Melbourne is a great city to visit without breaking the bank. To ensure that families can have a wonderful time in Melbourne without spending a fortune, we've researched all the best free and cheap attractions the city has to offer.
FAQs About Melbourne
- Have a reading marathon.
- Write stories together.
- Play soccer.
- Paint or draw together.
- Create a fort in your living room out of blankets or cardboard boxes.
- Go on a hike.
- Have a sunset picnic at a park or beach.
- Artplay.
- Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium.
- National Gallery of Victoria.
- Library at the Dock.
- Collingwood Children's Farm.
- Keeper Kids Melbourne Zoo Parkville.
- Bundoora Park Farm.
- CERES.
- The Park Is a Great Place To Take 1 Year Olds. ...
- Take A Trip To The Zoo. ...
- Visit The Farmer's Market With Baby. ...
- Go To The Splash Pad or Pool With Your 1 Year Old. ...
- Take Baby To The Beach.
- Take Your 1 Year Old Baby To An Amusement Park or Carnival. ...
- Take A Nature Walk.
All family members will sometimes rub each other the wrong way, argue with one another and hurt each other's feelings, sometimes seriously. But the features common to happy families are security, trust, and tolerance; gratitude and pride in one another; and the enjoyment that comes from being playful with one another.
Strong families have warmth and care, good communication, predictability, and strong connections to others outside the family. Looking after yourself is an important part of raising a strong family.
Melbourne's Huge Range of Free Things for Kids and Families
The RAAF Museum at Point Cook
- Address: 480-490 Point Cook Rd, Point Cook VIC 3030
- Phone: (03) 8348 6040
The Royal Australian Air Force Museum is housed in the oldest continuously functioning military air base in the world at RAAF Williams Point Cook in Victoria, Australia. The RAAF is the world's second-oldest air force.
Melbourne is a great city to visit without breaking the bank. So that families may have fun without breaking the bank, we've scoured Melbourne for all its free and cheap attractions.
This is without a doubt the coolest free spot ever. In addition to regular aeroplanes, a big museum also has air weapons, a boat plane, a mirage jet, and a helicopter.
Any household where someone has a genuine interest in flying would have a great time here. An acrobatic plane performs air shows at predetermined intervals during the week. It would be best to time your travel for one of these times. You'll get a close look at the plane, and the pilot will even answer your questions.
The Restoration Hangar is home to the meticulous restoration of a wooden De Havilland DH-98. The main museum houses an impressive collection of aeroplanes spanning the decades.
Remember to take your ID with you in order to get access to the RAAF base.
Central Melbourne
Skinners Park, Dorcas Street, South Melbourne
- Address: 211A Dorcas St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
- Phone: (03) 9209 6352
Staffed and open weekday afternoons, Skinners Park is also open on weekends. The age range for which it is intended is 6–12 years, but our 4-year-old found it fascinating.
There is a basketball/soccer court (under shade cloth), a chicken coop, a cubby house in a tree with a large curved slide, a very long chain traverse, a pond, a trampoline, a number of cubby houses, a structure made from shipping containers, an old-fashioned slide, artwork, swings, a see-saw, a climbing nett, and many other things to discover at the playground.
Located in a forested area, so there is enough cover from the sun. There is an overwhelming amount of colour splattered throughout, making it seem like you're being attacked by it, and I was relieved to see a blank wall following.
Includes a basketball/soccer court (with a shade cloth over it), a chicken coop, a cubby house in a tree with a large curved slide, a very long chain traverse, a pond, a trampoline, a number of cubby houses, a structure made from shipping containers, an old-fashioned slide, artwork, swings, a see-saw, a climbing nett, and many other things to discover.
On weekdays, Skinners Park is manned in the late afternoon, and on weekends, it is open all day. Our four-year-old enjoyed it, even though the target audience is youngsters ages 6-12.
situated amid trees, providing enough shade. You feel like you're being sprayed in the face with colour because there's so much of it.
