Firestation Print Studio
+ Add to ItineraryDescription
The Malvern Fire Station building served the local fire brigade for the better part of a century (1906-1988). When the building faced demolition in 1989, supporters rallied the then Malvern City Council, and it was saved and repurposed into an arts facility. It soon after became a centre for printmaking, and since 2001 has been home to the Firestation Print Studio.
The building is now within a heritage precinct and has maintained many aspects of its original structure and features. Visitors will be able to identify the original parking spaces for fire trucks, pegs for hanging fire hats and accommodation spaces for fire fighters. But behind the historic façade, visitors will also find an exhibition gallery, a workshop with three printing presses, a further workshop with several letterpress and relief printers, and several artists’ studios upstairs.
What's On
Firestation Print Studio is a unique facility supporting the creative life of Stonnington and beyond, as Melbourne's only 24-hour-access community print studio.
After entering through the original fire station big red doors, visitors can tour the gallery, printmaking rooms and artist’s studios. They can also explore the studio and see demonstrations of printmaking techniques such as etching, linocut, collagraphy, monoprint, letterpress and gel plate printing techniques, and practice printmaking themselves in this welcoming and vibrant artistic community.
Don't miss our annual members show The BIG Print Show either!
Children's Activities
Children will be able to take part in simple printmaking techniques, such as gel plate and letterpress printing, creating unique pieces of artwork to take home. They will be able to see how traditional and modern printmaking techniques produces stunning results in the hands of our team of volunteer printmakers.
Images: (1) Firestation Print Studio, front view. Photo: Allie Stone. (2) Firestation Print Studio, main print studio. Photo: Elizabeth McDowell. (3) Relief printing workshop. Photo: Elizabeth McDowell. (4) Letter press printing. Photo: Elizabeth McDowell. (5) Artist's studio at Firestation Print Studio. Photo: Elizabeth McDowell.
Important Details
Tour/event summary information
Saturday 26 July
Open access 10am—4pm
Bookings
No bookings required
Meeting Point
The Firestation Print Studio is a two-minute walk from the Malvern Town Hall, off Glenferrie Road onto Willis Street. No open-toed footwear allowed due to health and safety reasons. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Please be careful if you have food or drink. Photography is only allowed at artists’ discretion—please ask before taking photos and check if social media is OK.
Accessibility
Partially wheelchair accessible, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking nearby, Sensory friendly
Accessible street and off-street parking is available nearby including in the public car park to the side of the Firestation Print Studio. Our gallery, main printmaking workshop and bathroom are all wheelchair accessible. Access to our back room is via one step from the front rooms. Unfortunately, our upstairs artist studios are only accessible via stairs.
