Following a two-year restoration project to return this Melbourne architectural icon to its former glory, ANZ’s historic Gothic Bank has reopened – offering a museum where you can bank. The refurbished building now houses an ANZ specialist hub providing banking services, alongside a museum that charts the storied history of ANZ and the iconic site. ANZ’s Gothic Bank first opened for business on May 31, 1887, a period that marked the boom era in Melbourne’s history and a corresponding renaissance for banking institutions. It was originally built as the Australia-based head office of ANZ’s predecessor – the English, Scottish and…
Author: Melbourning
Journey back to the Seventies for a night of pure nostalgia as the Sweet perform all their timeless greatest hits on their farewell tour of Australia They’ll perform all their hits including Ballroom Blitz, Fox on the Run, Love is Like Oxygen, Wig Wam Bam, Blockbuster, Teenage Rampage, Hell Raiser, Action and more. Few bands typified the Seventies as much as Sweet. The Glam rockers are a National British Treasure and a Rock Music Phenomena that took Australia by storm having 13 Top 50 Hits in Australia including two Number Ones. The golden thread that links the past through to the present and into…
I subscribe to all the things so you don’t have to. This is a curated list of what’s been announced over the past week so you can save the date, or swoop on tickets, and also a list of what’s coming up soon if you’re looking to make last-minute plans. What’s new? Billie Eilish announces massive global tour Billie Eilish has announced Australian arena dates, produced by Live Nation and Frontier Touring, for her HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR. This will include four nights at Rod Laver Arena from 4-8 March 2025. Join the joyride with Roxette in 2025 In 2016 Roxette performed…
Object of Projections -An exhibition of works by Kim Gordon is opening at the Substation Galleries in Newport on 30 May 2024 and runs until 24 August. Kim Gordon is the epitome of artistic innovation. As a founding member of Sonic Youth, her impact on alternative music is immeasurable. Gordon’s multifaceted talents extend beyond music; she’s an accomplished visual artist, writer, and fashion icon. Through her distinctive basslines, she challenged conventional notions of melody and rhythm, sculpting Sonic Youth’s signature sound. Gordon’s artistic vision transcends boundaries. Her visual art explores themes of gender, identity, and consumer culture, often incorporating found objects…
Welcoming in the winter months, NGV Friday Nights returns recharged and reimagined for an after-hours ode to the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition Pharaoh. Taking place at NGV International with extended late-night access to the winter blockbuster exhibition, the 17-week season presents a diverse line-up of music residencies, pop-up performances, Middle Eastern-inspired food, and an array of drink offerings. Cabaret queen, Miss Cairo, welcomes guests each evening, bringing her unique brand of exuberance to the stage with songs and storytelling in the Great Hall every Friday night, presenting an evening of unexpected encounters with music and art. From 8pm, a rotating…
Three popular Port Phillip piers are a step closer to a major revamp as part of the Victorian Government’s plan to make popular piers and jetties safer and stronger across the state. Detailed designs to rebuild Dromana Pier, Hampton Pier, and Mornington Fishermans Jetty are now underway following a competitive tender process. These projects will revitalise the precincts, reinstate access for fishing, boating and on-water sports, support local tourism and create local jobs during construction. Dromana Pier, originally constructed in the 1860s, has been partially closed since 2021. Designs will incorporate feedback from community consultation conducted in 2020. Community and…
Margaret Court Arena (MCA) will undergo a transformation from tennis arena to a grand opera house this May when Opera Australia (OA) presents the Australian premiere of Edward Dick’s acclaimed Opera North production of Giacomo Puccini’s gripping thriller Tosca opening Friday 24 May for six performances only. For this first ever staging of an opera at the MCA, the usual opera house set up will be turned on its head with the orchestra to perform on an elevated platform behind the singers on stage. A proscenium arch and raked stage will be constructed, taking up half the arena space and transforming it…
In 2016 Roxette performed what was believed to be its last ever concerts. Now, the duo’s frontman, songwriter, and founder Per Gessle picks up the torch and takes this bundle of worldwide hits on the road again. It’s almost five years since Roxette lost Marie Fredriksson to cancer. A devastating loss that left family, friends, and fans in grief. Their legacy of songs has continued to thrive, being constantly streamed, played, and enjoyed by old and new supporters around the world. The super Swedes were a hit-making machine in Australia achieving four x Top 3 albums with Look Sharp!, Joyride, Tourism and Crash!Boom!Bang!, hit…
The legendary Joanna Lumley will embark on her first ever live tour of Australia, Me & My Travels, in October 2024, performing at major venues around the country throughout October. This includes a date at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on Friday 11 November. Me & My Travels, will take audiences through Joanna’s hilarious and interesting adventures from her incredible career spanning more than four decades, recounting some never heard before stories. Later in the show, she will be joined on stage by friend and producer Clive Tulloh, who will put to Joanna the questions that you’ve always wanted to ask – submitted by the audience – making…
Museums Victoria has partnered with Orygen, Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, to deliver a series of Climate Cafes at Melbourne Museum beginning in June 2024. The Cafes will offer safe spaces for young people affected by climate-related concerns to come together with science and mental health experts to have open conversations about the climate crisis in our shared world. The impact of climate change is one of the megatrends driving the youth mental health crisis, with Orygen’s 2023 report ‘Climate of distress: Responding to the youth mental health impacts of climate change’ finding that two-thirds of Australians…
The Federal Government has announced it will give $100,000 to help restore the majestic Rippon Lea House and Garden, which is proudly included on Australia’s National Heritage List. The restoration of the grand estate in Elsternwick, just 20 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, will include repairs to the ceilings of the mansion and garden structures, and access and safety improvements. Rippon Lea House was completed during the gold boom in 1868, which led to the development of numerous estates in Victoria, often known as ‘Boom-style’ mansions. This funding is part of the Government’s $30 million investment to protect, restore and manage…
Experience the iconic Irish Tenors live at Hamer Hall, Melbourne this September as they celebrate 25 years of musical mastery The Irish Tenors have been the acknowledged Celtic music kings since they burst upon the scene during a 1998 special. With ten best selling CD’s to their credit, they share company with the likes of The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli amongst the most successful classically trained vocal artists in the world. Comprising John McDermott, Anthony Kearns, and Ronan Tynan, the Irish Tenors are renowned for their emotive renditions of traditional Irish songs, operatic arias, and contemporary tunes. They’ve captivated audiences worldwide with their stirring…