Between the Details: Video Art from the ACMI Collection presents Bayi Gardiya - Singing Desert by Dr Christian Thompson AO

In this 360-degree video experience, Christian Thompson invites audiences to walk through the landscape of his childhood. Here they will witness a simple yet profound aesthetic gesture of the artist singing in his traditional Bidjara language, a recognised lost language. 

“If I sing even one word of our language, which is considered an extinct or lost language, then it can’t be described as such, because it is being presented as a living language within the art context” - Christian Thompson

See the full program at Between the Details: Video Art from the ACMI Collection. 

For further information contact Manningham Art Gallery, gallery@manningham.vic.gov.au or call 9840 9367. 

Photo caption: Bayi Gardiya (Singing Desert), 2019 (video still). Photo credit: Christian Thompson 

An ACMI touring exhibition
The works in this exhibition are commissioned by ACMI, Artbank, Bundanon Trust, Carriageworks, City of Melbourne, Melbourne Art Foundation, Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO and Catriona Mordant AM, John Allsopp (Web Directions) and assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.

Everyone has the capacity for creative expression and enjoyment. 

Heide’s Creative Age Programs are designed specifically for people living with early stage dementia and their Carers to discover their creativity through the non-verbal avenue of art, and to promote health and wellbeing. Heide’s Creative Age programs are kindly supported by the Phil Taylor Foundation.

The sessions run from 1:30pm each Thursday until 3 April 2025.

Transport option are as follows:

Public Transport
Train (Hurstbridge line) to Heidelberg station and bus #903 (Mordialloc bound) to Heide. Disembark at the Bulleen Road/Manningham Road stop. Estimated bus travel time is 5-10 minutes. Walk to Heide through Banksia Park, via the pedestrian path next to the Helmet sculpture on the corner of Bridge Street or by walking North on Bulleen Road and entering via the upper car park.

Bicycle
Heide is located next to Banksia Park near the Main Yarra Trail. From Southbank, this 33km bike trail passes ancient gums and billabongs before ending at Westerfolds Park in Templestowe. With a flat grade and good quality track, this trail makes for an enjoyable experience and a truly ‘green’ way to travel to Heide.

Car
Free parking available on-site and additional parking available in adjoining Banksia Park (enter via 5 Templestowe Road)

Bus / coach parking
The parking at Heide is not suitable for buses so we advise bus and coach drivers to park in the bays on Templestowe Road, immediately preceding the entrance to the museum at 7 Templestowe Road (alongside picket fence).

Textile Temporalities is an exhibition that explores and reflects on the temporal nature of craft practices, human connectedness, and sites of intimacy. 

Led by artist Shannon Slee, whose practice investigates the role of discarded clothing to connect with personal and social histories, our small gallery will be showcasing a range of recent works from the artist and a special participatory artwork made in collaboration with older people in Manningham. 

Visitors to the gallery will also have the opportunity to get involved through a textile inspired activity. 

Artist Biography 
Shannon Slee is a visual artist living and working in Narrm. Her practice engages with the handmade to consider intimate moments of connection within the flexible aesthetic of textiles. She explores practices of reusing, sewing, spinning, and weaving, with a particular interest in how craft modalities distort time, invite tactile engagement, and evoke memory. Through her work, she investigates rhythms of making, and the narrative and emotions embedded in material processes.

In 2024 she was awarded a Masters of Contemporary Art from the University of Melbourne. She has recently exhibited at the Public Records Office, Melbourne; Five Walls Project Space, Melbourne; Linden Project Space, Melbourne; fortyfive downstairs, Melbourne; Australian Tapestry Workshop, Melbourne and George Paton Gallery at the University of Melbourne. 

Image: Shannon Slee, Textile Assemblage for Carolyn (back), (detail), 2023, Preston op-shop dress, artists’ family sewing box scraps, blanket, thread. 170 x 200cm. Image by Simon Strong.

This fun, hands-on session is designed to improve your confidence by the river.

Join Life Saving Victoria's expert instructors on the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River) to:

• Learn how to spot hidden dangers in the water and understand how currents work.
• Practise real-life safety skills and basic rescue steps, like using life jackets.
• Discover how to care for our rivers and enjoy them responsibly.

Please note:

• The session does not involve entering the water.
• Registrations are essential. All ages are welcome, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
• Wear comfortable clothing, a hat, sunscreen and closed-toed shoes, and bring a drink bottle.

About Riverfest

This event is part of the 2025 Birrarung Riverfest. Celebrate our river at one of 60+ events hosted over three weeks from 6 to 28 September.

Whether you enjoy riverside walks, cleanups, creative workshops or paddling adventures, there's something for everyone at Riverfest.

