Year 9 Impact Program - Melbourne Walking Tours

Melbourne Walking Tours

As part of the Year 9 Impact Program, students have been learning about various aspects of Melbourne’s rich and diverse culture through a variety of walking tours. Each tour has offered a unique lens into the city's history, art, sport and community - bringing classroom learning into the real world.

VISIT TO KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST 

Barney Jones, Year 9

During our visit to the Koorie Heritage Trust, we were guided on a short walk from Federation Square to Birrarung Marr, along the Yarra River. We learned about the rich Indigenous history of the area where Melbourne’s CBD now sits, including the location of a former waterfall that once separated saltwater from freshwater in the river.

Our guide gave us valuable insight into the customs of Indigenous life in Australia, explaining the different roles men and women played in feeding the group. We looked specifically at the metal spears along the river and learnt about their uses.

Back at the Trust, we examined a variety of artefacts that helped bring the stories and traditions of First Nations peoples to life. 

MELBOURNE STREET ART TOUR

Alexander Moore, Year 9

Year 9 students went on a street art tour around Melbourne, with a main stop at the famous Hosier Lane. Known for its ever-changing graffiti and murals, the laneway gave us a close-up look at how street art can be used to express powerful ideas and emotions.

The tour took us through several laneways across the city, where we saw a wide variety of styles, colours and messages. Along the way, we learned about the history of street art in Melbourne and the difference between legal and illegal graffiti. 

Our guide encouraged us to think about what the artists might be trying to say, and how art can be used to share opinions or tell stories. 

This tour helped us see the city from a new perspective and sparked interesting discussions. It was a fun and entertaining experience that tied in well with the themes of the Impact Program.

MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND TOUR

Timothy O’Neill, Year 9

Our tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was led by a Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) member. 

We had the chance to learn how people set up before an AFL game, explore the MCC Library, and view historic artworks showcasing everything that has been played at the ‘G. We also walked on the ground and discovered how much a private box costs, along with many other fascinating insights that are part of an MCG tour.

QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET TOUR

Ellie-Peach Morley, Year 9

During our tour of the iconic Queen Victoria Market, we learnt about the interesting history of the markets, including how it used to be a cemetery and how far it's come to this day. 

We walked through the market, visiting each different sector such as the fish, meat and fresh fruit aisles, and learning about how they are manufactured. Our guide showed how immigration has shaped the market’s culture, food and community. 

It was a thought-provoking tour that helped us connect migration history to everyday life in Melbourne. At the end of our tour, we all received a delicious, free, freshly made gelato made from the seasonal fruit from the markets!