The playground features a basketball court and a soccer field (both covered by shade cloth), a chicken coop, a cubby house in a tree with a large curved slide, a very long chain traverse, a pond, a trampoline, a number of cubby houses, a structure made from shipping containers, an old-fashioned slide, artwork, swings, a see-saw, and a climbing nett.
Every weekday in the late afternoon and on the weekends, Skinners Park is manned and available to the public. The age range for which it is intended is 6–12 years, but our 4-year-old found it to be just right.
Located in a forested area, providing enough shade. The saturation and brightness of the colours in this scene are so intense that they almost hurt your eyes.
Serendip Sanctuary
- Address: 100 Windermere Rd, Lara VIC 3212
- Phone: (03) 5283 8000, (03) 5283 8000
With a total size of 250 ha, Serendip Sanctuary is a large conservation area in Victoria, Australia. It lies 22km north of Geelong and 60km south-west of Melbourne. Close by are the You Yang Mountains and the city of Lara.
The Serendip Sanctuary in the vicinity of Lara is one of our most cherished free vacation spots. The opportunity to observe so much animals up up and personal is perfect for a family day.
Because it is a prime example of the wetlands and open grassland woods of the volcanic Western Plains, the sanctuary is a fantastic place to learn about and observe the fauna, flora, and aquatic ecology of the region.
There are over 150 different species of birds that either live at or visit Serendip Sanctuary, and you may watch many of them from the comfort of a bird hide. The birds' natural behaviours, like as feeding, preening, caring young and incubating eggs, can all be observed from within a few metres of the viewing locations.
Taking the kids to Serendip Sanctuary will be a memorable experience for everyone. Bring a picnic, take advantage of the various walking paths, get up and personal with the local animals, and increase your understanding of the need of protecting our natural resources.
Start your day at Serendip by visiting the Information Center and taking a look at the huge microscope or the Underwater World. Within easy walking distance of the visitor centre are four separate nature paths that all link to one another across the sanctuary. All of our trails are under two kilometres round trip in length. Experience the beauty of nature up close by hiking along these pathways.
The Animals Walk is well-known because it provides close encounters with numerous types of wildlife. On your journey to the hides and flying aviaries, you can see Eastern Grey Kangaroos and grazing emus.
Whistling Kites soar high above, magnificent Yellow-billed Spoonbills wade in the shallow water, Brolgas trumpet, and perhaps even the elusive Tawny Frogmouth peeks out from its hiding place to observe your every move.
The State Government of Victoria bought the land in 1959 to use for wildlife research and the captive management and breeding of species threatened in Victoria, such as the brolga, magpie goose, Australian bustard, and bush stone-curlew.
The land had previously been used for farming and other purposes. The wetland refuge is home to a wide variety of plant life, including river red gums, tall spike rush, and tussock grass.
The staff at Serendip have shifted their attention to environmental education, particularly as it pertains to the marsh and grassland wildlife of Victoria's Volcanic Western Plains. Parks Victoria is responsible for maintaining this public space since it opened to the public in 1991.
Maritime Cove Community Park Playground
- Address: 200 The Blvd, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
- Phone: 1300 857 662
The Port of Melbourne did a fantastic job of using recycled equipment to turn abandoned resources into a maritime-themed park. The playground has numerous exciting features, such as channel markers, rail lines, marine bollards, a Crows Nest, a ladder bridge, and colourful and steel buoys.
On the playground, there is a tower with a spiral slide at the very top, but getting there needs a bit of a climb. You can utilise the rope ladders, the wooden ladders, or the shaky bridge to reach the first floor of the tower. A vertical rope tunnel must be ascended before the slide's summit can be reached. The slide still wasn't very slippery, despite your best efforts.
To reach the sandbox paradise, one must first cross a small rope bridge, which is reached by a wooden bridge at the tower's base and a huge rope. The area has an abundance of sand-moving equipment, including cranes, buckets, channels, and chain pulleys.