Riverfest is presented by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association and our partners Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo collaboration and Melbourne Water.

Check out the full Riverfest program here.

Our Partners

Session host: Life Saving Victoria & Manningham Council

Riverfest host: Yarra Riverkeeper Association

Major partners: Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo - Yarra Strategic Plan, Melbourne Water

By going all-electric and improving the efficiency of your home, you can improve comfort and lower your energy bills.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative that helps residents go electric with trustworthy suppliers and quality products. 

The Solar Savers program is expanding to provide greater choice, with more products and suppliers. 

Join a series of informative webinars during August 2025 to learn about the exciting new offerings. 

Session 6: Home energy assessments (Scorecard assessments)

In this presentation, you'll learn what is involved in a home energy assessment, how they work and the benefits of having one done. You will also hear from Solar Savers' panel of trusted suppliers, who will answer common questions about home energy assessments.
 

Registration is essential. 

Join us at further sessions throughout August:

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

Come along to our 2025 Inspired Living Series presentation on the exciting world of sustainable food!

Jo Barrett 

Jo is one of Australia’s most innovative chefs, specialising in sustainable and low waste cooking. Having released her cookbook 'Sustain: Groundbreaking Recipes And Skills That Could Save The Planet', she went on to be named 'Chef of the Year' at the Good Food Guide 2024 awards.

Jo is a longtime collaborator with sustainability legend Joost Bakker, taking part in the groundbreaking eco-living experiment futurefoodsystem, a self-sustaining, zero waste, highly productive house at Federation Square. 

Jo also works with Wildpie, using invasive game species in pies, and is collaborating with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to develop creative, edible ways to use the 456 million loaves of bread wasted in Australia every year. Jo will discuss her journey to sustainable food and inspire audience members to embrace new ways of eating.

Serenity Hill

Serenity is a farmer at Pukawidgee Farm in Northeast Victoria and a food system innovator working with Open Food Network. Open Food Network supports regional supply networks and runs Discover Regenerative - a national website that makes it easy to find regenerative farmers, and Good Food for All - a voucher program that supports access to good food for low-income households. 

Serenity also provides advisory services to Sustainable Table and VicHealth on agro-ecological diet and supply networks, regional food activation and landscape regeneration. She is passionate about continually learning what makes 'good food' and increasing people's ability to access it, no matter their income, skill level or access to land. 

Inspired Living Series – keynote speaker events

Our 2025 Inspired Living Series showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings. The series will introduce you to a diverse lineup of local keynote speakers who will offer unique insights on embracing sustainability.

Topics range from sustainable food to low waste lifestyles. Each speaker will share their journey – inspiring our audience to embrace positive choices, nurture a connection to nature, and foster community for a stronger, more resilient future.

Registration for this event is essential. 

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

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

Subscribe now

Native Bees and butterflies are great pollinators and beautiful additions to any garden. There are many things you can do to attract them to your garden.

This workshop will introduce you to the wonderful world of native bees and butterflies. It will cover the role of insects in nature as pollinators and discuss practical ways you can attract them to your garden. You’ll be helping the environment while enjoying the splash of colour, movement and beauty native bees and butterflies bring to a garden.

Presenter: Charlotte Harrison from Sustainable Gardening Australia.

Supper is at 6.45pm, the seminar begins at 7.00pm sharp.

Registration is essential.

This is the third session of a four-part series on Gardening for Biodiversity. The following and final session will cover how to attract small birds into your garden. The series of workshops is run by Sustainable Gardening Australia and provides tips and tricks to garden for wildlife and support biodiversity in your local area. 

The Warrandyte Historical Society invite you to come and learn about the discovery of gold in Warrandyte and how it shaped the township and community.

Warrandyte is justifiably proud of its place in the gold history of Victoria. Gold was first discovered at Anderson's Creek in June 1851. It was the first officially published goldfield, named the 'Victoria Field', in honour of the new Colony. It was also the first place in the Colony to issue gold mining licences.

This exhibit celebrates the 170th anniversary of the first discovery by Louis John Michel and his team. You'll find interesting and colourful banners on display inside and outside the Museum, showcasing
 the discovery of gold and how this has shaped the township and community. They share the lure of gold and excitement around the discovery that continues today. 

You can visit to see the outside banners placed on the fence-line of the Museum at any time during the Heritage Festival. To access the banners inside the Museum, please see the exhibition times.

This exhibition is open from 18 April to 22 May 2022.
The indoor exhibition inside the Museum, is open on Sundays, from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

There is both on-street parking, and off-road car parks available on Yarra Street.

