Tutankhamun Breaks Box Office Records for Melbourne

Victoria's major events success has taken on a golden glow with final figures showing Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs has smashed box office records for touring exhibitions in Australia.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said the exhibition, which recently closed its doors, had been a triumph for Victoria attracting a total attendance of 796,277 (bringing worldwide attendances for Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs to more than eight million).

"In Australia, only a handful of exhibitions have exceeded attendances of 300,000. Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs stands head and shoulders above this, a testament to Melbourne's continuing reputation as Australia's cultural hub," Ms. Asher said.

Other recent exhibitions with attendances over the 300,000 mark include:

• Titanic: the Artefact Exhibition at Melbourne Museum with 481,000
• Masterpieces from Paris at the National Gallery of Australia with 476,000
• The Impressionists at the National Gallery of Victoria with 380,000
• A Day in Pompeii at Melbourne Museum with almost 333,000
• Salvador Dalí: Liquid Desire at the National Gallery of Victoria with almost 333,000
• The First Emperor: China's entombed warriors at the Art Gallery of New South Wales with more than 305,000.