Young people interested in a career in construction may benefit greatly from this setting. The Crow's Nest may be climbed, too. A crow's life has never been so comfortable.
A water play area with a hand pump and a series of channels and tables is located at the northern end of the playground, and other features include a sand play area, a sea lion sculpture, a turtle sculpture, a wooden pyramid with a tiny metal slide, a wooden boat, a really interesting mechanical sand digger, and a shiny black block with writing on it.
A ship's metal stairway has been modified into a flat walkway. The high ropes course consists of a series of obstacles, such as a nett, a spider web, and a series of thin ropes. A gigantic buoy equipped with grips and a fantastic area with logs stacked in all directions combine for an intriguing and engaging climbing location.
Along the beachfront promenade, you'll find a magnificent log sawing station and other fun and inventive equipment for working out your mind and body. Do you have what it takes to win the Australian log sawing championship?
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image
- Address: Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Phone: (03) 8663 2200
Located in Melbourne's Federation Square, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is the country's official museum of cinema, gaming, and digital art and culture.
Wonderful displays for the whole family, including some nostalgic fun for Mom and Dad, can be found at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square. Screen Worlds is full of fun and engaging online games that you can play right now.
ACMI (previously Australian Centre for the Moving Image) in Melbourne's Fed Square fosters the next generation of creators, performers, and consumers of the world's most democratic artform.
Stories that take you somewhere else. Ideas have the potential to alter your outlook. Experience the world of cinema, television, and new media at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is an organisation that recognises the cultural and creative value of the moving image in all its manifestations, including cinema, television, and digital culture, and works to promote this value.
ACMI offers unparalleled opportunities for audiences of all kinds to interact with the moving image via its year-round schedule of award-winning Australian and international exhibits, films, festivals, live events, creative workshops, education programmes, and Collection resources.
A new permanent exhibition tracing the history of cinema and, in particular, Australian participation in screen culture as both consumers and creators, will serve as the showpiece. Unique in its interactive and immersive nature, Screen Worlds: The Story of Film, Television, and Digital Culture vividly depicts the emergence and evolution of each form of the moving image as a potent creative medium.
The exhibition is the centrepiece of a larger development project that also includes a second special exhibition space, two brand-new state-of-the-art production studios, a new national screen culture resource centre, and a one-of-a-kind external exhibition space.
Royal Park Nature Playground
- Address: 28 Gatehouse St, Parkville VIC 3052
- Phone: (03) 9658 9658
This gold standard in playground design features high ropes courses, a water play space, a gigantic log and rope climbing structure, and landscaping areas. Five-year-olds and under may feel out of place on the playground.
Rope traverses, raised horizontal logs, a ladder, and a rope net make up a fantastic ropes course set in the middle of an amphitheatre with rock step walls.
Some of the barriers are so tall that even Mums will feel dizzy trying to overcome them. There are three different types of slides positioned on the sides of this amphitheatre; one is narrow and moves at a slower pace, another is shorter but incredibly high, and the third is broad and moves at a considerably faster pace.
An elevated grassy slope offers boundless fun for sliding down the hillside, while six swings, some with safety chains, overlook the entire playground below.
In addition, there is a wonderful water play area with a few water sprays, hand pumps and pipes that drain the water into a sandbox below.
A birds' nest swing, a metal dinosaur skeleton, and a massive log and rope climbing structure can be found at the playground's lower level, which is separated from the wet play area.
It is a large area covered with indigenous and native plants and shrubs, with pathways winding through them, and it features a cabin built of tree branches and metal.
Two sections include picnic tables, drinking fountains, and barbeque grills, and there are more, unshaded seating options dotted throughout. No canopies or shady areas exist, and restrooms have recently been installed.
On Saturday afternoons and Sundays, parking is free and more plentiful than during the week, when it may be a bit of a hassle. During the week, parking is limited to 1 or 2 hours in the neighbouring regions.
