Welcome to Stonnington
Welcome to the Weekend in the City of Stonnington. (All programs featured in this itinerary are listed at the bottom of this page.)
Just next to the CBD, Stonnington offers a rich mix of heritage homes, contemporary design, creative spaces and vibrant high streets. From Chapel Street to Malvern and along the Yarra, there’s plenty to explore across the Weekend.
Dive into local history with the Chapel Street Prahran Heritage Walk. Beginning at Prahran Town Hall, this guided tour takes you through the golden age of shopping, uncovering stories of long-lost department stores and architectural gems like the former Prahran Arcade.
Try something new and experience the joys of circus with a workshop at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Prahran. Tour the purpose-built facilities before trying your hand at circus skills, guided by expert trainers in this internationally recognised centre of excellence.
Alternatively, experience contemporary living at One house. Four generations., a thoughtfully designed home that explores how architecture can support connection, independence and care across generations.
A short distance away, step inside Firestation Print Studio. Set within a former fire station, this creative hub invites you to explore exhibition spaces, working studios and printmaking equipment, while learning about the building’s transformation from civic infrastructure to thriving arts facility.
Spend the afternoon immersed in heritage at Como House and Garden. Known as the “white house on the hill,” this atmospheric 1847 residence offers a rare glimpse into Melbourne’s past, with preserved interiors, servants’ quarters and gardens that date back to the 1850s.
Take time to enjoy Stonnington’s parks and green spaces, from the expansive lawns of Central Park to riverside trails along the Yarra. The Main Yarra Trail and Gardiners Creek Trail offer scenic walking and cycling routes connecting you to the wider city.
Stonnington Walking Trails
Explore South Yarra Prahran Social Housing: Understanding Old, Celebrating New, a rare opportunity to see both the legacy and future of social housing in Melbourne. This guided experience moves from a soon-to-be-redeveloped high-rise to new housing within the precinct, offering insight into how design can improve safety, sustainability and liveability.
Or join South Yarra’s History and Heritage: From River Punts to Skyscrapers, a talk + walk tracing the suburb’s evolution from river crossings in the 1840s to today’s high-rise living along Chapel Street.
Make sure you take time to explore Stonnington’s vibrant shopping and dining strips. Chapel Street, High Street and Glenferrie Road offer everything from casual bites to refined dining, making them perfect places to pause for lunch or a coffee before heading to your next destination.
What's on Chapel Street Precinct
Then, step into the world of contemporary design at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s Melbourne studio on Toorak Road. Discover how this project blends a historic coffee palace façade with a new light-filled tower, and learn how workplace design is evolving to prioritise wellbeing and sustainability.
If a quieter afternoon appeals, visit Duldig Studio. This preserved home and studio offers a deeply personal insight into the lives and work of émigré modernist artists Karl Duldig and Slawa Horowitz-Duldig, with original interiors and artworks throughout.
There’s always something new to discover in Stonnington—from heritage and architecture to food, art and open space. Keep exploring across the Weekend and beyond.
What's on Stonnington
