Simon Plant

August 05, 2009 12:00am

ANCIENT Pompeii is one of Italy’s hottest tourist attractions.

But an exhibition about the doomed Vesuvian city in Melbourne is drawing its own record-breaking crowds.

Yesterday, Melbourne Museum welcomed its 100,000th visitor to A Day in Pompeii. The lucky visitor, Caroline Neilson, of Box Hill South, scored a $100 Pompeii prize pack and free museum membership.

“To have that many people through in just over five weeks is simply phenomenal, museum manager Brett Dunlop said.

“These figures mean it’s on track to be one of the most successful touring exhibitions ever held at the museum.”

A Day in Pompeii, a Winter Masterpieces exhibition exclusive to Melbourne, has proved so popular the museum is extending its opening hours.

From August 15, the Pompeii show will be open until 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays instead of 5pm.

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