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  • A Georgian room with marble fireplace and a large Christmas tree.
  • Morning room dressed in 18th-century antiques including fireplace and mirror, breakfast table and paintings.
  • Georgian antiques decorating a dining table with seating in a heritage home setting.
  • Heritage home kitchen with old gas range, shelves and tiling with copper baking moulds.
Until 10 Jan

A Taste Of Christmas

  • Art
  • Exhibition

Step inside historic Fairhall, The Johnston Collection's elegant 1860s townhouse, beautifully adorned with candlelit trees, garlands, and seasonal decorations, and discover the rich history behind some of our most cherished Christmas traditions.

A Taste of Christmas explores the festive drinking, dining, and decorative customs of 18th century Europe. Discover the origins of the Christmas tree, Advent calendars, St Nicholas, Hogmanay, and Scottish New Year celebrations, and learn how traditions such as stockings filled with gifts and sweets evolved over time.

The exhibition also features handcrafted decorations and seasonal, food-inspired creations by Victorian makers and artisans, including the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria, Kate Rohde, and Robyn Rich, specially created for The Johnston Collection over the years.

Experience TJC re-imagined as a series of atmospheric, period-appropriate tableaux celebrating the art of eating and drinking and the origin of Christmas traditions.

Three empty wine glasses of varying shapes, silhouetted on a table with a window behind them.
Special offer Christmas List: Twilight Tour

Enjoy a glass of wine before taking a twilight tour of A Taste of Christmas. Thur 19 Nov, 6-7:30pm.

Book now

Hours

Date Times
Wed 11 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 12 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 13 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 14 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 15 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 18 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 19 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 20 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 21 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 22 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 25 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 26 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 27 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 28 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 29 Nov
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 2 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 3 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 4 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 5 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 6 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 9 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 10 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 11 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 12 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 13 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 16 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 17 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 18 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 19 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 20 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 23 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 24 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 25 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 26 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 27 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 30 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 31 Dec
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 1 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 2 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 3 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wed 6 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thu 7 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Fri 8 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sat 9 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sun 10 Jan
  • 10am - 4pm 10:00am - 4:00pm

Location

The Johnston Collection
192 Wellington Parade
East Melbourne 3002

Open in maps location for The Johnston Collection

Price and bookings

Adult / general $35
Senior $30
Student / concession $30
Children $20
Book online for A Taste Of Christmas

Contact details

  • telephone number: 03 9416 2515
  • email address: hello@johnstoncollection.org
  • Visit website for A Taste Of Christmas
Facebook page for A Taste Of Christmas Instagram page for A Taste Of Christmas

Accessibility

  • Accessible toilets
  • Companion card accepted

All accessibility information is self-reported by the listing owner. It has not been verified by the City of Melbourne.

Christmas

Christmas starts only in the city
Start here
A man and woman dancing next to a woman dressed in a Santa outfit who is using a DJ deck.

Christmas things to do

The city’s wrapped and ready with magical moments, twinkling lights and festive fun.

  • Family and kids
  • Entertainment
A man and woman sitting at a table full of food with a Christmas tree in the background.

Christmas eat and drink

Savour the city’s festive flavours with rooftop bars and menus made for merry moments.

  • Bar
  • Restaurant
Two women holding several shopping bags while they walk through a shopping arcade decorated for Christmas.

Christmas shopping

Start ticking off your list in the city’s iconic laneways, arcades and malls.

  • Gifts
  • Fashion
Start here

Discover more

Two theatrical costumes on display in front of a red curtain, featured in the ENCORE! exhibition at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts.
Until 9 May

Encore!

50 Objects. 50 Years. One Collection. Treasures from the Australian Museum of Performing Arts.

  • Art
  • Exhibition
A person in a black suit holds a large, green ape head sculpture behind them, on a city sidewalk with graffiti-covered walls in the background.
Until 12 Apr

Rehearsing the City Exhibition

See archival photos from Victoria’s collections, plus work by contemporary street photographers.

  • Free
  • Art
People passing an exhibition sign in a museum.
Until 11 Apr

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ngiyama mirrim baany yulendj – an art exhibition uncovering memories of water.

  • Art
  • Exhibition
Selection of cassette tapees with handmade covers.
Until 27 Jan

Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations

A stirring exhibition exploring romantic love through the State Library's extraordinary archive.

  • Free
  • Art
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The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future. For more information, visit Aboriginal Melbourne.

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