Geography Victoria Newsletter

Newsletter - December 2025

December is a busy time of year and for Geography Victoria the highlight is our final event for the year. Join us for a fun and free Christmas StoryWalk® that is perfect for the “young”, the “old”, and everyone in between.

Thanks to the wonderful support of the City of Melbourne Libraries, we’re bringing you a brand-new story, fresh activities and plenty of Christmas cheer.

Come wander through one of Melbourne’s beautiful parks, follow the story page by page, watch the children light up with excitement, spread out a picnic on the grass, play on the innovative playground, and take a moment to enjoy the magic of the season. 
For details and information about other things to do this month read on!

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A Fun and Free Event For All - Christmas Storywalk® Sunday 14 December

Carlton Gardens
ANYTIME from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Enjoy some time out from the bustle and relax in one of Melbourne’s beautiful parks. The new Parkville Metro Tunnel station is a short 15 minute walk away, you can come by public transport for free. Picnic on the lawn while the children play on the fabulous playground and enjoy our Christmas-themed StoryWalk®.

Pick up a map from the registration desk near the playground (enter via Rathdowne St) and follow the storyboards along the paths in the Carlton Gardens to read a newly released Christmas story, by a Melbourne author and illustrator.

The story is aimed at children aged 2-8 but can be enjoyed by all the family.

Kids will delight in the fun story and enjoy Christmas themed-activities and little "surprises" along the way.

Registrations are greatly appreciated to help with the number of surprises for the children. 

Further information and to register

Geography Victoria acknowledges the City of Melbourne Libraries, the Children's Book Council of Australia - Victoria and Readings Carlton for their support of this event.

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Other FREE Events this Month

Yarra: Stories of Melbourne's River

Melbourne’s Yarra River looks placid most of the time, but it is a river with a turbulent past. This free exhibition at the Old Treasury Building is rich in stories and illustrations of our river past and present. It was developed in consultation with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and in partnership with Public Record Office Victoria.

 

 

Further information

 

 

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Climatewatch Walk

Understand how climate change is affecting our plants and wildlife and contribute to climate change research.

Join ClimateWatch advocates on this free guided walk to monitor biodiversity at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Learn about indicator species of plants and animals and how climate change is affecting their seasonal behaviour. The data you observe, and record will help shape Australia’s scientific response to climate change. 

Further details

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You Are Here: Melbourne Memory-Scapes

You Are Here, at the City Gallery, engages with a collection of black-and-white aerial photographs of Melbourne/Naarm and its surrounds from the 1960s, curated by Angela Bailey. Originally used in mapping and surveying, in this context, these photographs invite the viewer to explore the nuances of memory, place and connection, to locate themselves and establish their sense of belonging.
 

A free exhibition.

Further details

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Some Interesting Reading: Formation of The Geographical Society of Australasia - 1883

Our thanks to Geography Victoria member, Peter Hogan, who has undertaken more research into the history of geographical societies in Australasia. This month, he outlines how the geographical societies of London and Paris played pivotal roles in the establishment of the Australian Geographical Society. The inaugural meeting of the society was held on 22nd of June 1883 in a hall in Sydney and attended by over 700 people, all keen to foster “the science of geography”.  

Read more 

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Thank you for being part of our Geography Victoria community.
Season’s Greetings and warm wishes for a happy new year of discovering new paths, sharing opportunities to learn, connect and explore, and finding joy in the landscapes we share.

Credits: Stars banner image modified from an image by Monika from Pixabay