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(and occasionally) Irreverent

Events on

Be in the Studio A live audience Studio A is a live TV show on Channel 31, with comedy, live music, guest appearances and much more. This season has already included Josh Thomas, Glenn Robbins, Charlie Pickering, Wayne Hope and Robin Butler. To be in the audience just email up at studioa@rmitv.org 8.10pm, Monday nights RMIT television studio - Free Enquiries: 0407 232 338

Classics at Fed Square Enjoy your favourite music all year round with Classics at Fed Square. Held in the stunning surrounds of the BMW Edge, these free monthly concerts offer something for everyone, from classical and swing to big band, jazz and even contemporary pop. The program will include old favourites including the Salvation Army Veteran Band and the Navy Band as well as budding talents from some of the best creative schools across Victoria. Bring a friend and make a day of it, with free exhibitions at ACMI and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and plenty of great cafes open for lunch or coffee. Forthcoming concerts include: Monday 2 August: Police Show Band Monday 13 September: Navy Band Monday 4 October: Salvation Army Veterans Band Monday 15 November: Police Show Band 1.30 to 2.30pm, selected Mondays BMW Edge, Federation Square - Free Enquiries: (03) 9655 1900

'Process' Process is a series of Monday night architecture talk at Loop in Melbourne organised by the Young Architects Commitee of the RAIA. The February session will include architect Sean Godsell speaking about the design of RMIT's Design Hub which is now under construction. 6pm, 1st Monday of month Loop Bar, 23 Myers Place Melbourne -

Passionate Tongues Poetry Enquiries: (03) 9328 8080 First and third Monday of each month Noise Bar, 291 Albert Street Brunswick (next to Bruswick Station) - $2.50 (includes door prize ticket)

Magic Mondays Perfect night out for everyone that loves magic. 7.30 pm 1st Monday of month Dante's Restaurant, Fitzroy - $10 Enquiries: (03) 9417 2468

Markets operating on

Exhibitions open on

Attractions open on

The Swedish Church

The Swedish Church

Bundoora Park

Bundoora Park

Como House

Como House

Cooks 'Cottage

The cottage in which Captain Cook's parents lived. In the 1930s it was dismantled, transported to Australia and rebuilt in the Fitzroy Gardens. More information >>

Free Tour of Melbourne Town Hall

A free tour of the historic Melbourne Town Hall. Numbers are limited so bookings are essential and required one day in advance. More information >>

Government House & La Trobe's Cottage

Tours of Melbourne's wonderful Government House - residence of the Governor of Victoria. Tours commence from La Trobe's Cottage and advance bookings are required. More info >>

Immigration Museum

Immigration Museum

Melbourne Aquarium

Melbourne Aquarium

National Gallery of Victoria - International Collection

National Gallery of Victoria - International Collection

Old Melbourne Gaol

A gaol built in the early days of European settlement and the site of over 100 hangings including that of the bushranger Ned Kelly. More information >>

Racing Museum

Racing Museum

Royal Botanic Gardens

Melbourne's famous Royal Botanic Gardens are open daily. Free guided tours are available 11am and 2pm Tuesday to Sunday. More info >>

Shrine of Remembrance

Shrine of Remembrance

Tall Ship Enterprize

Tall Ship Enterprize

The Hotel Windsor

Country Victoria - Events on

Country Victoria

Melbourne Surrounds

The following selected events and attractions are not in the Melbourne Metropolitan Area but can be accessed in a half day trip from Melbourne

Bellarine Peninsula & west coast of Port Phillip Bay

Geelong Mill Markets Until recently, this location hosted a large and popular market. That market has relocated to Newcomb (see below). The remaining Geelong Mills Matket now has a large array of retro advertising signs, furniture, and larger and quirky mechanical and industrial equipment. White Hat can recommend this market as a good source for those looking to do a quirky fitout as well as to theatre companies and film-makers looking for genuine period props. It now functions more as a warehouse so give a ring before making a special trip. various hours, Monday to Friday   3 Mackey Street - North Geelong Enquiries: (03) 5278 9989 Mill Markets Newcomb A large indoor market with permenant and casual stallholders selling antiques,collectables, vintage clothing, homewares, memmorabilia and retro fashions. White Hat suggests that if you enjoy the Chapel Street Bazaar in Melbourne you will find a similar range of items at the Newcomb Mill Market but with more space to move. 10am to 6pm, daily   114 Bellarine Highway - Newcomb Enquiries: (03) 5248 2390

