Is the talk suitable for children?

No—attendees must be 16 years or older to attend.

Can I take photos inside the house?

Photography is generally permitted in exhibition areas and some parts of the house, but avoid flash and follow any guidance from staff on restricted zones.

Is the building wheelchair accessible?

As a heritage building, Walsh Street cannot be modified to achieve universal access; contact information@robinboyd.org.au for tailored mobility support before booking.

Are discounts available?

Yes—discounted tickets are offered to RBF Friends and Boyd Circle members; check membership pages for details.

Can I bring food or drink?

No—external food and drink are not permitted inside the venue.

How long is the talk and what does it include?

The event runs about two hours and includes the talk by Andrew Saniga plus admission to the Loose Leaf exhibition.

Andrew Saniga: Making Landscape Architecture at Robin Boyd's Walsh Street Residence | History Tour | Photography Tour

At 290 Walsh Street in South Yarra, Victoria AU 3141, the Robin Boyd Foundation opens a rare domestic stage for modernist ideas. The Talk: Andrew Saniga, Making Landscape Architecture in Australia is a two-hour pop-up that pairs scholarship with architecture-tour ambiance. Andrew Saniga—Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Melbourne and author of Making Landscape Architecture in Australia (2012)—frames the emergence of landscape architecture as a profession through slides, drawings and the domestic setting of Boyd’s Walsh Street residence.

The house itself is the key feature: a mid-20th-century modernist residence designed by Robin Boyd, its cork floors and compact rooms preserving the material details that shaped Australian modernism. Visitors will move between a small lecture space and photographic viewpoints that capture Boyd’s flared eaves, planar walls and the narrow, planted garden that edges the lot. The scene balances built geometry and urban garden: brick, timber, and original fittings create a tactile archive while established eucalypts and clipped shrubbery lend a local botanical note.

Saniga draws on Tract’s archival projects and the Loose Leaf exhibition to trace projects and people from the 1970s and 80s, explaining how campuses, courts and public landscapes remade postwar Australia. The talk includes admission to Loose Leaf and offers both context and critique—good material for design students, practicing landscape architects and curious travelers who want a sharper view of Australian design history.

Practical details matter: the meeting point is 290 Walsh Street South Yarra, Victoria AU 3141; attendees must be 16 or older, large bags will be checked, and stiletto or pointed heels are not permitted to protect the cork flooring. Accessibility is limited—Walsh Street is a heritage building and cannot be modified for universal access; email [email protected] for tailored mobility support.

This event is a fresh way to experience Melbourne’s design culture without the museum crowd. It’s ideal for a rainy afternoon lecture, a windy city walk followed by close-looking at proportion and material, or a focused stop on an architectural itinerary that includes nearby South Yarra and the university precinct. Bring a notebook, a camera (respectful flash rules apply), and curiosity.

Why book it? The talk stages historic research inside an intact modern house, turning scholarship into an immediate encounter with place. It’s a compact, illuminating experience that connects the dots between Australian landscape practice, mid-century architecture, and the lived spaces that shaped both. Tickets may be discounted for RBF Friends and Boyd Circle members; check the Robin Boyd Foundation for availability.

Plan to arrive early, allow time to browse the Loose Leaf exhibition afterward, and pair the visit with coffee on Chapel Street or a tram through the Domain precinct for a fuller day exploring Melbourne’s modern landmarks and nearby galleries.

About Robin Boyd Foundation

Robin Boyd Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the life, work and legacy of Australian architect Robin Boyd. Based in South Yarra, Victoria, the Foundation manages Boyd’s 1957 Walsh Street residence and archives, delivering guided tours, talks, walking tours and creative workshops that connect visitors with modernist architecture and Melbourne’s built history.

The Foundation offers a range of experiences: guided tours of the Walsh Street house, evening events such as Sunset Cocktails at Walsh Street, themed talks on modern design and conservation, neighbourhood walking tours through South Yarra, and drop-in drawing sessions that pair architectural insight with sketching and photography. Each program is led by experienced guides, architects and guest speakers who present research-based commentary and curated access to Boyd’s preserved home and materials.

As a custodian of a significant heritage property and archive, the Foundation collaborates with conservation specialists, historians and design practitioners to ensure accurate interpretation and careful site stewardship. Its events are rooted in documented scholarship on post-war modernism and local architectural history, providing reliable context for students, professionals and the general public.

Visitors can expect small-group formats, focused storytelling and opportunities to photograph and study Walsh Street’s distinctive modernist features. The Foundation’s stewardship of the property, structured programming and partnerships with experts underpin its reputation as an authoritative resource on Robin Boyd and mid-20th-century Australian design.

Public programs are scheduled seasonally and include limited-capacity events, making bookings recommended for visitors seeking guided access to Walsh Street and related exhibitions and archival displays.