TarraWarra Museum of Art (TWMA) is located in the beautiful Yarra Valley wine region, one hour’s drive north-east of Melbourne.
Throughout each year it presents seasonally changing exhibitions within an award-winning building set in the rolling hills of the natural Australian landscape.
Since opening in 2003, the Museum has become recognised as a cultural icon of the region, providing visitors with an enjoyable, inspiring experience which combines stunning architecture with the very best of modern and contemporary art. Over 85 themed exhibitions have been held at TarraWarra to date, covering a diverse range of stimulating and innovative Australian and international art in group and collection shows and single artist surveys, providing the opportunity to experience fresh contexts in which to view Australian art today.
TarraWarra captures the vision of its founders, philanthropists Eva Besen AO and Marc Besen AC, passionate collectors of Australian art from the 1950s to the present day, who gifted both the Museum building, and the public collection featuring many significant artists instrumental in the development of modern Australian art, to the public.
Children are always welcome and free art engagement activities are available. The Museum provides disabled car parking and facilities and easy access to all galleries.
Permanent Collection
The TWMA collection was formed by Eva and Marc Besen who donated artworks from their own private collection to the public of Australia. When TWMA opened in the Yarra Valley in December 2003, Mr and Mrs Besen had donated a total of 142 artworks to form the beginnings of the collection.
The TWMA collection is comprised of Australian works of art primarily from the early 1950s to the present day, the same period during which Marc and Eva Besen have collected art. The collection highlights artists whose work has come to prominence from the 1950s onwards: artists who have shaped the development of modern art in Australia since the precursors of the 1930s and 1940s. While containing examples of internationally informed art, the TarraWarra Museum of Art collection demonstrates a coherent and uniquely Australian character, strongly founded in this nation’s interior and exterior world.
Eva and Marc Besen continue to donate works and acquisition funding to TWMA. In addition there are a small number of works that have been gifted to TWMA by artists and individuals.
getting to the gallery
TarraWarra Museum of Art is located in the Yarra Valley region, north east of Melbourne at TarraWarra, near the town of Healesville.
By car
Driving time from Melbourne CBD is approximately one hour.
Refer to Melways Map book reference page 277, Grid B2.
- Take the Eastern Freeway M3
- Exit onto the Ringwood bypass state route 62 toward Ringwood
- Left onto the Maroondah Hwy state route 36 toward Lilydale
- Continue through Lilydale
- At the fork in the road take the Melba Hwy B300 toward Yarra Glen
- At the roundabout on approach to Yarra Glen take a right toward Healesville on the C726
Public Transport
The train service from Melbourne ends at Lilydale Station; the Museum is located a further 20 minute car or bus trip away.
Travel time from Flinders Street to Lilydale Station is approx. one hour, McKenzies bus route 685 to Healesville via Yarra Glen is approx. 20 minutes.
If you are coming by public transport, visit www.ptv.vic.gov.au to plan your journey.
The journey planner will give you the best options for connection between train and bus.
Bushfire Information
IMPORTANT NOTE: If travelling to the Museum during the bushfire season on days rated by the CFA as high risk, please check current advice on the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au before making your trip. TarraWarra Museum of Art is located in the CENTRAL DISTRICT.
On ALL days listed by the CFA as CODE RED the Museum will be CLOSED.
On days listed as EXTREME or SEVERE, please phone (03) 5957 3100 to check if the Museum is open before making your trip.
accessibility
TarraWarra Museum of Art welcomes guests of all ages and can also cater for any special requirements you or your guests may have.
Two disabled car parks are available close to the museum entry as well as wheelchair accessible toilet facilities.
A self-propelled wheelchair is available for loan free of charge from Museum reception, however we advise if you have specific requirements to bring along your own.
If you can contact us on 03 5957 3100 to advise us of any other special requirements prior to your visit, we will always do our best to accommodate you and your guests.
cafe & gallery shop
Cafe
Contact the gallery for Cafe information.
Gallery Shop
We specialise in providing a selection of beautiful, premium quality works created by Australian makers, ranging from glassware and ceramics to jewellery and scarves, with an emphasis on hand-made and unique items. Exhibition catalogues, gift cards featuring artworks from the Museum’s public collection and feature exhibitions and a wide range of books on art are also available.
Above image: TarraWarra Museum of Art. Redfish Bluefish Photography
Home page image: Patricia Piccinini’s Skywhale 2013 flying across the Yarra Valley to mark the opening of Patricia Piccinini & Joy Hester: Through love... at the TarraWarra Museum of Art, 24 November 2018 –11 March 2019. Commissioned for The Centenary of Canberra. Courtesy of the artist and the Australian Capital Territory Government. Courtesy the artist, Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney. Photo: Rick Liston.
