Join us at the RD Milns Antiquities Museum for a free guided tour of the Wondrous Machines exhibition!

Wondrous Machines brings to life Hero of Alexandria’s miraculous auto-propelling Dionysiac shrine, first described 2000 years ago.

By exploring 3D printed components from the shrine, we invite you to wonder about both modern and ancient automation. Hero’s complex ancient mechanical components were created from simple cords, wheels, axles, counterweights, taps and pins. These components, skilfully combined, created complex machines designed to invoke emotional audience responses.

Remarkably, as the exhibition reveals, these components have also inspired modern digital theories and technologies, including UQ’s biped TGR (Tiny Giant Robot).

Hosted by the RD Milns Antiquities Museum as part of BLOCK PARTY 2025!