Queenscliff Maritime Museum An impressive museum exploring the maritime history of Southern Port Phillip Bay. More information >> Ford Discovery Centre A museum and display located in Geelong and dedicated to the history and future of Ford motor cars. More info >> National Wool Museum National Wool Museum The Mansion at Werribee Park The Mansion at Werribee Park Werribee Open Range Zoo Werribee Open Range Zoo

Great Ocean Road

Pombo Mart A very large building (originally a butter factory) with a large range of antiques, collectables, old wares and plenty of surprises. White Hat recommends that if you are travelling the Princes Highway between Geelong and Warrnambool that you take a break at the Pombo Mart. There is a cafe and one of  the proprietors is Peter Brocklehurst "The singing cobbler" continues to ply his trade repairing watches and shoes, cutting keys and engraving. More information at Pombo Mart Thursday to Monday, public holidays and 7 days per week during school holidays   2846 Princes Highway - Pomborneit North Enquiries: (03) 5594 7312 Up Markets New Fashion,Vintage and Cultural Art, become a stall holder in Lorne new indoor permanent market, we do all the hard work for you selling your products seven days a week, prime beachfront location in the heart of lorne's lively shopping hub, stalls and wall space available now. 10am to 6pm daily   144 Mount Joy Parade - Lorne Enquiries: (03) 5289 5052 Warrnambool Mill Markets A market operated in the same style as the mills markets in Newtown and Daylesford. Stalls are available on a monthly lease and you will find all manner of clothing, jewellery, antiques, collectables and bric-a-brac. The market is located in the factory and gardens created by Fletcher Jones.   Fletcher Jones Gardens, Princes Highway - Warrnambool Enquiries: (03) 5562 5060

Cape Otway Lighthouse Cape Otway Lighthouse Flagstaff Hill Maritime Muesum Flagstaff Hill Maritime Muesum

Grampians & the blunt end

The Wool Factory The Wool Factory

Wimmera, Mallee & Mildura

Millewa Pioneer Village Millewa Pioneer Village

Goldfields & Macedon Ranges

Ballarat Antique Market This large antique market with a wide range of items is located on two floors of an old school building and also contains a museum with a small entry charge.It is morein the nature of a very large antique store and does not appear to have the space to cater for casual stallholders. When White Hat last visited (in April 2008) there was also a specialist coins area. 10am to 5pm, daily   Antique & Collectables Centre, 9 Humffray Street North, - Ballarat (Mel ref 609 A12) Enquiries: (03) 5331 7996 Daylesford Mill Markets A large indoor market with an emphasis on antiques, retro fashion and collecatables. New stallholders are welcome. White Hat recommends that the serious browser for retro and memorabilia sets aside plenty of time because there is a seriously large amount of goods on display. 10am to 6pm, 7 days a week   105 Central Springs Road - Daylesford Enquiries: (03) 5348 4332

Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Australia's oldest regional gallery. and home of  the original Eureka Flag. More info >> The Golden Dragon Museum The Golden Dragon Museum

Central Victoria

Mernda Market A large outdoor trash and treasure market in the carpark of the Bridge Inn Hotel together with a various livestock in the adjoining stock yards. As well as trash and treasure there is fresh produce and general merchandise. The sheep. goats, poultry, rabbits and other livestock attract plenty of attention as do the lively auctions. This is a White Hat favourite - a genuine country market within reach of the city which has been trading since 1919. More information at The White Hat Guide to Mernda Market. 6am to 1pm, every Monday   Cnr Plenty and Bridge Inn Roads - Mernda Enquiries: (03) 9717 3404 (stalls)

"The Willows" Museum "The Willows" Museum Benalla Art Gallery Benalla Art Gallery Benalla Costume & Pioneer Museum Benalla Costume & Pioneer Museum Furphy Foundry Muesum Furphy Foundry Muesum Torrumbarry Weir Torrumbarry Weir

Mornington Peninsula

The Museum of HMAS Cerberus The Museum of HMAS Cerberus

South Gippsland, Latrobe Valley & Phillip Island

Australian Garden Australian Garden

Yarra Valley & Ranges

High Country and north-east Victoria

East Gippsland & the pointy end