Fitzroy Gardens
- Address: Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002
- Phone: (03) 9658 9658
The Fitzroy Gardens are a 26-hectare park on the eastern edge of Melbourne's CBD in the Australian state of Victoria.
The gardens are bounded to the east, south, and west by Lansdowne Street, Albert Street, Clarendon Street, and Wellington Parade, and to the west by the Treasury Gardens.
The Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne are the nicest garden to see in the central business district. For a charge, visitors may enjoy the Cooks' Cottage, Tudor Village, Fairy Tree, dragon playground, fountains, sculptures, Conservatory, and water play area. Every Saturday, you may take advantage of a free walking tour.
Cooks' Cottage, a Tudor Village, the Fairy Tree, the Dragon Playground, fountains, sculptures, and the Conservatory are just a few of the many attractions in Fitzroy Gardens.
Captain James Cook, who mapped Australia's eastern coastline, is honoured by a monument called Cooks Cottage. The Cook family's cottage, which had been in Yorkshire, was shipped to Victoria in April of 1934 in 253 packing boxes. The cottage looks as it did in the middle of the 18th century since it has been restored to that time period as closely as possible.
The Conservatory, built in 1930 in the fashion of a Spanish mission, is home to beautiful displays of plants and flowers. Every year, there are five distinct exhibits to see. The Statue of Meditation, a draped marble statue, can be seen next to the Conservatory.
Ola Cohn's Fairies Tree is almost 300 years old and has a series of beautiful carvings on the stump of one of the original Red Gum trees in the Fitzroy Gardens. .
In addition to koalas, kangaroos, and flying foxes, the tree also has sculptures of fairies, dwarves, gnomes, jackass, and other distinctly Australian creatures and birds.
James Sinclair and his family lived in a unique gardener's cottage in the area, built in the Italian Romanesque style.
The bronze sculpture "Boy on the Turtle," depicting a youngster riding on the back of a turtle, may be seen in the Gardens' bottom lake, along with a wide variety of other magnificent sculptures.
Originally stolen in March 1977 from the Fitzroy Gardens, the hefty sculpture was found abandoned in a Richmond parking lot two and a half years later by the Victorian Police.
At the Hotham Street entry to the Gardens, two sculptures, "Boy with Pelican" and "Mermaid and Fish," are installed on sandstone gate pillars.
The Boy with Serpent Fountain may be seen at the back entrance of the Conservatory. On top of a granite globe is a cast-iron decorative fountain depicting a serpent around a boy's figure.
The "Dolphin Fountain" is a granite boulder pyramid topped with sculptures of various marine life, including dolphins, octopi, crabs, sea birds, sea horses, starfish, turtles, and shrimp.
There is a statue of Diana and the Hounds by W. Leslie-Bowles just outside the Conservatory. Grey Street Fountain, located on the east side of the Gardens opposite Grey Street, is one of the oldest fountains in Melbourne's Gardens.
The original plan, which was started in 1863, was for a pool 30 metres in length and a central cluster of rocks, from the centre of which water was propelled up to a height of roughly 15 metres in a solid jet.
There are 10,000 ceramic tiles that make up the "People's Path," all of which were decorated by locals of Victoria on the first day of the Arts Victoria '78 Crafts Festival in February 1978.
Participants of all ages and walks of life at Arts Victoria '78 are represented in the tile designs. These might be anything from elaborate paintings and patterns to graffiti art, hidden meanings, and symbolism.
The 10,000 decorative tiles are complemented with 10,000 plain tiles. In the garden's far north-west, the tiles have been used to create a one-of-a-kind path.
The River God fountain which contains the image of a man on bended knee holding an open clamshell on his shoulders was one of the first important works in the gardens.
Before Europeans arrived in Melbourne, the Scarred tree served as a symbol of the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people who had inhabited the region.
