Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Manningham has more than four seasons. Duncan Cocking from Leaf, Root and Fruit will deep dive into succession planning for local conditions.

Duncan will discuss the patterns that he sees in nature and how easily you can begin observing them too. Use these observations to inspire your gardening activities by working with nature rather than against it. Learn how to refine your succession planting and ripen that elusive Christmas tomato. Create your own action plan for your vegetable patch.

Topics covered include:

• the seasons of Melbourne/Manningham
• being an observant gardener
• Phenology
• timing of planting and succession planting
• growing Christmas tomatoes, creating an action plan.

Food swap from 6.45pm, session starts at 7.00pm.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

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Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening series to inspire you to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Gardens are the natural habitat for all types of insects – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Integrated Pest Management aims to manage pests using a mixture of physical, cultural, and biological control methods, with low impact chemical being used as a last resort.

This session will cover:

• an introduction to Integrated Pest Management 
• being a detective – identifying the culprits
• beneficial insects versus pests
• using barriers and cultural strategies
• when to consider garden chemicals
• an introduction to companion plants to help control garden pests and diseases
• common garden pests and control options.

Food swap from 6.45pm, session starts at 7.00pm.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Karen Sutherland has a lifelong passion for growing her own food. In this seminar Karen will share with you her expertise in incorporating a bush tucker garden at your place.

This session will cover:

• the best bush food plants for gardens in Manningham
• which plants to pot vs those to plant in the ground
• basic growing information
• the basics of harvesting bush 'tucker'
• simple uses for both fresh and dried plants.

Start your passion for native edibles such as lemon and cinnamon myrtle, native thyme and sage, peppers, mints, fruits and berries.

Food swap from 6.45pm, session starts at 7.00pm.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

Are you covered for emergencies at home?

We are holding a home insurance workshop with Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC), a multidisciplinary legal service that works to prevent problems and support community resilience.

The session will cover important topics including:

• having an up-to-date insurance policy  
• the right insurance amount for your home and contents
• what to look out for in your existing insurance policy.

Participants are encouraged to bring insurance policy documents for personal reference during the session.

It's free to register but bookings are essential. 

Please note: this repeat session of the Home Insurance workshop will be held in Mandarin. 

Mind Calm will be facilitated by group therapists and is suitable for those who are new to meditation and people who wish to explore or extend their current practice.

• Discover what mind stilling methods work for you. 
• Experience mindfulness.
• Learn breathing techniques.
• Practice different types of meditation.

This event has a series of four sessions.

Getting there

Located on Doncaster Road between Westfield and the Manningham Council Civic Centre, MC2 is conveniently accessible by public transport.

There are ample parking spaces on site including 4-hour parking underneath the building.  Access to level 1 via the lift or via stairs in the front foyer.

Want to make the most of your Sunday?

We could all do with less alcohol in our lives. So every Sunday during August Aquarena are offering free access to the centre to push back against boozy weekends and start your week right!

From 8:00am and 10:00am participants get access to:

• gym
• pool, spa and steam room
• group fit classes (subject to availability on the day).

This offer is for all genders and abilities aged 18 years plus.

Bring your friends and family along to have fun and feed good. Together, let’s take Sundays back!

Home Harvest Manningham is a monthly home gardening seminar series that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh food at home.

Want to be able to garden without spending a fortune? Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden will show you how to utilise things you already have to garden and save money.

During this seminar you will discover innovative ways to create a sustainable garden without breaking the bank. Maria will share tips and tricks to help you save money while still achieving a beautiful and eco-friendly garden.

This session will cover how to:

• repurpose everyday items
• recycle organic waste
• make the most of your garden space.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to embrace sustainable practices and save money in the process.

As a special treat, all attendees will participate in a tomato seeding activity with a heritage or heirloom seed variety from the Bulleen Art and Garden range.

The community food, seed and garden swap takes place at 6.45pm, 15 minutes before each session.

