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Events on

Melbourne Conversations: Melbourne Day 175th Anniversary A panel of well-known Melburnians will celebrate the city and its diverse communities and try to look over the horizon to the next 25 years. Join in and give us your contribution on the night. 6pm to 7.30pm, 30th August 2010 Melbourne Recital Centre - Free

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

Melbourne Day City Square Celebrations Come and wish Melbourne a happy 175th birthday at the City Square. This year, Melbourne celebrates its founding with a giant birthday cake prepared by students at William Angliss Institute. Join Lord Mayor Robert Doyle as he cuts the cake. Be one of the first to hear the new Melbourne Day song, specially written for our 175th birthday and performed by local primary school children. And watch for exciting giveaways to commemorate Melbourne’s 175th. noon to 2pm, 30th August 2010 City Square - Free

Melbourne Day - Official Flag Raising Ceremony at Enterprize Park Join Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Melbourne Day chairman Campbell Walker at the biggest flag-raising event of the year. Our 175th year is going to be extra special with great entertainment including live music from the Victorian Police Pipe Band. A special message direct from the Mayor of Launceston will arrive aboard the Spirit of Tasmania acknowledging Launceston's link with Melbourne's history. Free public festivities also include morning tea, a rifle volley and cannon fire by the Historical Re-enactment Society. Come and meet the 2010 Melburnian of the Year. Where: Enterprize Park, cnr William Street and Flinders Street (near Melbourne Aquarium on the Yarra River's north bank). 10am, 30th August 2010 Enterprize Park, cnr William Street and Flinders Street (near Melbourne Aquarium on the Yarra River's north bank) - Free

FREE tour of Enterprize, Melbourne's tall ship Enterprize - the schooner from Johnny Fawkner's party which pulled up on the banks of the Yarra on 30th August 1835 hence giving its name to Enterprize Day which was later changed to Melbourne Day - will be open to the public at Waterfront City, The modern Enterprize is a faithful reproduction of the original vessel. Take advantage of a free tour and learn what life was like aboard this famous schooner. 10.30am to 3.30pm, 29th & 30th August 2010 Waterfront City, Docklands. - Free

ABBAWORLD ABBAWORLD is a multimedia exhibition that will enable visitors to experience the music and magic of ABBA in a completely new way. Bookings at ABBAWORLD. daily until 31st October 2010 Federation Square -

Enterprize Day (Melbourne Day) An annual event to celebrate European settlement of Melbourne. On August 30 1835 John Fawkner's party sailed up the Yarra in the Enterprize and anchored at base of the falls in the centre of what we now call Melbourne. 30 August 2010 - Enquiries: (03) 9658 9658

Melbourne Writers Festival In 2010, Melbourne Writers Festival, the city’s premier literary event, celebrates its 25th anniversary. This year the festival brings together an array of talented writers, artists, thinkers and performers from across the globe. Expect the unexpected as Melbourne Writers Festival opens its doors to all – celebrating everything from novels to film, from journalism to songwriting, from comedy to cartooning, and from advertising to politics. Highlights include: Eight Writers: Eight Ways to Be Human Joss Whedon: From Buffy to Dr Horrible, Infinity & Beyond Magazine: 56 rapid-fire free events featuring some of the festival's favourite guests Francis Wheen and Frank Moorhouse on the 70s New News 2010: on the future of journalism Lyrical: featuring Steve Kilbey, Lisa Miller, Cloud Control and others Malcolm Fraser, Waleed Aly and Judith Brett: On Liberalism Peter Beinart on the Failure of the Jewish Establishment DBC Pierre and Jonathon Walker on Modern Dystopia For bookings and the full program visit Melbourne Writers Festival. 27 August to 5 September 2010 CUB Malthouse -

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