Walking Thomastown 2024

A little girl in front of a vibrant tree with colorful leaves.

Take a magical nighttime journey through the culture and history of Thomastown. Experience one of our oldest suburbs in a new light.

This is a free event to attend and no bookings are required.

Highlights

Gather at dusk and explore the world around you as you walk from Main Street Recreation Reserve, along Edgars Creek, through Ziebell’s Farm and the pioneer precinct at Westgarthtown. 

Grab your torch and walking shoes and join us on a nighttime walk exploring Thomastown’s rich and unique history.

Activities

  • Art and light installations
  • Live music and entertainment
  • Cultural performances
  • Lantern making activity and more.

Evening Program

  • Main Street Reserve Playground
    Live performances, neon face painting, Community Stalls
    Hosted by Dame Cara Lynn
    6pm Welcome to Country
    6.20pm ‘Dare to Dream’ – Community Dance Project
    6.40pm Warm Up with Zumba and TRAC
    7pm The Cultural Centre of Florinians “Aristotelis”
    7:30pm Nepalese Neighbourhood Community Group
    8pm Sri Lankan tradition with Kasunika
    8:30pm Uptown Brown
  • Thomas Street Community Pavilion
    Food vans, Toilets, Neon Dog Park, lantern making
    Reflections by Playable Streets.  Come and leave an end of winter message of hope.
  • Edgar’s Creek
    Lantern Installation by Sanctum Studios
    Mapiyal installation by Indi Hunt – a platypus creation story
  • Thomas Street Playground
    FReeZA Stage & Live Performance
    6.15pm Jake Carlson
    7pm Noah Graham
    7.45pm Elizabeth Pardallis
    8.30pm Momoko Rose
  • Live Digital Art
    Watch an artist create an enormous digital artwork.
  • Lalor Scout Hall
    Food Trucks, Neon Garden, Toilets, Roving Entertainment
  • Westgarthtown Historic Reserve
    Light Installations, Roving Entertainment
  • Lalor Lutheran Church
    Digital Projections by the Little Projector Company
  • Moving Portraits
    Digital Projections featuring stories from our local community
  • Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum & Heritage Garden
    Open Museum & Live performances
    6.15pm Jo Clyne Magic show
    7pm Nat Bartsch jazz and friends
    8pm Nat Bartsch jazz and friends
    8:40pm Jo Clyne Magic Show
  • Gardenia Road
    Take the Short Cut from Ziebell’s Farmhouse to Main Street Reserve

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Are the pathways wheelchair accessible?

The pathways are wheelchair accessible up until German Lane.  Access to the Westgarthtown Historic Precinct is via an unsealed path and not recommended for wheelchairs.

Are there restrooms along the trail?

Yes. Restrooms are marked on the map and located at the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavillion, Lalor Scout Hall and Ziebell’s Farmhouse and Museum.

Are there white strobe lighting or flashing effects?

There are no strobe lights involved.  Some of the lighting installations include moving lights.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes. Dogs are welcome (on a leash).

Can I get involved?

We always love to engage with our community in the development and delivery of events. If you’d like to be involved in this, or any future events, please contact the Arts, Culture and Events team at EventsArtsandCulture@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

Can I take pictures?

Yes! We’d love to see your pictures. If you’re posting on Instagram, feel free to tag us @citywhittlesea or use the hashtag #WalkingThomastown to share your discoveries with the community.

Do I need to bring anything?

The trail is lit and event staff and security will be present to ensure a smooth and safe evening, however, we recommend bringing some warm, wet-weather clothes and a torch.

Emergency Management

Security and site wardens will be stationed across the site wearing orange high visibility jackets.  Please speak with them to report any emergency.

First Aid

First aid services will be moving across the event site. Any emergencies should be reported to security or a site warden.  First Aid is also available at the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavilion.

How do I get to Walking Thomastown?

As a walking event, we recommend taking public transport and/or walking. The walk begins at Main Street Reserve Thomastown, via Main Street behind the Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre.

How long is the trail?

Approximately 2km round-trip (an easy 30-minute walk).

How much does it cost?

It’s free to attend the event. All activities are free. There are some food and hot drink options available for purchase.

How much time should we allow for this event?

The event runs from 6pm – 9pm. You are welcome to stay and explore for the entire duration, but we recommend allowing a minimum of one hour to complete the trail and enjoy the art and activations along the way.

