Did you know the Arts Centre Melbourne stands on the former site of Wirth’s Circus, once Australia’s largest and most prestigious circus company? The Wirths Circus mosaic outside the Theatres Building quietly honours this colourful history.
I must have walked past that mosaic dozens of times on the way to a show and never stopped to question its meaning. Fun Fact – a visitor once tried to book tickets to see Wirth’s Circus at the Arts Centre Melbourne, not realising the mosaic was not an advertisement!
This is exactly why guided tours are brilliant. They transform the familiar into something fascinating.
What to Expect on an Arts Centre Melbourne Tour
Arts Centre Melbourne runs 1 hour guided tours Tuesday – Saturday where you can explore the stories and secret spaces inside this iconic Melbourne building. Each tour itinerary is slightly different depending on what productions are on and what spaces are accessible at the time.
Fortunately, during our visit, we are able to see all the theatres and Hamer Hall.
We start our tour in the Smorgon Plaza foyer where we learn about the interior design by Melbourne-born, award-winning stage designer, John Truscott. I’ve never noticed that the carpets in each part of the building are different colours and they are very specific colours too – mushroom, aubergine and mustard (NOT brown, purple and orange!).
Also, John Truscott was claustrophobic – and given the whole Theatres building is underground he installed mirrors in many unexpected locations to provide a sense of space and light.
At the Playhouse we look at the traditional pulley system behind the wings.
Highlights from our Tour
At the Fairfax Studio we learn about how the acoustic foam in the chairs is the same density as the human body. This means that actors rehearsing in the small space are able to gauge how to project their voices whether the theatre is full or empty…
We stroll past the magnificent Sidney Nolan painting that spans several floors of the State Theatre, as well as admiring the John Olsen and Arthur Boyd paintings (that were such a late commission that they were hung wet).
You can find out more about the Arts Centre Melbourne’s art collection here.
Did you know that the State Theatre is the third-largest stage theatre in the world?
Also, the pillars in the State Theatre foyer are not marble! By this time the interior design budget had blown out so much that John Truscott had to compromise and engage set designers to paint concrete pillars to resemble marble.
Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining the paint over the years has meant that it would have been cheaper just to use marble in the first place!
Inside the State Theatre
Inside the State Theatre, we want to visit the stalls because Lady AB and Baby 2.0 have seats dedicated to them (W13 and W14 next time you visit!). Instead, we visit one of the boxes as The Australian Ballet is conducting a ballet class on stage in preparation for their performance.
Going into the box means we can look closely at the golden orbs which are suspended from a huge wire ceiling curtain. The wire is required for acoustics but John Truscott though it looked like chicken wire, so he had 75,000 (!) brass cups installed. The problem was….during final safety inspections they realised that if the fire sprinkler system was activated all of the balls would fill with water, weigh down the wire and collapse the roof! This oversight set back the opening of the building while every one of the 75,000 cups had thirteen holes drilled into it.
We visit the private Truscott Lounge function space, with a marble bathroom especially refurbished for Princess Diana’s visit. However, she never used it, because she figured out that if you went to the toilet inside the people in the lounge could hear everything (apparently she was right)!
Our final stop is Hamer Hall, where we test out the acoustic architectural elements from one side of the circle to the other.
Tour Tips and Booking Information
- Arts Centre Melbourne Guided Tours are available Tuesday to Saturday, and these one-hour tours commence at 11:00 AM from Level 6 of the Theatres Building;
- Tickets are priced at $25 per adult and $23 for children and include a tea or coffee. Or if you book the Friday afternoon session, an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink is included;
- Check in at the Welcome Desk just near the main staircase inside the main doors;
- I recommend tours for 8+ years who are able to maintain attention for 1 hour;
- APAC Store Tours are conducted every Sunday from 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM, these tours are priced at $30 per person. Note that due to the nature of the collection, these tours are recommended for visitors aged 12 and above;
- All tours are wheelchair and pram accessible. However, access to certain areas may be restricted based on operational requirements.
Onsite Dining Options
Before or after your tour, consider visiting Protagonist, the centre’s distinctive café located in Southbank, offering a range of beverages and snacks.
For a more substantial meal, The Barre provides a refined dining experience. In 2025, The Barre is hosting a Lunch Series featuring four-course meals paired with selections from renowned wineries, accompanied by guest speakers from the hospitality and performing arts sectors.
Arts Centre Melbourne Guided Tours are a great way to be a tourist in my home town and an opportunity to learn more about the buildings which I’ve visited so many times before.
Click here for more of the best things to do in Melbourne with kids
Read more:
Geelong Arts Centre: A Vibrant Heart Of Creativity
Tea Room, NGV International, Melbourne
9 Free Walking Tours Melbourne Families Should Get Excited About
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