The Scout Heritage Adventure Centre - 'Museum on Mackie' is the premier Scout Museum in Victoria. It showcases the History of Scouting in Victoria from 1908 to the present day. The Centre holds our Victorian Scouting Archives and memorabilia collection.

Come and meet Ned Kelly and his associates in three cemetery walks across Melbourne. At Brighton, you will meet the Police involved in hunting and capturing Ned Kelly after the Stringybark Creek killings, a kindly preacher, journalist & official witnesses at the hanging. Costs include afternoon tea.

Come and see a special event with a difference where family and friends place flags on war veterans’ graves to commemorate their service & ultimate sacrifice. Up to 50 flags will be placed creating quite a moving sight as they join over 200 flags from earlier ceremonies. Refreshments will be served.

Join the Brighton Cemetorians on a guided walking tour amongst the flags that commemorate the war service of the cemetery’s interred. Interesting and harrowing stories of the military officers, enlisted soldiers, Victorian Cross recipients and war nurses will be told! Costs include afternoon tea.

A pleasant afternoon walk from Heritage Hill to Dandenong Park and return. Council Parks and Garden staff will share their knowledge of the significant trees. We then return to Heritage Hill to marvel at the 140-year-old Moreton Bay Fig trees and gardens followed by a delicious afternoon tea.

A City of Greater Dandenong exhibition that celebrates, reflects and recognises the significance of trees in the local landscape over time and the essential timber industry that grew the local community. An opportunity to understand how we can sustain the tree canopy for future generations.

Rippon Lea is a large 19th century mansion surrounded by 7 hectares of Victorian pleasure gardens. It is listed on the National Heritage Register as one of the finest examples of original suburban estate in Australia.

The varied landscape of Rippon Lea Estate provides a refuge to many of south-east Australia’s disappearing bird species. This tour offers birdwatching enthusiasts of all levels a new appreciation of the biodiversity of this magnificent 19th century Estate.

The trees at Rippon Lea are an important part of the Estate’s history, with some dating back to the 1880s. This walking tour will provide a fascinating insight into the work required to manage and nurture this magnificent collection for the enjoyment of today’s visitors and future generations.

Calling all Jam makers! It’s time to get out your jam pans, cook up a storm and enter a jar (or two) of your home made jam in the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Stone Fruit Jam and Raspberry Jam Making Competition. Show off your skills and share the story that inspires your love of jam making.

Shop lovingly handmade art and design on the sprawling lawns of Rippon Lea Estate

A celebration of our natural environment, gardening and sustainability.

Enjoy a special viewing of Glen Eira City Council's new 'Historian For A Day: Local History Education Resources.'

On the Beach- A heritage walk with local historian Brian Haynes along the Esplanade pathway of Williamstown Beach from the Botanic Gardens to the historic Williamstown Life Saving Club.

Join a walk around historic Point Gellibrand with local historian Brian Haynes to discover the heritage of Hobsons Bay’s convict past retracing our convict system in the colony.

Port Phillip Guided Walks Program:
Discover the stories of Port Phillip (St Kilda, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne) with our free, all ages Guided Walks program. Our walks will give you fascinating insights into the places, events, lives and legends that built this City.

Using the historic postcard collection of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens archive, visitors will explore the early 1900’s craze for postcard sending and collecting.

Follow the historic, winding pathways of Williamstown Botanic Gardens through the rejuvenated Pinetum to discover the intriguing origins of the tree collection and the fascinating stories behind how they came to be here.

Come behind the gates and doors of the historical yacht clubs and marinas, maritime operations and shipwright workshops to experience the Williamstown Maritime industry in an open house setting, with live music at clubs, guided tours and meals available for purchase and shipwrights showing their craftmanship.

From mansion to flats, Labassa has survived with its Victorian era decoration intact.

A rare opportunity to explore the Alfred Graving Dock within the old Naval Dockyard in Williamstown with guided tours during the festival.

