Welcome to the City of Melbourne
Welcome to the Weekend’s largest precinct. With so much to do in the City of Melbourne, here are just a few ideas on where to begin… it’s not easy, we know!
Start things off Friday at the restored Younghusband Woolstore. First commissioned in 1901, this red-brick industrial building is now a bustling commercial precinct. Tour the project with the architects, interior designers and project developers who revived it. You can also explore the site at your own pace on Saturday.
Afterwards, hear more about adaptive reuse Friday night at Living Moments: Buildings that Evolve. Learn from representatives from the National Trust of Victoria, Collingwood Yards and more.
Or explore Melbourne’s homes of the future on Friday night, where architects, building designers and energy efficiency assessors will share their ideas for the homes we need for a low-carbon future.
On Saturday, go back through 150 years of history to see Customs House’s role in making Melbourne what it is today. Tour through the building, now home to the Immigration Museum. See the goods vaults and the foundations of previous buildings on the site.
Stay to explore, or grab a coffee from Bench Coffee en route to Melbourne Town Hall. Learn more about the impressive collection of art and artefacts related to the city’s history in the Art and Heritage Collection Store.
Appreciate the architecture and events behind one of the city’s most iconic buildings with a guided tour of the Second Empire-style building and find out which famous visitors have paid a visit. Both events at Melbourne Town Hall will run Saturday and Sunday.
Pop around to Collins St for a self-guided tour of the Athenaeum Library, and learn about the library’s historic features, including artwork and other items. An oasis in the middle of the city, hear more about its continuing place in Melbourne’s cultural and literary landscape.
Hungry? Stop by Kariton Sorbetes for artisanal Filipino-inspired gelato. If you’d rather stay cosy, try the xiao long bao for lunch at China Red before heading across the street to Gospel Hall, the oldest surviving Chinese church in Australia.
Browse the Victorian Archives Centre, and get a glimpse into what lies beyond the centre’s airlocked doors—more than 100 kilometres of records dating back to 1836! From love letters to snapshot photos, you’ll be able to hear more about the stories of the people and places here whose stories form part of the city’s history, including those marginalised by history’s selective memory.
On Sunday, explore the Koorie Heritage Trust—Birrarung Building, a stand-alone First Peoples arts and cultural centre that’s the first of its kind in any Australian capital city. Come inside to find out more about its award-winning design and expansion.
Take a cheeky break at the Young & Jackson Hotel. The hotel was licensed under its current name in 1875. Join for stories, history, talks, art and displays related to the site’s 150-year celebrations, the hotel and the famous painting of Chloe.
Finish the weekend with the premiere of Modern Melbourne: Greg Burgess at ACMI. This time, this series about Melbourne’s most important architects and designers turns its lens to Greg Burgess. Watch Burgess reflect on his community-focused approach to design and how he has used architecture to foster relationships with clients, communities and Country.
Make your way to Melbourne Arts Precinct to discover more ways to experience the city.
There’s so much to do in the City of Melbourne, you may need another Weekend! Keep up-to-date with what’s happening so you can discover more.
A selection of City of Melbourne program
Making Melbourne: Immigration Museum and Customs House Tour
Saturday 26 July, Sunday 27 July
Melbourne Town Hall—Art and Heritage Collection Store
Saturday 26 July, Sunday 27 July
Melbourne Athenaeum Library: A Hidden Gem
Friday 25 July, Saturday 26 July, Sunday 27 July
Koorie Heritage Trust—Birrarung Building
Friday 25 July, Saturday 26 July, Sunday 27 July
