Heidelberg Accommodation, Hotels, Tours & Information

Heidelberg

The township of Heidelberg - first settled in the 1870s, as the name implies, by German migrants - became a household name throughout the art world in the late 1880s when painters inspired by the European Impressionists set up painting camps in the area.

Led by Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin, members of the Heidelberg School wandered round the western fringes of Melbourne to paint their impressionist landscapes.

The painters set up their original camps at Box Hill, but moved on to avoid the unwelcome attentions of curious locals.

Visitors following the Yarra Trail today are treated to reproductions of the views that impressed the Heidelberg artists so many years ago.

Heidelberg was also the site of the purpose built Olympic Village when Melbourne hosted the Games in 1956. After the games, the self-contained township for the world's elite athletes was taken over by the Victorian Housing Commission and, although much of the residential area has been redeveloped, it is still recognisable as an Olympic Village.