The White Hat Guide to 20 Things To Do in Melbourne on a Tuesday

Pioneers (1904) by Frederick McCubbin at the Ian Potter Centre NGVA (see No.1 below) Click here to buy this print

1. The Ian Potter Centre (or the National Gallery of Victoria - Australian Collection) at Federation Square provides a superb overview of Australian art. As well as containing important works by most major Australian artists since European settlement it also has a fine collection of Aboriginal art from before that time. While you are they take note of the contemporary architecture of the gallery which blends modern engineering with century-old recycled materials.

For anyone interested in classic cars, White Hat can recommend the Fox Classic Car Collection as a 'must visit'. It is open on Tuesdays (Feb to Nov). More information at The White Hat Guide to the Fox Classic Carr Collection.

3. The Queen Victoria  Market is closed on a Monday and Wednesday so White Hat suggests you take advantage of Tuesdays to visit one of Melbourne's most popular destinations. It is a large covered market selling fresh produce and general goods and has been central to Melbourne's life for over a century. Alternatively you can search out another Tuesday market. You can find a comprehensive list of Tuesday markets at The White Hat Guide to Tuesday Markets in Melbourne
4. You could start the day with free Tai Chi classes at Federation Square. These sessions are suitable both for newcomers or experienced practitioners.
5. Australia has a large Greek population; in fact it is the largest Greek city in the world outside of Greece. The Hellenic Museum showcases some of the contributions of Greek people towards Australia as well as featuring small exhibitions of Greek antiquities. It is all housed in the Former Royal Mint Building which is a fine example of 19th century architecture.
6. Take a leisurely wander through the Flagstaff Gardens in the midst of the city buildings. During summer you may find free concerts or free painting classes taking place. During winter you can sit and ponder the rich vein of history this place represents in the development of Melbourne. More information at The White Hat Guide to the Flagstaff Gardens.
7. Tuesday nights offer the opportunity of half price skating at the Icehouse where you need not feel embarrassed at bumbling around amongst the professionals.
8. Tuesday also offers a chance to catch up on some movies on the cheap. Many cinemas offer cheap or half price tickets on a Tuesday. Currently (May 2011) you may find Hoyts offering $11 tickets and Greater Union $8 tickets. Some pizza chains and DVD hire places also offer special prices on a Tuesday so it is worth checking them out.
9. The Block Arcade is a wonderful place to wander through and soak up the sumptuous atmosphere of up-market shopping a century ago. However it is a living building and you can get a look behind the scenes on a guided tour.
10. Melbourne comes alive at the weekend with a myriad of outdoor craft markets, but there are few during the week. One exception is the Altona Beach Market which is about 30 minutes by train from the city.
11. Melbourne's lanes & alleys give it a distinctive flavour with lots of cafés, galleries, designer studios and graffiti art hidden away from the main streets. Why not investigate?
12. Melbourne is a flat city which means the views from our tallest buildings go on for miles as well as providing a more detailed overview of the city and inner suburbs. White Hat can recommend a vest to the viewing platforms at the Eureka Tower.
13. Take a free tour through Melbourne Town Hall and and view its impressive chambers and view the wonderful pipe organ close up.
14. During summer enjoy rooftop cinema under the sky on top of a city building. There are regular screenings on the rooftop of Curtin House.
15. Take the kids to Story Time at the Polly Woodside. Let them her tall tales about pirates and life on the high seas.
16. Take a tour of Docklands Stadium.
17. If you are looking for something relaxing or romantic, every Tuesday during Spring Autumn and Summer there is an afternoon harp concert in the Royal Botanic Gardens. For more details see The White Hat Guide to the Harp.
18. Jazz lovers may be interested to visit the Victorian Jazz Archives in Wantirna.
19. Visit the Duldig Studio in Malvern and learn how two artists flleing the Nazi's made an important contribution to Australian life
20. And finally, if it's raining then you could have a look at The White Hat Guide to 50 Things to do on a Rainy Day in Melbourne.

Some forthcoming events on a Monday in Melbourne

The Bodyguard - The Musical The Bodyguard is the award-winning musical based on the film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. In the storyline Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker.  Each expects to be in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love. The Bodyguard features the well-known classics including Queen of the Night, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, Greatest Love of All, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and one of the greatest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You. Ticket prices and purchases on The Bodyguard official website Tue to Sun, 1st Sept to 29th Oct 2017 Regent Theatre