The indigenous people of Australia would strip the bark off of trees to use the wood for building boats, huts, shields, and containers. To strip a tree of its bark, severe incisions were made using a stone axe. Scars from areas where bark has been removed tend to be consistent in shape, with parallel sides and either pointy or rounded ends.
The Tudor Hamlet is a collection of miniature structures meant to evoke a traditional Kentish village from the "Tudor" era of English history.
The community is made up of a collection of thatched homes, a church, a school, a hotel, barns, stocks, a pump, and other public facilities. A miniature replica of Shakespeare's house and Anne Hathaway's cottage are also provided.
A fantastic playground complete with dragon slides and giraffe swings can be found in the Gardens.
Melbourne's reputation as Australia's "garden city" is bolstered by these gardens, which are among the country's most important examples of Victorian-era landscaping.
Conclusion
For those who don't want to spend too much time or money on a trip, Melbourne is a fantastic option. We investigated all of Melbourne's free and low-cost options.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Museum can be found near Point Cook, and it is the second-oldest air force in the world. There is a basketball/soccer court, a pond, a trampoline, and an antique slide in Skinners Park. The Serendip Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia, is a sizable protected area.
It's located 62 kilometres south-west of Melbourne and 22 kilometres north of Geelong. At Skinners Park, you'll find a basketball court, a soccer field, a chicken coop, a trampoline, a classic slide, swings, a see-saw, and a climbing nett.
Over 150 species of birds call Serendip Sanctuary home or visit frequently; many of them can be observed from the safety of a specially designed bird hide. Numerous plant species thrive in the wetland refuge, including river red gums, tall spike rush, and tussock grass. Melbourne's official film, video game, and digital arts and culture museum is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
The playground has a tower with a spiral slide at the top, although getting there requires some ascent. The challenges on the high ropes course include things like netting, spider webs, and taut ropes.
ACMI (formerly known as Australian Centre for the Moving Image) is a non-profit that promotes the artistic and cultural significance of the moving image in all its forms, from film and television to new media.
The centrepiece will be a brand-new permanent exhibition documenting Australia's long and fruitful relationship with the moving image. Fitzroy Gardens is a 26-hectare park located on the eastern outskirts of Melbourne's central business district. Cooks Cottage is a memorial to Captain James Cook, the man responsible for mapping Australia's eastern coastline.
Cooks' Cottage, Tudor Village, Fairy Tree, dragon playground, fountains, sculptures, and Conservatory are all available for a fee. Almost 300 years old, Ola Cohn carved a sequence of exquisite fairies into the stump of one of the ancient Red Gum trees in the Fitzroy Gardens.
The Gardens feature a bronze sculpture called "Boy on the Turtle," which depicts a little boy riding on the back of a turtle. The Victorian Botanic Gardens in Melbourne are widely regarded as among the finest surviving examples of Victorian-era landscaping in the country.
Both the Tudor Hamlet and the Scarred Tree are symbolic of a rural community in Kent, England during the "Tudor" period. The Gardens are home to a magnificent playground, replete with dragon slides and giraffe swings.
Content Summary
- For those who don't want to spend too much time or money on a trip, Melbourne is a fantastic option.
- RAAF Williams Point Cook in Victoria, Australia is the oldest continuously operating military air base in the world, and it also happens to be home to the Royal Australian Air Force Museum.
- The Royal Australian Air Force is the second-oldest air force in the world.
- There are many different types of aircraft on display in a large museum, including both conventional aeroplanes and air weapons, a boat plane, a mirage jet, and a helicopter.
- At regular times throughout the week, an acrobatic plane puts on air exhibitions for the public.
- A wooden De Havilland DH-98 is being restored here at the Restoration Hangar.
- The museum's main building is home to a remarkable collection of planes from various eras.
- Bring your identification with you at all times so that you can enter the RAAF base.
