Town Hall Gallery

13/06/2026

Last week, Town Hall Gallery curators attended a Disaster Preparedness Training facilitated by Grimwade Conservation Services.

They learnt about the importance of developing an emergency response plan for the Town Hall Gallery Collection, ways to keep artworks and cultural materials safe, and strategies for salvaging affected items.

Learn more about the Town Hall Gallery Collection and our Collection Tours via link in bio.

11/06/2026

Deborah Kelly’s practice is concerned with lineages of representation, politics and history in public exchange, and practices of collectivity from epic to intimate. Her works usually begin as paper collages made from abandoned books, then evolve into other multimedia forms such as animation and textile pieces.

Featuring multi-disciplinary works inspired by books, archives and more, ‘Slow Read’ continues until Saturday 25 July. Free entry.

Images: Installation view, ‘Slow Read’, Town Hall Gallery, 2026. Photo by Christian Capurro. Pictured are artworks by Deborah Kelly.

09/06/2026

The Gallery Series is back to brighten up your lunch hour.

Enjoy free live music performances at Town Hall Gallery at 1 to 2 pm every Wednesday until 1 July.

For a full list of performances, visit https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/events/gallery-series

Image: Harpist Liana Perillo. Image courtesy of the artist.

Enjoy free live music performances during lunch hour at Hawthorn Arts Centre.

05/06/2026

Alice Anderson was a pioneering mechanic and entrepreneur from Kew who established Australia’s first motor garage operated entirely by women in 1919.

City of Boroondara is partnering with the Alice Anderson Memorial Project to commission a public artwork to honour Alice Anderson, which will be installed near the original site of Alice’s garage.

A portrait of Alice, ‘The Thoroughly Modern Girl of Motoring’ by George Petrou OAM, is on display at Town Hall Gallery and is available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale of this artwork will contribute to the delivery of the Alice Anderson Public Art Project.

For more information about the artwork, please get in contact with the Alice Anderson Memorial Project by emailing [email protected].

Image: George Petrou OAM. ‘The Thoroughly Modern Girl of Motoring’, 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 90 cm. Image courtesy of the artist.

01/06/2026

Last chance to apply! Applications for the 2027 Community Exhibitions Program close Sunday 14 June 2026, 11:59 pm.

This is a free opportunity for artists, community groups and schools in Boroondara to showcase work at Town Hall Gallery in 2027, in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Artist Clara Batton Smith, who exhibited in ‘Common Thread’ (2022) said the program gave her the push she needed:

“It was a really open and welcoming place... since that show I’ve been in 5 or 6 more exhibitions and got a highly commended award. It really upped my courage.”

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the program. Find out more via the link in our bio.

Image: Visitors at the official opening of 'Common Thread', Town Hall Gallery, 2022.

29/05/2026

Visit ‘Love from Boroondara’ to see the winning entries of the 2026 Boroondara Photography Competition and vote for your favourite work in the People’s Choice Award.

Photographers of all ages and abilities submitted photographs from the past and present, capturing what they love about the people, places and natural environment in Boroondara.

Showing until Saturday 27 June. Free entry.

27/05/2026

Our current community exhibition, ‘Desire Lines’ by Anna Kiparis, explores the unofficial dirt trails that form when walkers consistently choose a more direct, or convenient, route instead of following a planned path, known as “desire lines”. Kiparis’ photographs feature local landscapes around Gardiners Creek.

‘Desire Lines’ continues until Saturday 13 June. Free entry.

Images: Installation view, ‘Desire Lines’, Town Hall Gallery, 2026. Photo by Christian Capurro.

22/05/2026

Our new major exhibition ‘Slow Read’ is open now.

‘Slow Read’ turns our attention to the printed page and to quiet, deliberate acts of looking and reading. Multi-disciplinary artworks explore the possibilities of the book format, where artists utilise source materials from personal collections of books, archives and more.

Featuring: Jacky Cheng, Zoë Croggon, Julie Gough, Gracia & Louise, Nadia Hernández, Deborah Kelly, Martin King, David Noonan and Jayda Wilson.

This exhibition continues until Saturday 25 July. Town Hall Gallery is open Mon to Fri, 9 am to 5 pm, and Sat 12 to 4 pm. Free entry.

Image 1: Installation view, ‘Slow Read’, Town Hall Gallery, 2026. Photo by Christian Capurro. Pictured are artworks by Gracia & Louise and Martin King.

Image 2: Installation view, ‘Slow Read’, Town Hall Gallery, 2026. Photo by Christian Capurro. Pictured are artworks by Zoë Croggon.

Image 3: Installation view, ‘Slow Read’, Town Hall Gallery, 2026. Photo by Christian Capurro. Pictured are artworks by Deborah Kelly and Jacky Cheng.

Image 4: Installation view, ‘Slow Read’, Town Hall Gallery, 2026. Photo by Christian Capurro. Pictured are artworks by Nadia Hernández and Julie Gough.

19/05/2026

Join us on Wednesday 27 May from 12 to 1 pm for a rare tour of the Town Hall Gallery collections storeroom along with a discussion about the importance of public art collections.

The Town Hall Gallery Collection features works by some of Australia’s most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, reflecting on the shared histories, creative spirit and evolving identity of the Boroondara community.

After the tour, stay and enjoy free live music in the gallery as part of The Gallery Series.

Free, registrations essential. Book now via link in bio.

Image: Town Hall Gallery storeroom. Photo by Christian Capurro.

15/05/2026

Do you have an old book or poster that is falling apart?

Attend this Conservation Masterclass facilitated by Studio M. Vintage Posters where you can learn the basics of paper conservation, including safe handling practices and preservation techniques. Learn how to make a starch paste, an archival adhesive commonly used for paper repair, framing and bookbinding.

You’re also welcome to bring your own sentimental object to get some advice on its preservation and care.

Image courtesy of Studio M. Vintage Posters