Upcoming Exhibitions

In the RHSV Main Gallery, Hoddle Grid: The great land grab

Free entry. Open from 27 March to 11 November, 10am-5pm weekdays.
find us at 239 A’Beckett St, Melbourne.

Promotional image for "Hoddle Grid: The Great Land Grab" exhibition

On June 1, 1837, surveyor Robert Hoddle stood on a log and began auctioning off the very first blocks of land in Hoddle Grid, what we now call Melbourne’s CBD. This exhibition tells the story of the dreamers, risk-takers, and opportunists who first bought into the city. 

Here what you’ll discover:

  • The Original Buyers: Meet the 271 people—ranging from former convicts and shopkeepers to wealthy merchants—who bought up Wurundjeri country for next to nothing.
  • Fortunes & Failures: While some became incredibly rich, others lost everything. We profile key individuals who helped shape the early character of colonial Melbourne.
  • The City’s Evolution: See how the city looked before the Gold Rushes changed everything. We explore the buildings that once stood here and those that remain today.

A Legacy of Speculation: From the very beginning, Melbourne was built on borrowed money and big gambles. This exhibition shows how that early spirit of greed and ambition created the complex city we live in today.