A vintage building with arched windows, a red phone booth, and an old car parked outside on a street corner with a sign reading
An interior room under renovation with exposed beams, arched windows, and construction equipment scattered around.
An unfinished room with scaffolding in the center, peeling plaster on the walls, and several large arched windows letting in natural light.
The top of a historic building featuring a stone crest with a kangaroo and emu, and the inscription
A group of people holding a banner that reads

Melbourne Camera Club: Our Generous City

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Architect/Designer: R. Adamson & W. McKean, 1876

Description

Built in 1876, the heritage listed neo-Classical Corinthian-style building was designed by local architects Robert Adamson and W. McKean. Once home to the Freemason's Yarra Yarra Lodge, the building has been restored to its original Victorian-era splendour, with much of its masonic symbolism intact.

The Melbourne Camera Club purchased the building in the late 1970s and renovations were completed in 1979. The clubrooms provide members with a darkroom, studio and gallery. The Melbourne Camera Club is a very active club with over 350 members, and celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2021.

What's On

For Open House Melbourne, we will be mounting an exhibition called Our Generous City. Featuring work by photographers who are both members and non-members, the exhibition explores how design, creativity and architecture can offer space, care and possibility to the people who live, work and play here.

In addition to this exhibition on display, the clubrooms will be open for visitors to wander around the heritage-listed building, look at the architecture and see how Melbourne Camera Club makes use of the facilities and space. Don't miss the selection of images from our extensive archive on display.

Images: (1) Building external with Talbot motor car, circa 1970. (2) Gallery ceiling restoration. Photo: Alan Elliott. (3) Gallery restoration. Photo: Alan Elliott. (4) Coat of Arms corrected. Photo: John Spring. (5) The renovation team, 1979. Photo: John Spring.

Important Details

Tour/event summary information

Saturday 25 July + Sunday 26 July
Open access 11am-3pm

Bookings

No bookings required. Tour group capacity is limited and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meeting Point

Entry to the building in Dorcas street. Photography of exhibition images permitted for personal use only

Accessibility

All-gender bathrooms, Assistance animals welcome, All ages

There is a small step on entry to the building and stairs to the upstairs gallery where the exhibition will take place.

Location

254-256 Ferrars St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung + Bunurong Boonwurrung Country

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