Heide Museum of Modern Art

Heide sits on a former dairy farm on a Yarra River floodplain and is set within sixteen acres of heritage-listed gardens and a sculpture park; the landscape still contains a distinguished scarred tree called Yingabeal that records the site’s Indigenous history. The property was purchased in 1934 by arts patrons John and Sunday Reed, who made the place a focal point for modernist art in Australia.

From the 1930s the Reeds hosted a circle of painters and writers known as the Heide Circle, and Heide is closely associated with the Angry Penguins modernist movement; artists closely linked to the place include Sidney Nolan, John Perceval, Albert Tucker and Joy Hester, and Nolan painted his Ned Kelly series while at Heide. In 1980 the Reeds sold most of the property and a significant group of works to the Victorian government, and the museum opened in 1981.

The site comprises several distinct buildings and visitor spaces: Heide I is the 19th-century farmhouse now used for displays, Heide II is the Reeds’ modernist residence (built 1964-67) and Heide III is the larger purpose-built gallery wing added in 1993 and extended in 2005. Visitors encounter both indoor galleries and outdoor sculpture across the gardens, plus an education centre and a cafe, and the museum continues to collect and support contemporary and emerging Australian artists.

• Heide I (the farmhouse): The restored 19th-century farmhouse houses displays from the Heide Collection and gives a sense of the Reeds’ early life on the property.
• Heide II (modernist residence): Heide II is an acclaimed example of mid-20th-century modernist domestic architecture and is used for rotating exhibitions and artist projects.
• Heide III galleries: Heide III contains the main exhibition spaces where collective holdings, special exhibitions and contemporary projects are shown.
• Sculpture park and gardens: Sixteen acres of landscaped grounds and over forty sculptures reward walking and provide changing views throughout the year.
• Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly connection: The dining room at Heide is famous as a place where Nolan worked on his Ned Kelly series, a key story in modern Australian art.

Heide is located in the suburb of Bulleen, northeast of Melbourne; from the city center it is easiest reached by car or taxi and the drive typically takes around 25-40 minutes depending on traffic. The nearest major airport is Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and central-city rail stations are at Flinders Street and Southern Cross.

Heide is in a suburban area without a direct heavy-rail stop on site; nearby suburban stations on lines serving Melbourne’s north-east include Ivanhoe and Heidelberg, with the final leg of the journey normally covered by a short taxi ride or local bus service. Check local timetables and routes for public-transport connections and allow extra time for traffic on arterial roads.

• Check opening days and times on Heide’s official website before you go, as galleries and public programs can change.
• Wear comfortable shoes for wandering the gardens and sculpture park, and be prepared for muddy patches after rain.
• Indoor gallery spaces may have photography restrictions - ask staff on arrival if you need to take pictures.
• There is a cafe and an education centre on site for refreshments and programs, but catering availability can vary with events.
• Respect heritage features such as the scarred tree Yingabeal and follow signage around conservation areas.