exclusively for the Australian Museum? The Museum of Humanity — a detailed miniature world where future LEGO® citizens have taken over after humanity’s departure.

“We hope visitors will be thinking about the life material possessions have after they are discarded,” says Jackson. “It’s exciting for us to take an object that most people would see as trash and give it a whole new life.”

Set in the year 2130, RELICS imagines a post-human Earth in recovery, with nature returning and LEGO® societies thriving in the ruins of consumerism. It’s playful, thought-provoking, and surprisingly emotional. Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay AO calls it “a heady mix of nostalgia, sustainability, and future-facing creativity” — and promises visitors of all ages will leave with their own unique perspective.

Why parents will love it
Aside from the jaw-dropping artistry (and endless Instagram opportunities), RELICS is packed with kid-friendly features. There’s an interactive LEGO® build zone so your little creators can unleash their own imagination, custom scavenger hunts for children and adults, and plenty of “ooh, look at this!” moments. And yes, there’s a café nearby for that much-needed flat white.

Make a day of it

With 14 large-scale displays to explore, you’ll want to allow a few hours. If you’re visiting from out of town — or just want to make it a staycation — Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is offering family packages that include RELICS tickets, a buffet breakfast, and a kids’ activity pack.

Event details

• What: RELICS: A New World Rises
• When: From Saturday 16 August 2025
• Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney NSW
• Tickets: Adult $29, Concession $25, Child (4-15) $19, Under 3 free
• Bookings: australian.museum

Whether you’re a lifelong LEGO® lover or just want to wow the kids with something a little different, RELICS is the perfect mix of art, storytelling, and creative chaos. And like the best LEGO® builds, it’s a reminder that imagination really does have no limits.