- The playground features many interesting features, such as a basketball/soccer court (with shade cloth), a chicken coop, a cubby house in a tree with a large curved slide, a very long chain traverse, a pond, a trampoline, a number of cubby houses, a structure made from shipping containers, an old-fashioned slide, artwork, swings, a see-saw, a climbing netting, and many more.
- Features a basketball/soccer court (with shade cloth over it), a chicken coop, a cubby house in a tree with a large curved slide, a very long chain traverse, a pond, a trampoline, a number of cubby houses, a structure made from shipping containers, an old-fashioned slide, artwork, swings, a see-saw, a climbing netting, and much more.
- Skinners Park is staffed during the late afternoon on weekdays and all day on weekends.
- Even though it's aimed at kids between the ages of 6 and 12, our four-year-old found it entertaining.
- The playground has a basketball court, a soccer field (both covered by shade cloth), a pond, a trampoline, many cubby houses, a structure made from shipping containers, an old-fashioned slide, artwork, swings, a see-saw, and a climbing netting.
- Every weekday in the late afternoon and on the weekends, Skinners Park is manned and available to the public.
- Our 4-year-old loved it, even though the recommended age range is 6-12.
- Located in a forested region, and offers enough shade.
- Serendip SanctuaryAddress: 100 Windermere Rd, Lara VIC 3212Phone: (03) 5283 8000, (03) 5283 8000
- Serendip Sanctuary is a major conservation area in Victoria, Australia, covering a total area of 250 acres.
- One of our favourite no-cost getaways is the Serendip Sanctuary close to Lara.
- The chance to see so many different creatures up close and personal is great for a day out with the kids.
- The sanctuary is a great area to study and observe the local fauna, vegetation, and aquatic ecology because it provides a representative sample of the wetlands and open grassland forests of the volcanic Western Plains.
- Over 150 species of birds call Serendip Sanctuary home or visit frequently; many of them can be observed from the safety of a specially designed bird hide.
- Visiting Serendip Sanctuary as a family is something that will be remembered fondly.
- Pack a picnic, explore the park's many walking trails, get up and personal with local wildlife, and gain a deeper appreciation for why it's important to preserve our natural resources.
- There are four distinct nature trails that may be accessed within a short distance of the visitor centre and that connect to one another throughout the sanctuary.
- Hiking along these trails will let you get up close and personal with Mother Nature.
- The Animals Walk is well-known for its up-close experiences with a wide variety of animal species.
- In 1959, the Victorian state government purchased the property for the purpose of conducting wildlife research and the captive management and breeding of species threatened in Victoria, including the brolga, magpie goose, Australian bustard, and bush stone-curlew.
- Prior to its current use, the property was farmed and used for other purposes.
- Numerous plant species thrive in the wetland refuge, including river red gums, tall spike rush, and tussock grass.
- Educating guests about the unique flora and fauna of Victoria's Volcanic Western Plains has become a priority for the Serendip team as of late.
- On the playground, there is a tower with a spiral slide at the very top, but getting there needs a bit of a climb.
- In order to go to the first level of the tower, you can either use the rope ladders, the wooden ladders, or the precarious bridge.
- Additionally, you can access the Crow's Nest.
- A water play area with a hand pump and a series of channels and tables is located at the northern end of the playground, and other features include a sand play area, a sea lion sculpture, a turtle sculpture, a wooden pyramid with a tiny metal slide, a wooden boat, a really interesting mechanical sand digger, and a shiny black block with writing on it.
- The high ropes course consists of a number of obstacles, such as a nett, a spider web, and a succession of thin ropes.
- A wonderful wood sawing station, along with other entertaining and imaginative equipment for exercising your mind and body, can be found along the coastal promenade.
- There's a place in Australia dedicated to film called the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
- The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is the official national museum of film, video games, and digital arts and culture, and it can be found in Melbourne's Federation Square.
- Located in Melbourne's Fed Square, ACMI (formerly Australian Centre for the Moving Image) strives to inspire the next generation of filmmakers, actors, and viewers to engage with cinema as a democratic art form.
