Box Hill: Artists Camp and Historic Walking Tour

Discover Box Hill through its art history, a historic route and places to visit during your stay. The Artists Camp offers a glimpse into the area’s past; a walking tour links named streets and a linear park. There are also free exhibitions and Box Hill Gardens, with practical amenities. These different themes offer several ways to plan your visit.

The Artists Camp and its artists

The Artists Camp was established in Box Hill in 1885 and lasted three years. Some of the artists later returned to the area frequently, including Frederick McCubbin. The camp’s brief duration and the artists’ later returns form two distinct chapters: the founding of an artistic community and the renewed connection of individual artists with the area. McCubbin gives this story a specific name.

This timeline is particularly interesting for visitors with an interest in culture. The camp itself lasted only three years, but its story did not end when it closed, as some artists returned to the area later. You can therefore see the camp’s brief period and the artists’ later returns as distinct stages in Box Hill’s art history.

The historic Early Box Hill Walking Tour

On the historic Early Box Hill Walking Tour route, Pioneer Park was the starting and ending point. The route ran from there along Station Street, Ashted Road, Albion Road, Victoria Street, a linear park, Rose Street, William Street, Glenmore Street and Harrow Street, before returning to Pioneer Park. It passes through a sequence of named streets and loops back to its starting point.

If you would like to explore this route on foot, check the operator’s website before setting out for possible changes to the route. The description gives you a specific sequence to follow: Pioneer Park marks the start and finish, while the streets and linear park make up the sections in between. This makes the walking tour a distinct activity alongside exploring the artists’ history.

Exhibitions and Box Hill Gardens

The Gallery Space is located at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre. Admission to the exhibitions there is free. For art lovers, it’s another way to experience culture in Box Hill; visiting an exhibition offers a different focus from exploring the history of the Artists Camp or taking a walking tour of the area.

Box Hill Gardens offer a different kind of place to visit, with barbecue facilities and toilets. Check current local information before your visit, as park facilities can change. This gives you both a cultural activity with free admission and a garden with practical amenities to consider when planning your day.

Which focus suits your trip?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Box Hill, you could first consider what you want to focus on during your stay. For art history, the Artists Camp and the exhibitions offer different ways in; if you’d rather follow a route, there’s the historic Early Box Hill Walking Tour. Box Hill Gardens round out the options with barbecue facilities and toilets. Weighing up your interests in advance can help you find accommodation that suits the kind of trip you want to have in Box Hill.

Discover more destinations: Hawthorn, Fairfield, Narre Warren, Preston, Williamstown, Parkdale, Glen Waverley, Gisborne

For the broader travel overview: Melbourne.