The values of Melbourne as a City of Literature stretch right across the state of Victoria. There is an abundance of noteworthy places to visit in the inner and outer suburbs, as well as our regional areas. For instance:

  • A trip to Montsalvat in Eltham will take you to the famed artists’ colony founded in the 1930s.
  • Take a trip out to Woodend and take in the majestic sight of Hanging Rock, made famous by Joan Lindsay’s novel Picnic at Hanging Rock.
  • Daylesford has a number of high-quality second-hand bookstores and was the setting of David Sedaris’s New Yorker essay ‘Laugh, Kookaburra’.
  • Spread over almost seven hectares right by the Yarra River at Collingwood, Abbotsford Convent is a thriving artistic community of artist and writing studios, eateries, galleries and more.
  • Heide Museum of Modern Art at Bulleen occupies the site bought and established by John and Sunday Reed which became a favoured place for artists, writers and intellectuals to gather. The famous poet π.O. wrote an epic poem about the art, history and people of the place. 
  • Clunes, famous for its Clunes Booktown Festival.
  • Geelong, famous for Local Word.
  • Castlemaine is home to the Castlemaine Children’s Literature Festival.

Discover the unexpected, interesting and unconventional by exploring our city’s unique and diverse shopping, dining, events, sports, live music, markets and more.

You can find more information about events and attractions through City of Melbourne’s What’s On.