The Art Deco and Modernism Society of Australia Inc.

Victoria: Walking Tour - North Balwyn
2026-06-28 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | 3 Walbundry Avenue North Balwyn 3104, 3 Walbundry Avenue, North Balwyn, VIC, 3104, Australia
Join us as we take in properties in North Balwyn, learning about the history of the area and its development with architectural features pointed out. The tour includes an exclusive tour inside of one of the properties.
The walk takes in a number of streets on the Riverside Estate including Burke Road, Cascade Street, Riverside Avenue, Inverness Way, Walbundry Avenue, the Boulevard and Doncaster Road, as well as a number of interwar commercial premises.
Prior to World War I, the newly created City of Camberwell was full of hope for settlement of the area north of Doncaster Road, stimulated by the prospect of electric tramways. ‘Riverside’ was a product of this time and one of the first estates in Melbourne to make a feature of some other the basic tenets of town planning.
The Estate was advertised in 1914 proclaiming it as ‘The Beauty Spot of the Eastern Suburbs’ and making much of the views from the heights along the oak-lined ‘driveways’ of 2 former properties, ‘Inverness’ and ‘Kyora’.
Development of the estate was linked to the electric tram reaching Burke Road in 1925 and then really took off when the tram line was extended to Doncaster Road in 1937.
The streets closest to Doncaster Road contain most of the houses built between 1937 and 1941, constructed in a variety of architectural styles such as bungalows, Spanish Mission and Moderne. The area is also notable for mid-century modernist homes.
Cost: Members $45, Non-members $50
Book via TryBooking
Meet at starting point: 3 Walbundry Avenue North Balwyn 3104
– End point: We return to the start
– Parking: On street parking, check signs
– Tram: Route 48 tram, alight Wattle Avenue and Doncaster Road
Bring your water bottle and dress for the weather.

Tasmania: Tour - State Library and Archives of Tasmania
2026-07-22 16:00 - 17:00 | State Library and Archives of Tasmania, Level 2/91 Murray Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
Library tour and training to use the State Archives.
State Library and Archives of Tasmania
Level 2/91 Murray Street, Hobart, TAS 7000
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Save the date! Booking information available soon.

Victoria: Presentation - Art Deco Animalia with Peter Sheridan
2026-07-23 19:30 - 22:00 | The Glasshouse Caulfield (in Caulfield Racecourse), 31 Station Street, Caulfield East, VIC, 3145, Australia
Humans have always had a strong cultural bond with animals, which over millennia have featured in representations from cave paintings to fine art, the expression ranging from realistic to symbolic.
Romanticism and realism dominated from 1850 until, at the end of the century, the advent of photography and the influence of impressionism, cubism and surrealism all contributed to the changing way animals were depicted. By the 1920s Art Nouveau’s organic naturalism was replaced by Art Deco’s sleek, stylised geometric forms reflecting modernity, glamour, strength, luxury and sophistication. Influenced by technology, speed and consumerism, Art Deco was a total style movement spreading all round the world and impacting on all facets of public and individual life.
Beginning with Francois Pompom’s polar bear of 1922 almost all animals were depicted with Art Deco styling including sleek panthers, graceful borzoi dogs, majestic elephants and bears, as well as small animals, birds, sea creatures, reptiles and insects. There is something timeless and universal about the smooth stylised lines of Art Deco animalia, which accounts for its ubiquity in architecture, art, sculpture, jewellery, textiles and all variety of domestic products. Output ranged from expensive singular commissioned pieces of fine art through limited-editions to cheaper mass-produced consumer items.
Famous designers such as Rene Lalique (glassware) and Edgar Brandt (ironwork) created many pieces which featured Art Deco styled animals.
Australia is a special case for Art Deco animalia as, after Federation in 1900, there was pressure for local national identity formation, culminating in a significant increase in adapting the unique and relatively newly discovered Australian native flora and fauna into designs during the period when Art Deco styling also reflected a modern and progressive outlook.
Join us at 7:30 pm for nibbles and chats before we are seated by 8:00 pm for the presentation by author Peter Sheridan.
Cost: Members $30, Non-members $35.
Book via TryBooking

Victoria: Exclusive Home Tour - East St Kilda
2026-08-16 | Victoria
Thanks to the generosity of two of our members, ADMSA offers an exclusive tour of an original Art Deco home decorated throughout with Art Deco furniture, light fittings, crockery and more.
The Streamline Moderne block of apartments were constructed on the site of an existing Edwardian house and using some of the original foundations. While retaining what appears as a single dwelling, originally owned by one family, the intent was always to construct 3 dwellings. The ground floor apartment was built in 1941 and the 2 upstairs apartments intended for grown daughters and their spouses were added in 1946, and included a balcony to the street. The interruption to construction was possibly due to building material shortages during the latter part of WWII.
We will visit the ground floor apartment which has 3 bedrooms, what was then a maid’s bedroom and now a study, 2 bathrooms and large living areas clearly designed for entertaining.
You will be guided through the rooms and see the original features of inbuilt cabinetry, imported
French light fittings (some signed ‘Degue’ ), sandblasted mirrors and doors, light switches, and many other features of the period.
3 tour groups of 12 people for 45 minute tours commencing at 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm.
Cost: Members $30, Non-members $35.
Book via TryBooking
Dandenong Road, East St Kilda: The address will be confirmed to ticket holders.
Getting there:
Tram: Route 5 plus a 2 minute walk
Parking: on Dandenong Road

Annual General Meeting
2026-11-12 19:30 | Victoria
Annual General Meeting
Thursday 12 November 2026, 7:30 pm
Save the date.

Victoria: Tour & Lunch - Castlemaine Art Deco
2026-11-15 | Victoria
Sunday 15 November 2026
Save the date. Program and ticket sales coming soon.