Registration is recommended but not required.

This event is part of our Inspired Living Series. This series showcases an exciting range of fun and sustainable activities and events for all ages, supporting sustainability at home, in the community and at work.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.

Subscribe now

Explore a range of mindfulness and meditation techniques at Doncare's Mind Calm series. 

Mind Calm will be facilitated by group therapists and is suitable for those who are new to meditation and people who wish to explore or extend their current practice.

Over four sessions, participants will learn:

• what mind stilling methods work for you
• experience mindfulness
• learn breathing techniques
• practice different types of meditation.

Getting there

Located on Doncaster Road between Westfield and the Manningham Council Civic Centre, MC2 is conveniently accessible by public transport.

There are ample parking spaces on site including 4-hour parking underneath the building.  Access to level 1 via the lift or via stairs in the front foyer.

Designed to provide a calm and relaxing environment, during Sensory Quiet Time, we will:

• Keep the lights dimmed to reduce visual stimuli.
• Turn off the spa jets to minimise noise and vibration.
• Refrain from making PA announcements unless there is an emergency.
• Encourage all patrons to keep noise to a minimum.

Sensory quiet time starts Sunday 13 July 2025 and will be running every Sunday between 3.00pm to 4.00pm transforming our indoor pool into a sensory-friendly space

Patrons need to pay entry to the centre. Adult and concession prices available. See the Active Manningham website for more information.

As part of the Inspired Living Series, Hannah Maloney and Adam Grubb will discuss permaculture and waterwise gardens at the Manningham Function Centre.

Hannah Moloney

Hannah Moloney is best known for her work in permaculture and as a presenter on ABC’s Gardening Australia. Her first book The Good Life: How To Grow A Better World explores ways to counter the climate emergency individually and collectively. Hannah will discuss founding Good Life Permaculture in Tasmania, Home Harvest an annual edible garden tour and why she is known as the 'compost queen'.

Adam Grubb

Adam Grubb runs Very Edible Gardens, who have been designing and creating edible home and community gardens in Melbourne for the last 15 years. He's also co-authored several books, including The Art of Frugal Hedonism and The Weed Forager's Handbook. He got into edible gardening (and co-founded the Permablitz movement of volunteer backyard makeovers) in the mid 2000's in the heart of the millenium drought. Adam will take some lessons learnt then and since to share ways that we can create lush and productive oases with a minimum of water use including wicking beds, passive water capture with micro earthworks, tanks, greywater and more. 
 

Inspired Living Series - keynote speaker events

The Inspired Living Series - keynote speaker events showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings at the iconic Manningham Function Centre.

The series will introduce you to a diverse line-up of local and international keynote speakers offering unique insights on how we can all shift to a greener future.

Topics range from permaculture to sustainable fashion. Each speaker will inspire and motivate simple, positive lifestyle choices, connection to nature and growing a thriving community in the midst dynamic change.

Come and learn to play bridge. All coaching and cards supplied for those who need it.

Make new friends and challenge your brain!

This is a fun, structured session led by a long-time bridge player.
 

Enjoy reduced family entry prices on Thursdays during the school holidays.

Valid all day at Aquarena!

Meeting Date: 12 September 2023
Meeting Time: 6.00pm 
Location: Council Chamber, Civic Centre 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.         

Council meeting livestream

Work on the basics of composition, colour and tone to find your own style with tutor, Clare Mannion.

Suitable for beginner through to advanced artists. 

BYO materials (brushes, paint, canvas, paper etc.)

A fun and energising dance workout tailored for older adults. No dance experience needed — just a smile and a willingness to move! 

This low-impact class helps improve balance, strength, and flexibility in a safe, supportive environment.

 

Parking available onsite
Bus route 905
Thompsons Rd/Sunhill Rd stop

In this stunning new exhibition by artist Katrin Koenning, she intimately explores connection and belonging through a deeply personal and immersive constellation of images drawn from the artist’s archive across time and space.