The Merry Widow The Merry Widow is a delicious confection: a light-hearted look at love amid the champagne and glitter of Art Deco France. Ladies sweep into ballrooms in silk fishtail gowns, and dapper gents in suits and patent leather shoes kiss your hand and fill up your dance card. Melbourne-born international star Danielle de Niese (evening performances only) plays the beguiling widow, inadvertent heiress of a city's fortune after just eight days of marriage. Fearing the loss of their riches, the society set are determined that she must wed a local, and soon, before any foreigner catches her gaze. But she's got a history with the man they've got in mind, and to complicate matters, the widow isn't the only one turning heads. There's plenty of love to go around in this story of amorous encounters and elegant romance. Graeme Murphy brings his spirited choreography and direction to Lehár's charming operetta in a brand new production. Opera Australia and Orchestra Victoria conducted by Vanessa Scammell. 7.30pm 15th, 16t, 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd & 24th July 2017 Matinees 1pm 18th & 25th July and 3pm 19th July 2017 Ticket prices and bookings on Opera Australia website. State Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre

The Book of Mormon From South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez, it’s The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards® including Best Musical.  The Book of Mormon made its world premiere in March 2011 at Broadway's Eugene O'Neil Theater. The London production opened in February 2013 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The show has set house records at 27 theatres around the US, and broken the house record at New York's Eugene O'Neill Theatre more than 50 times. The London production broke box office records for the highest single day of sales in West End history. White Hat can thoroughly recommend The Book of Mormon as one of the best and most entertaining musical productions to be seen in Melbourne for quite some time Our rating - 5 Hats Book tickets online from official site Tuesday to Sunday until early December 2017 Princess Theatre, Spring Street, Melbourne

West Side Shorts Short films in a relaxed atmosphere. White Hat suggests that if you are inteerested in watching the type of short films you are unlikely to see in a mainstream cinema with a chance to discuss what you thought of them over a drink then you might want to check out West Side Shorts. Program details at Angry Productions. cost $5 8.30pm, 2nd Tuesday of month Customs House Hotel, 161 Nelson Place Williamstown

Top Hat Tuesdays If you are looking for something different to do on the first Tuesday of the month White Hat suggests you might investigate some magic in Chinatown. Top Hat Tuesdays are a celebration of the magical arts, showcasing the best of Melbourne’s local and travelling magicians. Every month, you can come and experience a night of magic and mystery. Doors open 7pm, show from 7.30 to 9pm. When the final curtain draws at Top Hat Tuesdays, it’s time to share the limelight with your friends, with the venue transforming into an open-mic karaoke bar, so if you don’t want the fun to end, hang around for a Tom Jones rendition or two. Cost: $12.50 pre-sale tickets online, or $15 at door 1st Tuesday of month Level 2 / 2 Coverlid Place, Chinatown, Melbourne

Morning Tai Chi session Led by Tai Chi Australia Free 7.30-8.30am, Tuesdays Federation Square

Selected attractions open on certain Mondays in Melbourne

Duldig Studio museum + sculpture garden An artists' house museum - the former home and artists' studio of sculptor Karl Duldig (1902-1986) and his wife - artist and inventor Slawa Duldig née Horowitz (c1902-1975). Both artists fled the Nazis and ended up making a significant contribution to Australian life. You can read more about their remarkable background and the studio at Duldig Studio >>

Grainger Museum Built by arguably Australia's finest musician, Percy Grainger, to house his collection of music-related instruments, scores and other items associated with his life and career. more info > >

Fox Classic Car Collection For anyone interested in classic cars, White Hat can recommend this collection as a 'must visit'. Except for special occasions, The Fox Classic Car Collection is only open on Tuesdays Wednesdays & Saturdays (closed Grand Prix Weekend, Easter & Melbourne Cup Day) more info >>

Free Tour of Melbourne Town Hall A free tour of the historic Melbourne Town Hall. Numbers are limited so bookings are essential and required one day in advance. More information >>

Heide Museum of Modern Art Heide Museum of Modern Art

Hellenic Museum Situated in the historic Former Royal Mint buildung, this small but important museum is Australia' foremost centre of Hellenic history, ciuture and the arts as well as documenting Greek migation and contributions to Australia. More information >>

Ian Potter Museum of Art The Ian Potter Museum of Art at Melbourne University is a short tram ride from the city and a short walk from Lygon Street Carlton. Entry is free but from time to time there are special exhibitions in part of the gallery which may entail an entry charge. Exhibited works are chosen from teh art clocction of the Unversity of Melbourne - the largest university art collection in Australia. More info >>

Jewish Museum of Australia Preserving and exhibiting Jewish heritage, arts, customs and religious ritual in all its diversity. It includes the significant contrbutions of Jewish people to Australian life. more info > >

National Gallery of Victoria - Australian Collection National Gallery of Victoria - Australian Collection

Old Treasury Building One of Australia's finest Victorian era buildings. It is open to teh public on Wednesdays and Sundays and features fine displays related to Melbourne history. More info >>

Victorian Jazz Archive The Victorian Jazz Archive is a not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers with the mission and vision of "Proactively Collecting, Archiving & Disseminating Australian Jazz". The organisation's venue houses an impressive collection of jazz-related materials. More info >>