How should I dress for the event?

Be prepared for cold and wet weather! Be sure to wear sturdy shoes for walking. The path is paved up until German Lane, where it could get muddy.

Is there parking available?

Yes, there is limited public parking available at the Main Street Recreational Reserve and the Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre.

Lost Property

Our information tent is located at the Main Street Reserve Playground for lost property.

Photography, Media and Filming

This event will be captured by our photographers and videographers for use on social media and in City of Whittlesea marketing materials. By attending the event, you are agreeing to have your image used for these purposes. If you would not like your image captured, simply let one of our friendly staff know.

What food options are available?

Handheld food (jam donuts, curly spuds and coffee) is available from the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavillion and near the Lalor Scout Hall.

What happens if it’s raining?

The event will go ahead as planned, some acts or installations may be modified for wet weather. Please bring some wet-weather clothing.

What times are the performances?

There are performance spaces and roving acts across the event site.  Please refer to the event program for a full list of performances and times. 

Where is the nearest public transportation?

The event is approximately a 10-minute walk from Thomastown Railway Station. The 357 bus route also stops at the Main Street Recreational Reserve.

Who can attend?

Anyone can attend Walking Thomastown. All activities, performances, installations and activations are family-friendly and appropriate for all ages.

Live digital art projection artists

Zahraa Al ZubaydiZahraa

Zahraa is a versatile artist who embraces both digital and traditional mediums. Her creative journey spans various practices, from sculpting to quilting and beyond. Many of Zahraa's artworks have elements inspired by nature and the WTT cosmos because of her profound fascination for Earth's biodiversity, and the mysteries of Space. In her free time, she enjoys creating video games, blending her artistic passion with interactive storytelling.

 

LUNA TUNESLuna Tunes

Luna Tunes is an Artist from Naarm/Melbourne. They have always been a drawer but now they also do painting, design, video, animation and lots more.

Along with the revolving door of collaborations LUNA TUNES aka Liam is the head Illustrator for Northern Territory social enterprise House of Darwin as well as being editor, designer and creator of their own magazine LUNA TUNES Quarterly.

“My art is many, many things to me but probably/definitely something else to you. To me my art is memories, it's daydreams. Little things I’ve seen or swam into my brain. It’s collaboration. It's meditation. It’s time and space. Its science. It’s little spirits. Its ideas.  Its moments. It records. Its feelings. Collected items in a pocket. Lots of other stuff - all hopefully balanced together in some way that seems just right in my gut.” 

 

Brett Cardwell/CARDYTOONSbrett from cardytoons

Brett Cardwell (Cardy) grew up on a farm in Whittlesea, Victoria. Inspired by the Bugs Bunny Show, Mad Magazines and Footrot Flats - he practiced drawing daily and by late high school his cartoons appeared in several magazines and a published book by a local Sheep Dog trainer. In 1994 he took a small whiteboard and flew with a small team around outback Australia using cartoons to tell stories in tiny schools, churches and community halls. This was the beginning of realizing the power of the visual story. Soon after Cardy started "Cardytoons" and has worked for the last 30 years with schools around Australia and overseas. He loves inspiring people with his cartooning and animation workshops as well as through caricatures, murals and public speaking.

 

Simon OCarrigansimon ccarrigan portrait at desk

Simon O’Carrigan uses pencil, ink, watercolour and digital media to make artwork and illustration for a diverse group of galleries, publishers and clients.

He draws and paints his local urban landscape, the green spaces nearby and the Birrarung/Yarra River. His work has earned awards and grants from the Arts Victoria, City of Melbourne, City of Yarra, and the National Association of Visual Artists. As ‘Postcard Facade’, he makes ‘house portrait’ art commissions for private clients.

His commercial illustration clients include design agencies, law firms, non-profits, advocacy groups, schools, libraries, and museums. His drawings form part of the permanent exhibition at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Sydney.

He has illustrated books for six of the major publishers in Australia, been awarded by the Australian Society of Authors, Copyright Agency, and Illustrators Australia, and has been shortlisted for the SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator of the Year.

Walking map

The walking trail is approximately 2km round-trip (an easy 30-minute walk).

walking map

When

  • Saturday, 31 August 2024 | 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Location

Main Street Recreation Reserve, 54-76 Main Street, Thomastown, 3074, View Map

Google Map