Description

Town Hall Gallery, established in 2003, originally occupied a space in the basement of Hawthorn Town Hall. In 2013, a significant transformation of the Hawthorn Town Hall into the Hawthorn Arts Centre allowed the gallery to relocate to more modern and expansive exhibition spaces within the same building.

Town Hall Gallery boasts a vibrant annual exhibition program that includes a mix of curated, community, and touring exhibitions and Town Hall Gallery Collection shows. This diverse programming helps the gallery maintain its role as a central cultural hub, reflecting the community's shared history and ongoing artistic endeavours.

During the Open House Melbourne weekend, the gallery opens its doors wider, allowing visitors to explore behind the scenes. Guests can visit the collection storerooms and participate in tours and programs that offer insights from curators and artists, further enriching the cultural fabric of Boroondara at the intersection of Glenferrie and Burwood roads.

What's On

Enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Town Hall Gallery, located within the historic Hawthorn Arts Centre. Gallery staff will guide you through the exhibition spaces, workroom​and collections storeroom, offering insights into the space’s operations. 
Additionally, visitors will be led to the Hawthorn Artist Society studio where you can meet the members and observe an art class in action. 
There will also be four exhibitions at Town Hall Gallery inside Hawthorn Arts Centre, including In the Neighbourhood, an ode to Boroondara places and spaces highlighting façades that make up the rich, diverse Boroondara neighbourhood; Explore Boroondara, a photo exhibition featuring winners of the 2024 Boroondara Photograph competition; Mayblooms and Cherry Bobs, showcasing audio recordings from the 1980s of senior residents of Hawthorn describing significant milestones of the Hawthorn Town Hall; and The Long Way: Kevin Chin, a major exhibition taking its viewers on a journey into borderless new territories. Don't forget to join us for a curator-led exhibition tour of The Long Way: Kevin Chin.

Children's Activities

The Explore and Create space in the Hawthorn Arts Centre is designed to engage children and adults alike. This space is an opportunity to relax and to create, with fun activities available to connect with your inner artist. We regularly activate our Explore and Create space with interactive artworks to celebrate Town Hall Gallery exhibitions, highlight cultural events, or display community artwork.