Melbourne is about to become a portal to the ancient world when Rituals: Gifts for the Gods opens on May 30 – the first global exhibition born from a historic partnership between Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Australia’s Hellenic Museum. This extraordinary collection of 119 sacred artefacts, many leaving Greek soil for the first time, reveals humanity’s timeless quest to connect with the divine through objects that have witnessed three millennia of prayers, offerings and Olympic glory. From a 7,800-year-old Neolithic figurine to inscribed Linear B tablets and Spartan lead votives, each piece tells a story of mortal yearning. Visitors will encounter…
Author: Melbourning
The piano bar anthems and stadium-filling hits of Billy Joel are about to get a magnificent makeover when Piano Man: The Music of Billy Joel hits Hamer Hall this November. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will join Australia’s finest vocal talents to reinvent Joel’s catalogue with sweeping orchestral arrangements that promise to make familiar songs feel brand new. Following its triumphant Adelaide premiere, the two-night concert event on 15-15 November will feature show-stopping performances by musical theatre heavyweights including Phil Burton (Human Nature), Alinta Chidzey (Moulin Rouge!), genre-blending singer Jess Hitchcock, and Josh Piterman (Phantom of the Opera). Director Mark Sutcliffe and conductor…
The MindBodySpirit Festival returns to Melbourne from June 6–9, 2025, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, celebrating over four decades as Australia’s premier wellness event . This free-entry festival offers a transformative experience for those seeking inspiration, healing, and holistic living. Attendees can explore over 200 exhibitors showcasing products and services ranging from organic skincare and herbal supplements to crystals, jewellery, and spiritual guidance . The festival features multiple stages with live performances, including music, dance, and psychic demonstrations. A highlight of the 2025 festival is the appearance of Olympic champion Lisa Curry, co-founder of Happy Healthy You, who will share her personal…
Ballarat will once again be the centre of country football action when the V/Line Cup returns in September 2025, giving Victoria’s brightest young players the chance to shine. Following last year’s successful carnival, more than 600 players, officials and families will descend on the city for three days of high-quality competition from 22-24 September. Mars Stadium, Marty Busch Reserve and Learmonth Reserve will host the matches, providing the perfect stage for regional talent to showcase their skills. The event is expected to bring another economic boost to Ballarat, with visitors travelling from across the state. AFL Victoria’s Greg Madigan said…
Prepare to witness beloved singer-songwriter Diesel like never before as he embarks on an intimate, audience-driven tour this August through November. The BY REQUEST tour will put fans in the driver’s seat, allowing them to shape each night’s setlist with career-spanning hits, deep cuts, and eclectic covers from Diesel’s 17-album catalogue. Fresh off his acclaimed Bootleg Melancholy album tour, Diesel will bring this one-of-a-kind experience to regional venues across Australia, including Castlemaine, Healesville and Barwon Heads. “With 17 albums, it’s understandable finding deep crevices where some potentially loved songs lay dormant,” Diesel says. “BY REQUEST is an opportunity for my audience to tell me what…
Whittlesea Bakehouse, a family-run bakery located approximately 40km northeast of Melbourne, has clinched the prestigious title of Australia’s Best Sausage Roll at the 2025 South Australian Baking Show. This marks a significant achievement for the bakery, as it was their inaugural entry into the competition. The award-winning sausage roll is a traditional beef variety, encased in buttery pastry and enriched with simple ingredients like onion, carrot, salt, and pepper. Established in 1979, Whittlesea Bakehouse has been under the stewardship of the same family for more than three decades.The bakery has garnered a loyal local following, known for its wide array of…
After its premature closure in 2021 due to the pandemic, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is bringing back its blockbuster French Impressionism exhibition in 2025—this time with even more treasures. Opening on 6 June, the showcase features over 100 iconic works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), including paintings never before seen in Australia. This exclusive Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness the revolutionary art movement that redefined modern painting. Masterpieces by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt, and Berthe Morisot will take centre stage, displayed in a brand-new immersive exhibition…
The wait is over, Heartbreakers! Country music fans can dust off their cowboy boots and rally their friends—the Ridin’ Hearts Festival 2025 lineup has arrived, featuring a dream roster of international and homegrown stars. Headlined by US sensation Megan Moroney, the festival returns to Sydney Showground on October 25 and Melbourne’s Caribbean Gardens on October 26, promising a full day of boot-stomping hits and down-home fun. Now in its third year, the festival—from the team behind CMC Rocks—has quickly become a must-attend event. “Ridin’ Hearts has captured the hearts of die-hard country fans and the country curious alike,” says Frontier…
The state government is investing $5 million into Melbourne’s iconic Luna Park to bring its Luna Palace back to its former glory. For decades the Palace Building was home to attractions central to Luna Park’s appeal including the Penny Arcade and Dodgems, in more recent times however the more than 100-year-old building has fallen into disrepair and been closed to the public for safety. With this new injection of funding the former arcade space and function venue will be reopened and expanded to host events and be an ongoing revenue source to sustain the park into the future. With a…
Grammy-nominated hitmakers OneRepublic are returning to Australia and New Zealand in February 2026 for The Sweet Escape Tour, bringing their chart-topping anthems and high-energy live show to fans across the region. Joining them as special guest is Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson, making her long-awaited debut down under. Led by frontman Ryan Tedder, OneRepublic last toured Australia and New Zealand in 2023 to packed arenas, cementing their reputation as a must-see live act. With over 5 billion Spotify streams and a catalog of global smashes like Apologize, Counting Stars, and I Ain’t Worried (featured in Top Gun: Maverick), the band continues to dominate the charts. Their…
Melbourne’s iconic Jam Factory is about to enter a new chapter, with plans just lodged for the third and final stage of its ambitious $3.75 billion makeover. The developers claim this isn’t just another development – it’s a full-scale reinvention of one of South Yarra’s most beloved landmarks, blending 160 years of history with a bold new vision for luxury living, shopping and entertainment. The redesigned precinct scraps the original commercial tower for amore striking series of sculptural, fluted buildings rising behind the carefully restored heritage façade. The developers claim the result will be a destination that feels both timeless…