Led by the diminutive Bernadette Alibrando, Walk to Art takes tourists to the creative front line of the most artistic city in Australia, if not the southern hemisphere. Whereas the city centre's Ian Potter Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria hold a few thousand finished works between them, this tour is more about the artistic processes going on in unnamed buildings and clandestine alleys around Melbourne. Over the course of the day you’ll visit everything from airy studios to lane installations, talking to the artists as you go.
Mostly it involves keeping pace with the little Italian as she buzzes from one place of artistic interest to another, loaded with Melbourne’s best coffee. As one of the top six cities in the world for street art, there’s also plenty of high-end graffiti, which is tolerated (though not openly encouraged) by the local council. Less welcoming of the attentions of Banksy were local artists who doused one of his works with silver paint; you can see what’s left on this tour too. It’s breathless, brilliant and unlike any other art tour in the city.

www.walktoart.com.au

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Montsalvat is an eclectic collection of European-style buildings set in bushland in Eltham (a suburb of Melbourne).

Built in the '30s by Justus Jorgensen, it was a retreat for artists and sculptors. These days it's a nice place to visit on a quiet Sunday afternoon to view the various art exhibitions and sculptures (or in my case a celebration of a wedding in the Great Hall).

7 Hillcrest Ave. Eltham Victoria 3095
Phone: (03) 9439 7712
Fax: (03) 9431 4177
www.montsalvat.com.au/

Google map: tinyurl.com/oev4oe

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Fifteen minutes outside Melbourne is the former home of John and Sunday Reed, now open to the public. From the 1930s onwards their home, once an old dairy farm, was a centre of the Australian modernist movement. The couple were passionate supporters and patrons of the leading Australian artists of the day. Sidney Nolan painted his famous Ned Kelly series in their dining room.

7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen 3105; www.heide.com.au;
For more news on the gallery's redevelopment, see www.theage.com.au/news/arts/new-heides-bigger-picture/2006/07/10/1152383621295.html

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The Monash Gallery of Art is a public gallery run by the local council. Its aim is to push the visual arts and I think it succeeds in that. Predominantly showing Australian photography, the collections and the special exhibitions are worth a visit.

860 Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill;
tel: 9562 1569
www.mga.org.au

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Great galleries - collection and space, constantly rotating exhibitions and interesting permanent collections.

Split over two sites - both fantastic spaces.

NGV International: 180 St Kilda Road; www.ngv.vic.gov.au/

NGV Australia: Federation Square (opposite Flinders Street Station)
www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvaustralia/

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Well worth a walk as it encompasses some of the the best vistas onto Port Phillip Bay and some good beaches. Set up to educate users on local artists and why/where they painted what they did - includes Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton. If you have time, have a coffee at the Rickett's Point cafe overlooking the beach...

www.bayside.vic.gov.au/artstrail/masterframeset.htm

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