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Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Montsalvat Arts & Events

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Eltham, VIC
Montsalvat Arts & Events

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Arts centre + artist community located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung clan. What’s in a name?
(1665)

Montsalvat, founded by Justus Jörgensen, is Australia’s oldest artists’ colony and home to practising artists. It remains to this day a working not-for-profit arts centre administered by a board of trustees. Set in 12 acres of established gardens, the historic buildings include charming mudbrick cottages and the impressive Great Hall. In 1934 the Jörgensens purchased the land that would later become Montsalvat. Justus Jörgensen was a trained architect and student of the artist Max Meldrum. He married a medical student, Lillian Smith, in 1924 and their subsequent travels around Europe had a profound influence on the architecture of Montsalvat. Whilst the inspiration for Montsalvat came from one man, its creation was the work of many hands. Among those who followed Jörgensen to Montsalvat were Mervyn Skipper, his wife Lena and their children, Helen, Sonia and Matcham. Arthur Munday, Lesley Sinclair, Sue Vanderkelen, George Chalmers, Ian Roberston, Helen Lempriere, John Smith, John Busst and Myra Skipper also lived and worked at Montsalvat in those early years. For a more detailed history of who has lived and worked at Montsalvat please click here. Many of the buildings at Montsalvat are made via a process called pisé de terre, or rammed earth, using soil from the site. However the iconic Great Hall is built from a reef of mudstone which was uncovered in the grounds during excavation. Many of the other building materials used were sourced from wreckers’ and builders’ yards across Melbourne. With the outbreak of World War Two, the collective energies at Montsalvat were redirected and Montsalvat became largely self-sufficient, with a market garden, poultry farm and small dairy. Several more buildings were hastily built for the farm – the dairy, stables, silos and storehouses belong to this period. In the late 1990’s the Barn studio was burnt down, leaving only the fireplace standing. The Barn Gallery, which now serves as the main entrance to Montsalvat was built in its place. Today Montsalvat is a thriving arts community with members of the Jörgensen and Skipper families still living and working in the grounds. Montsalvat also enjoys an active exhibitions, concert and artists in residence program. The name Montsalvat features in both German and English mythology. Richard Wagner, the famous German composer, tells of a distant land called ‘Montsalvat’ in his opera Lohengrin. Montsalvat also features in the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In both of these stories Montsalvat is the location of the fabled Holy Grail. Montsalvat’s own legend has it that Sue Vanderkelen first called this place Montsalvat, declaring that it meant “mount of salvation”.

28/10/2026

Montsalvat Opening Hours this cup weekend:
OPEN: Saturday 31st & Sunday 1st
CLOSED: Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd

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27/10/2026

From film shoots and photography to music events, creative workshops and wellness classes, there's space at Montsalvat.

Enquire now to hire a space 🔗 https://montsalvat.com.au/our-venues/venue-hire-enquiry/

25/10/2026

Immerse yourself in a deeply restorative Sound Bath Meditation with renowned practitioner Lama Tendar.

WHEN | SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER, 2PM – 4PM
WHERE | Barn Gallery

🔗Bookings via our the What's On page of our website - Link in bio

Using Tibetan healing bowls, gongs, sacred chanting and guided meditation, this immersive experience invites you into a profound state of calm and renewal. Designed to ease stress, quiet the mind and restore balance, the session works gently through the body, speech and mind, leaving you feeling grounded, refreshed and deeply relaxed.

Lama Tendar is the Spiritual Director of the Medicine Buddha Tantrayana Meditation Centre, the Tibetan Children’s Fund and the Shantideva Buddhist Foundation.

23/10/2026

Montsalvat is open all weekend from 10am to 4pm 🌸

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22/10/2026

The W**e Bar Spring Menu is perfect for these sundrenched evenings at Montsalvat 🌞

Now serving Cosmos, Spritzes, Mojitos, French Martinis, Bellinis and Strawberry Margaritas. Food, w**e and b**r always available.

Friday Nights from 4 to 8 pm. Free Entry.

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20/10/2026

Discover a venue like no other in Melbourne. Explore Montsalvat’s venue hire options and find the perfect backdrop for your next event, photo shoot or venue for hire.

Find our venue hire options via the website 🔗 link in bio.

📷️ by .mcgregor

16/10/2026

The White Wisteria is in bloom 🤍

Typically, the White Wisteria vine, planted right next to our iconic purple vine above the pool terrace, always blooms about a week after the purple petals have fallen.

Montsalvat are open all weekend from 10am to 4pm.

15/10/2026

Open Gallery Night is tomorrow night 🌙

Once a month, we launch new exhibitions across our Gallery Spaces with an Open Gallery Night. Meet the artists, enjoy live music, visit the w**e Bar and experience Montsalvat brought to life at sunset.
*Entry is free*

Showing:

BOLDLY | Jo Brazil – Josephine Cassar – Tracey Marsten – Liz Notley – Sonja Parkinson – Kobie Swart

Bridges of Art | Eurasia to Australia – Artlight Australia Collective

Roses Close Up | Karin Motyer

Friday 16th October, 6 to 8 pm alongside the W**e Bar

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14/10/2026

Discover Montsalvat’s heritage rose collection on our new curated Rose Walks.

Planted across generations, from the early gardening efforts of Mervyn Skipper and his daughter Helen to Sigmund Jorgensen’s significant plantings in the 1980s, the collection reflects Montsalvat’s evolving history and the enduring appeal of heritage and species roses.

With recent support from Heritage Roses in Australia, we invite you to discover this eclectic collection of resilient and beautiful blooms.

The walks are launching this Friday alongside Karin Motyer's exhibition 'Roses Close Up' in the Wood Workshop with a guided tour by Montsalvat's head gardener Jo Douglas.

Learn more on the Guided Tours page of our website, or grab a brochure with your ticket when you visit!

Address

7 Hillcrest Avenue
Eltham, VIC
3095

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://www.montsalvat.com.au/

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