Join wildlife ecologist John Harris as we undertake a biodiversity survey of 100 Acres Reserve. This community biodiversity survey is part of the global City Nature Challenge (CNC).

How to participate

It is free, easy, and fun to get involved.

Bring your mobile phone or digital camera to take pictures of the wild plants, animals and fungi you see, or make sound recordings of frog or bird calls.

Any observations taken over the four days, need to be uploaded to iNaturalist and included in the City Nature Challenge 2023.

To prepare for the guided walks and talks:

• install the iNaturalist app on your mobile phone and create an iNaturalist account
• make sure your phone battery is fully charged on the day
• wear weather-appropriate clothing, bring a rain/wind-proof jacket, and wear safe, fully-enclosed walking shoes to go in long grass
• bring your own drink bottle and snacks
• become a member of the Melbourne City Nature Challenge project to discover nature in our neighbourhoods

About the City Nature Challenge

The City Nature Challenge runs from Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May 2023.

In this worldwide BioBlitz, cities compete to make the most observations of the most species by the most people.

Manningham is collaborating with over 25 local governments to form the Greater Melbourne project.

Last year Greater Melbourne came 33rd from 445 cities for the number of observations made. Hume City came fourth amongst the other local government areas.

We invite you to join us in acknowledging the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) as we gather together to recognise the strengths, contributions and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Attendees are welcomed to join us in raising the Pride Flag on the concourse out the front of the Civic Centre. We will then move into the function rooms to listen to and learn from our guest speaker, Sally Goldner, share her lived experiences and speak to this year's IDAHOBIT theme.

2024 IDAHOBIT theme "No one left behind: Equality, freedom and justice for all".

Please note: registrations are required for this event. 

Keynote speaker

Sally Goldner AM’s massive involvement in Victoria’s queer communities spans nearly 30 years. Her diverse contributions include being a founding member of Transgender Victoria, presenting 3 CR’s “Out of the Pan,” Transfamily Treasurer, Just.Equal Australia Treasurer and Bisexual Alliance Victoria Treasurer. She is the focus of an autobio-doco “Sally’s Story”, a life member of four queer-focussed organisations and has made broad-ranging contributions to many groups.

Sally was inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll in 2016 (the first trans and first known bi woman to receive the honour), awarded LGBTI Victorian of the Year in 2015 and noted in The Age’s Top 100 most creative and influential people in Melbourne in 2011. She was awarded the Order of Australia in 2019. She is a professional wrestling ring announcer, MC, speaker, educator, life coach and occasional performer (all in contrast to her original accountancy training!).

By going all-electric, you can create a safer home and brighter Manningham.

That’s why Manningham Council has partnered with Solar Savers, a local government initiative that takes the hassle out of home energy upgrades. The Council-backed program has now expanded to offer more suppliers and product choices, as well as home energy assessments for personalised advice.

Do you have questions about making your home more comfortable and efficient? Keen to install solar, batteries or efficient electric appliances? Drop in to learn more.

You can also find out about available discounts and discover how Solar Savers can help.

This session is hosted by Wonga Park Community Cottage. 

Registration is not required. Drop in any time during the 2-hour session.

Note: Sessions are also running at local libraries in Manningham between August and October 2025.

Electrify Your Life

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

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

Subscribe now

Thoughtful garden design can lower indoor and outdoor temperatures while creating a more comfortable and resilient home.

Our city is getting hotter, with more days of extreme heat. Learn how to stay comfortable and safe – without racking up a huge power bill – by sheltering your home with trees and vines.

We’ll explore:

• sun angles throughout the year
• how to conduct a basic site analysis at home
• how to select shade trees, vines and wind breaks
• plant positions for summer shade while letting the winter sun shine through for free heating in the cooler months
• practical solutions for renters.

Our presenter:
Kat Lavers is the gardener and designer behind The Plummery, a 1/14th acre urban permaculture system in Melbourne's north that produces almost all the vegetables, herbs, fruit and eggs consumed by the household! She’s realised that with good design, growing lots of food is possible even with limited time, space and resources.

Registrations are essential.

Power up a cleaner future

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

Subscribe to our Environment Newsletter

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

Subscribe now

Yarra Street Sounds Music Festival is coming to Yarra Street, Warrandyte on 25 October 2025

15 local live music acts, over 5 venues, across 1 day.

All ages, all free, all local musicians.

