• Skip to content
  • City of Melbourne
  • Create a listing
  • Subscribe
  • Favourites
  • What's on homepage
  • Favourites
    • Home
    • Things to do
    • Eat and drink
    • Shopping
    • Visitor info
    • Create a listing
    • Contact us
    • Subscribe

What are you looking for?

Primary category
Secondary categories for primary category Anything
Secondary categories for primary category Things to do
Secondary categories for primary category Eat and drink
Secondary categories for primary category Shopping
Secondary categories for primary category Hotels
Secondary categories for primary category Guides

When are you visiting?

Date shortcuts
Calendar

Where do you want to look?

Locations
What are you looking for?
Anything
Anytime Anywhere
  • Installation view of the Rennie Ellis exhibition in a dimly lit room at the State Library, showing large photographs projected onto the walls, with people reclining on bean bags and lounges viewing them.
  • Installation view of the Rennie Ellis exhibition in a room in a gallery space, with a series of framed photographs displayed on a wall, with captions, and a person looking at them up close.
  • Installation view of the Rennie Ellis exhibition with two large black and white photographs projected onto a screen and people looking at them.
Until 25 May

Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis

  • Free
  • Art

Take a trip to the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s and relive Melbourne's culture, fashion and nightlife through the lens of iconic photographer Rennie Ellis.

The exhibition features 450 candid shots of celebrities, socialites, sporting events, cultural gatherings and street life, displayed as large-scale projections, set to a fabulous retro soundtrack created by DJ MzRizk.

From BMX Bandits and shirtless crowds at an ‘80s Boxing Day Test, to the fashion and nightlife of ‘90s Chapel Street and bronzed Aussies soaking up the sun at Middle Park, Melbourne Out Loud captures the carefree and creative spirit of Melbourne from times gone by.

Rennie had an uncanny ability to slip into all kinds of social circles and his photographs are the ultimate story of life on the town. Musicians like John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Nick Cave, and Lou Reed also feature. However, it is the ordinary people of Melbourne who are the real stars of the show.

Hours

Date Times
Fri 9 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sat 10 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sun 11 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Mon 12 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Tue 13 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Wed 14 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Thu 15 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Fri 16 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sat 17 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sun 18 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Mon 19 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Tue 20 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Wed 21 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Thu 22 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Fri 23 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sat 24 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sun 25 May
  • 10am - 6pm 10:00am - 6:00pm

Location

State Library Victoria
328 Swanston St
Melbourne 3000

Open in maps location for State Library Victoria

Price and bookings

This is a free event

Booking not required

Contact details

  • telephone number: 03 8664 7000
  • Visit website for Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis
Facebook page for Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis Instagram page for Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis

Only In The City

Only in this City of Ours See what's on
Melbourne's essential night-time events

Melbourne's essential night-time events

From hidden laneway markets to epic pop-ups, Melbourne gets lit once the lights go out.

  • Comedy
  • Theatre
Only in the City

Only in the City

This city hums with energy - with hidden laneway cafes, rooftop bars, art and culture at every turn.

  • Exhibition
  • Entertainment
NGV International

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

  • Free
  • Gallery
See what's on

Discover more

Tony Clark: Unsculpted
Until 31 May

Tony Clark: Unsculpted

A multifaceted overview of one of Australia’s most respected artists.

  • Free
  • Art
Deep Time Real Time
Until 17 May

Deep Time Real Time

The 2025 Alastair Swayn Legacy Exhibition explores design’s relationship to planetary systems.

  • Free
  • Art
Tina Stefanou: You Can't See Speed
Until 9 Jun

Tina Stefanou: You Can't See Speed

An experiential landscape of films, soundscapes, sculptures, live performances and dirt bikes.

  • Free
  • Art
Naarm Textile Biennale: Social Fabric
30 Sep – 25 Oct

Naarm Textile Biennale: Social Fabric

Social Fabric showcases progressive textile art exploring textile's ability to preserve memories.

  • Free
  • Art
Envelope Icon

Subscribe to What’s On Melbourne

Sign up to receive updates on what to see and do in Melbourne.

Subscribe now
Australian Aboriginal Flag Torres Strait Islander Flag

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.

Create a listing
Contact What's On Melbourne
  • What's On Facebook page
  • What's On Instagram page
  • What's On TikTok page
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2025 City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne home page