Enjoy a guided tour of the exceptional collection of stained glass at Christ Church St Kilda, revealing the stories of the windows, those who gave them and those who made them.

Unlock the secrets of the historic Williamstown waterfront and seaport. One hour in duration and catering to all abilities, explore the historic seaport of waterfront Williamstown, as well as its hidden lanes, monuments and buildings.

Explore King William's Town, the original capital of Victoria, by lamp light. Steeped with history, apparitions, alleyways and lager it was once a thriving town full of colourful ladies, drunken sailors and convicts.

A guided tour of the World War II Corvette HMAS Castlemaine.

Discover the stories of Port Phillip with our free, all ages Guided Walks program.
Our walks will give you fascinating insights into the places, events, lives and legends that built this City.

Get a look inside the historic Holy Trinity Williamstown vicarage, built in 1886, and recently renovated.

The Altona Homestead provides visitors of all ages the opportunity to take a step back to the time of our early settlers to the region of Altona.

Come along and hear from other group members sharing their knowledge and skills about Family Research in a friendly and supportive environment while making use of the experience of researchers from the Altona Laverton Historical Society.

The Altona Pier Revue Exhibition features the heritage of Altona Pier through contemporary works.

Join us under the heritage listed Morton Bay fig trees* for a special Story Time that encourages families to consider their own unique stories and the journeys they have taken to be where they are today.

Established in 1860, the Williamstown Botanic Garden was one of Melbourne's first public gardens. Together we will explore what it takes to maintain it.

Acclaimed historian, biographer and speaker Ross McMullin presents his most recent book Life So Full of Promise a multi-biography about Australia’s lost generation of World War I. "His scholarship is impeccable, he writes like an angel … and his narrative gift is Blaineyesque.” -Barry Jones

The Sons of Williamstown project involved the refurbishment of the Great War honour board in the Williamstown Town Hall and tells the stories of the Williamstown soldiers who did not return from the war. 

The Agnes Hansen WW1 Signature Quilt will be on display for the first time in six years.

Historic photographs from the Williamstown Historical Society collection, including Williamstown, Newport & Spotswood, alongside present-day photographs taken near the same spot.

Join us in the Heritage Room at Williamstown Library and immerse yourself in the wonders of our archive collection with favourite items curated by our Heritage Librarian and discover our new Library of Things collection.

A conversation with respected Boon Wurrung Elder Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir (Boon Wurrung/Wemba Wemba) and historian Marguerita Stephens. The authors will share their experience of collaborating on their ground-breaking work “Years of Terror: Banbu-deen: Kulin & Colonists at Port Phillip 1835-1851."

Celebrate the first major concert of the newly formed Inner West Symphony Orchestra.

Enjoy a Mother’s Day morning or afternoon tea in the Museum Gallery & Museum of Karl & Slawa Horowitz-Duldig: a unique experience to view works of art and sculptures in an authentic domestic setting.

Come on a fascinating tour of selected graves in the historic St Kilda Cemetery. Be transported back 140 years to hear about
some of the people who were involved with Ned Kelly.

Hidden Histories is a short film created as part of Better Places – Spotswood and South Kingsville. Celebrating stories of this unique area captured through listening to and filming locals to the area. This beautifully filmed little gem reminds us how a small local area can have a distinctive style and feel. Screening at the Digital Lounge at the Altona Civic Centre.

William Cooper's passionate struggle against the dispossession of Aboriginal people and the denial of their rights and his heroic fight for them to become citizens in their own country has been widely commemorated and celebrated.

The Embroiderers Guild, Victoria will be throwing open our doors , for two special open days. We hold sensational collections of textiles, lace, embroidered tools, vintage sewing books plus our own archives. Not normally on display we will set up special exhibitions for the public.

A guided walking tour around Williamstown Cemetery, one of Victoria’s oldest graveyards with local historian Brian Haynes.