Program

The Bakery
193 Yarra St, Warrandyte VIC 3113

• Grace Forster - 1:00pm to 1:45pm
• Jess DeLuca - 2:00pm to 2:45pm
• Dan Cully - 3:00pm to 3:45pm

Warrandyte RSL
Corner of Yarra St and Kangaroo Ground- Warrandyte Rd

• Eclipse - 1:30pm to 2:15pm
• Bron - 2:30pm to 3:15pm
• John Flanagan (duo) - 3:30pm to 4:15pm

Now and Not Yet Café
148-150 Yarra St, Warrandyte VIC 3113

• Sonse - 2:00pm to 2:45pm
• Cherry Temple - 3:00pm to 3:45pm
• Bones - 4:00pm to 4:45pm

SaHa
254 Yarra St, Warrandyte VIC 3113

• Diablos - 3:30pm to 4:15pm
• Skiffle Sisters - 4:30pm to 5:15pm
• Tall Dan & The True Stories - 5:30pm to 6:15pm

Warrandyte Mechanics Institute
180-186 Yarra St, Warrandyte VIC 3113

• Chris Cavill - 4:00pm to 4:45pm
• BOTH - 5:00pm to 5:45pm
• Headphones Jones - 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Yarra Street Sounds is a collaboration between Manningham Council, the Live and Local program and the Manningham Community.

The Live and Local program is presented in partnership with the Live Music Office, One Music Australia and APRA AMCOS (the Australasian Performing Rights Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). It has also been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia.

As part of the Inspired Living Series, Sarah Wilson will present This One Wild and Precious Life at the Manningham Function Centre.

Sarah is a multi-New York Times and Amazon best-selling author, podcaster, international keynote speaker, philanthropist and climate change advisor. Her most recent title, This One Wild and Precious Life, won the 2021 US Gold Nautilus Award.

Sarah is an expert at creating a sense of hope and inspiring communities to thrive, united through connection - recognising that deep down, many of us are feeling that same itch for a new way of living.

This powerful presentation will challenge you to reclaim your wild, precious life and offer a radically hopeful path forward.

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.

UPDATE: This event has sold out.

Football Victoria will be activating the newly installed dual futsal court at Koonung reserve to teach you how to play street football.

This event is perfect for all street football, futsal and soccer enthusiasts who want to try street football for the first time or enhance their skills and test out the new public outdoor dual futsal court in Manningham.

During the clinic, participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced Football Victoria coaches who will guide you through various street football techniques, strategies and games.

This clinic is for all levels - beginners and advanced.

Please note: there are two sessions running on the day. Register for the session that matches your age group.

• 10.00am to 11.00am - under 8's and under 10’s
• 11.00am – 12.00pm - under 11’s and under 12’s

Registrations are essential. Numbers are strictly limited.

Appearance and coaching from Daniel Cappellaro - D10

D10 is Daniel Cappellaro, a futsal player, street footballer and coach. Daniel, along with staff from Football Victoria will be joining in both sessions at this clinic.

Daniel has travelled the world playing street football and futsal in the UEFA Futsal Champions League. Daniel has also represented and helped found Western Australia’s most successful futsal club Cambio Cumbre.

Other highlights include AFA Australian Men’s team selection and representing Western Australia at the FFA Nationals. On the East coast of Australia, Daniel played for Melbourne Futsal Club (powered by Melbourne City Football Club), Balwyn Futsal Club and Pascoe Vale Futsal Club, in Victoria’s and Futsal Oz’s prestigious Series Futsal Victoria.

Join us for an exclusive after-hours event at Manningham Art Gallery to celebrate our two latest exhibitions. 

Painted Country

Featuring the works of five First Nations Artists – Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Brenda Napaltjarri, Clara Napurrula, Rene Sundown and Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi. Drawing upon their rich artistic, cultural, and ancestral knowledge, each artist paints unique depictions of Country, refracted through memory and lived experience. With special thanks to the Artists; Iwantja Arts, South Australia; Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory; and Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, who partnered with Manningham Art Gallery to curate this major exhibition.

Beyond the Table: The Dinner Party Reimagined 

An interactive reimagining of a traditional dinner party by Manningham artists Isobel Goodman and Jade Piltz, with a nod to 1970s nostalgia and celebrating one of the key gathering spaces in our homes, the humble dining table. The installation is a part of Melbourne Design Week, Australia's premier design festival featuring events across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Drop in between 5.00pm and 8.00pm, with Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, formally opening the evening at 5.30pm. Enjoy delicious snacks and refreshments. No bookings required. This is a free public event. 

To find out more about these exhibitions, visit Painted Country and Melbourne Design Week - Beyond the Table: The Dinner Party Reimagined or for information on the event email gallery@manningham.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9840 9367.

Image Credit: Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Tjuntala Ngurangka - Country with Wattle (Acacia Murrayana), 2024, Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 122 x 198 cm. Image courtsey of The Artist, Iwantja Arts and Alcaston Gallery.