Artist Biography 
b. 1978. Dortmund, Germany. Lives and works in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia.

Pursuing intimacy and interconnection, Koenning's work centers practice as relational encounter, exploring themes such as community, kinship, grief and love. In extended image-dialogues, Katrin uses fragments and slippages to suggest narrative spaces and communities that are allied, fluid and multiplicit. Many of her series render non-human human entanglement.

Her work is regularly exhibited in Australia and internationally including in presentations at the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra; Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne; Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney; the Museum of Australian Photography, Melbourne; Ishara Art Foundation, Dubai; Chobi Mela, Bangladesh; and Paris Photo. Her work is held in numerous institutional and private collections and has been published in The New Yorker, Vogue.com, Zeit Magazine, The Guardian, Esquire Italy, Der Spiegel, Yucca Magazine, California Sunday and many other places.

Katrin Koenning, yanakie (one), 2021, archival pigment print, 40cm x 30cm, Ed. 1/6 +2AP. Image courtesy of the Artist. 

Meeting Date: 22 February 2022
Meeting Time: 7.00pm 
Location: Council Chamber, Civic Centre 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.          

Council meeting livestream

Agenda timestamps

• Presentations - 5:00
• Petitions - 7:00
• Public Question Time 7:00
• Admission of urgent business 19:00
• Planning Permit Applications
  9.1 PLN20/0544 at 15 Glendale Avenue, Templestowe - 19:00
  9.2 PL17/027403 at 181 Reynolds Road Doncaster East (The Pines) (VCAT reference number P11848/2021) - 24:00
• City Planning and Community
  10.1 Planning Scheme Amendment C127mann and Planning Permit Application PLN20/0303 - 674-680 Doncaster Road, 2 Short Stree, and 14, 14A, 16 & 18 Hepburn Road, Doncaster (Doncaster Church of Christ) - Consideration of Panel Report - 29:00
  10.2 Endorsement of Nominations for Manningham Youth Advisory Committee - 31:00
• City Services - 36:00
• Experience and Capability
  12.1 Manningham Quarterly Report, Quarter 2, (Oct-Dec 2021) - 36:00
• Chief Executive Officer
  13.1 Suburban Rail Loop Project Stage 1 Environmental Effects Statement Submission - 42:00
  13.2 Appointment of Authorised Officer - Planning and Environment Act 1987 - 47:00
  13.3 Informal Meetings of Councillors - 48:00
  13.4 Documents for Sealing - 48:00
• Notices of Motion
  14.1 Notice of Motion by Cr Stephen Mayne (NOM No. 1/2022) - 48:00
• Urgent Business - 87:00
• Councillor reports and question time - 87:00
• Confidential reports - 97:00

Ask a question.

Anyone is free to ask questions during Public Question Time.

Find out more.

Join us and learn more about new public art in Doncaster and take part in an all-ages art activity.

As part of the Ayr St South shopping strip upgrade, a ground mural will be designed and installed by artist Tom Civil.

Tom will share his designs at Greythorn Bowls Club in an information session for the community, where you can meet the artist and discuss his ideas.

The information session will be followed by an all-ages art activity, where you will design your own footpath mural. Use the materials provided to work collaboratively, or own your own to create an artwork for your street.

• Information session / meet the artist: 11.00am to 12.30pm
• Art Activity: 1.00pm to 2.30pm

Morning and afternoon tea will be provided

About the artist

Tom Civil is an artist, muralist, community art facilitator and printmaker. 

Tom has been making art in the streets of Melbourne for over 18 years, and has painted over 30 commissioned murals across town in the last ten years.

Tom's ground artworks reference through the language of mapping and symbology, our connection to nature in a heavily urbanised and concrete and asphalt covered world. The ground artworks also allow us to day-dream about how the places we live were in the past, and how they could be in the future. They also create fun interactive play moments in our daily lives.

Photo by: Nathan CCP