Driving Melba's Lilydale

Next date: Sunday, 06 April 2025 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Dame Nellie Melba and David Mitchell in Melba’s 1911 Pierce Arrow Car, YRRM Collection #12769

Driving Melba's Lilydale with Lilydale & District Historical Society

Escape the city and enjoy a relaxing Sunday drive to Dame Nellie Melba’s beloved Lilydale. Discover the key sites and stories of Melba’s legacy, guided by the Lilydale & District Historical Society.

In this 2-hour tour, visitors will meet at Lilydale Cemetery to see Melba’s final resting place and commence the tour. Friendly and knowledgeable guides from Lilydale & District Historical Society will share stories at each stop.

Meeting Place: Lilydale Cemetery
Stop 1: Cave Hill Quarry
Stop 2: Melba Park and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum

Visitors will be required to drive themselves to each stop of the tour and meet the tour guide on foot at each stop. A small amount of walking will be required at each stop. Please come prepared for inclement weather.

The itinerary will be provided to ticket holders via email, with timing for each stop. At the end of the tour, visitors are encouraged to view the A Toast to Melba exhibition on show at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum (free entry), and enjoy lunch at Gracious Grace cafe (bookings required).

For a full Melba-inspired day out, we can highly recommend a visit to Coombe Yarra Valley in the afternoon.

This program is proudly delivered in partnership with Lilydale & District Historical Society. $5 per ticket sold will go to the historical society.

More Melba talks, tours and events

Melba’s Vintage Playroom

Venture back in time to a playdate over 100 years ago. Melba’s Vintage Playroom invites children and audiences to step into a whimsical and magical children’s nursery celebrating Dame Nellie Melba’s love of games and nonsense and her favourite saying: “Let’s have fun!”.

The Power of Play: A Guided Exhibition Tour with Playful Thinking

Ready to rediscover the power of play? Join us for a 45-minute guided tour of A Toast to Melba, inspired by Dame Nellie Melba’s love of parties, practical jokes and nonsense.

Opera Unveiled: Melba and the Australian Performing Arts Collection

Take a look behind the scenes into the rich history of the Australian Performing Arts Collection with curators Ian Jackson and Margaret Marshall. This 40-minute presentation, followed by an opportunity for audience Q&A, will explore Melba’s legacy and its enduring impact on Australian opera.

A Toast to Melba

Uncover the untold stories of a global icon, Dame Nellie Melba. A Toast to Melba shares rarely seen objects, photographs, and personal treasures from Coombe Yarra Valley, Arts Centre Melbourne and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum—brought together for the first time in this dynamic new exhibition.