- Visit the Australian Centre for the Moving Image to immerse yourself in the world of film, television, and digital media (ACMI).
- The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is a non-profit that aims to increase awareness of and appreciation for cinema, television, and digital culture in Australia.
- Through its year-round schedule of award-winning Australian and international exhibitions, films, festivals, live events, creative workshops, education initiatives, and Collection resources, ACMI provides unprecedented possibilities for audiences of all types to engage with the moving image.
- The centrepiece of the museum will be a new permanent exhibition that traces the development of cinema and, in particular, the role that Australians have played as viewers and producers of screen culture.
- Screen Worlds: The Story of Film, Television and Digital Culture is a one-of-a-kind interactive and immersive experience that charts the development of the moving image as a powerful artistic medium.
- The exhibition serves as the focal point of a broader development project that also includes a second special exhibition room, two brand-new state-of-the-art production studios, a new national screen culture resource centre, and a one-of-a-kind outdoor display space..
- Located on the eastern outskirts of Melbourne's Central Business District in Victoria, Australia, the Fitzroy Gardens cover an area of 26 hectares.
- The Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne are the nicest garden to see in the central business district.
- The Cooks' Cottage, Tudor Village, Fairy Tree, dragon playground, fountains, sculptures, Conservatory, and water play area are all available for an additional fee.
- On the first Saturday of each month, we offer a no-cost walking tour.
- There are many things to see and do in Fitzroy Gardens, including the Cooks' Cottage, a Tudor Village, the Fairy Tree, the Dragon Playground, fountains, sculptures, and the Conservatory.
- Cooks Cottage is a memorial to Captain James Cook, the man responsible for mapping Australia's eastern coastline.
- Located in the Fitzroy Gardens, Ola Cohn carved a sequence of stunning fairies into the stump of an ancient Red Gum tree. The tree is estimated to be around 300 years old.
- The tree is decorated with sculptures of a wide variety of Australian animals and birds, including koalas, kangaroos, flying foxes, fairies, dwarves, gnomes, jackass, and more.
- In the neighbourhood, James Sinclair and his family inhabited a one-of-a-kind gardener's cottage designed in the Italian Romanesque style.
- The heavy sculpture was taken in March 1977 from the Fitzroy Gardens and then recovered abandoned in a Richmond parking lot by the Victorian Police two and a half years later.
- Back by the Conservatory's exit, you'll find the Boy with Serpent Fountain.
- One of the oldest fountains in Melbourne's Gardens is the Grey Street Fountain, which can be found on the east side of the Gardens, across from Grey Street.
- Victoria residents coloured each of the 10,000 ceramic tiles that make up the "People's Path" on the opening day of the Arts Victoria '78 Crafts Festival in February 1978.
- The mosaics showcase the wide range of ages and backgrounds that were represented during Arts Victoria '78.
- One of the earliest notable features in the gardens is the River God fountain, which depicts a kneeling man with a clamshell resting on his shoulders.
- It was the Scarred tree that represented the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people, the original inhabitants of the Melbourne area, before European settlement.
- Aborigines in Australia would remove the outer layer of bark from trees in order to use the wood for other purposes, such as making canoes, homes, shields, and containers.
- The bark was removed from trees by cutting deep slits into them with a stone axe.
- The Tudor Hamlet is a model of an old Kentish town from the so-called "Tudor" period of English history.
- The settlement includes a variety of public buildings, including thatched houses, a church, a school, a hotel, barns, stocks, and a pump.
- Both Shakespeare's home and Anne Hathaway's cottage are recreated in miniature for your viewing pleasure.
- The Gardens are home to a magnificent playground, replete with dragon slides and giraffe swings.
- These gardens are some of the finest examples of Victorian-era landscaping in Australia, contributing to Melbourne's status as the country's self-proclaimed "garden city."