Eltham

Quick facts

• Population approximately 24,940
• 29 kilometres north-east of Melbourne
• Art galleries and art walks.

Eltham is one of Melbourne’s outer suburbs and is famous as a retreat for artists. Home to the famous Heidelberg School landscape painters, the town continues to attract artists who live, work and exhibit their art here.

Activities and attractions

• Visit the renowned Montsalvat Gallery – a distinctive French provincial-style building set in 12 acres of garden, and home to exhibitions of artworks from its permanent collection as well as temporary exhibitions. Enjoy fine food and local wines in the restaurant on the Montsalvat grounds
• Browse the Eltham Wiregrass Gallery with its stunning collection of wildlife artworks and sculptures
• Drive a working model railway at the Flying Scotsman Railway
• Walk the Heidelberg School Trail and gain an insight into the work of the Heidelberg School artists who painted the local landscape
• Visit local artists at work during the Artists Open Studio weekends, or by appointment all other times
• Take the kids for a ride on the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway
• Visit the Edendale Farm Community Environment Centre – a great day for the whole family to see a working farm, pat the animals, and buy free-range eggs and plants
• Buy local products at the Eltham Community Art & Craft Market held on the third Sunday of every month at Alistair Knox Gardens
• Take a tour of the local architecture, much of which uses mud bricks. Visit the Greg Burgess-designed Eltham Library and the Eltham community and Reception Centre – Melbourne’s first public building built of mud brick. Or participate in the annual Mud Brick House Tour
• Walk or cycle the Diamond Creek trail from Eltham to Diamond Creek
• Take advantage of Eltham’s impressive parks and open spaces, where you can take in the public sculptures at Alistair Knox Park, enjoy a picnic or barbecue and let the children enjoy climbing one of Victoria's finest adventure playgrounds at Wattletree Road Reserve
• Meet over 20 Nillumbik winemakers and enjoy their boutique wine from their cellar doors, at the annual Open Cellars of Nillumbik winery event
• Visit award winning wineries and restaurants, such as Black Paddock Restaurant & Bar, or Samson Hill Winery in Kangaroo Ground.

Major events

• The Eltham Festival – November
• Yarra Valley Cellar Doors Come to Montsalvat – October
• Artists Open Studios Program – March and November

How to get there
Eltham is 30 minutes from Melbourne. Follow the Eastern Freeway to the Burke Road North exit to Lower Heidelberg Road and follow Metropolitan Route 44 through to Eltham. From Melbourne Airport take the Western Ring Road.