Tarrawarra Museum of Art

TarraWarra Museum of Art is known for its focus on Australian modern and contemporary art, its philanthropic origins, and its striking setting in the Yarra Valley wine region. The museum’s award-winning architecture by Allan Powell and the later Eva and Marc Besen Centre by Kerstin Thompson Architects are widely admired. TarraWarra is also recognised for its collection of more than 600 works gifted by Eva and Marc Besen and for its inventive exhibition and public program.

The TarraWarra Biennial is a recurring exhibition platform at TarraWarra Museum of Art, inaugurated in 2006 to identify new developments in contemporary Australian art through an experimental curatorial model. Each edition invites a different curator or curatorial team to commission new work around a distinct theme, making the Biennial a key site for testing ideas, supporting ambitious projects, and foregrounding First Nations and cross-cultural perspectives. Ocula has followed the Biennial through in-depth interviews and essays with curators such as Natalie King, Djon Mundine, and Léuli Eshrāghi, providing additional context for readers interested in the evolving curatorial approaches and discourses shaping the TarraWarra Biennial.

TarraWarra Museum of Art primarily presents Australian art from the 1930s to the present, with strengths in figurative, abstract, and landscape painting, as well as sculpture, prints, and drawings. Exhibitions highlight modern and contemporary practices, often through thematic shows, artist surveys, and collection-based projects. Visitors encounter work by artists who have shaped post-war Australian art and continue to influence its current directions.

TarraWarra Museum of Art was founded and principally funded by philanthropists and art collectors Eva Besen AO and Marc Besen AC, who created one of Australia’s first major privately funded public art museums. They gifted the purpose-built museum designed by Allan Powell, four hectares of land on the TarraWarra Estate, and nearly 600 works of modern and contemporary Australian art from their private collection, which form the core of the museum’s holdings. Ongoing support now comes from the Besen Family Foundation, donors, and partners who continue the philanthropic legacy established by the Besens.

Eva Besen AO and Marc Besen AC were Melbourne-based business leaders, philanthropists, and passionate collectors of Australian art who began building their collection in the 1950s. Marc, a Romanian-born Holocaust survivor, helped expand the Sussan fashion and retail empire with Eva’s family, while both later established the Besen Family Foundation to support the arts, education, health, and social welfare. Their shared commitment to the visual arts led them to found TarraWarra Museum of Art as a public gift, donating the building, land, and a nationally significant collection of Australian art that now underpins the museum.

TarraWarra Museum of Art is located at 313 Healesville–Yarra Glen Road, Healesville, in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. The museum sits on Wurundjeri Country amid vineyards and rolling hills, approximately one hour’s drive north-east of central Melbourne. Its rural setting is a key part of the visitor experience, combining art, landscape, and regional food and wine.

TarraWarra Museum of Art is usually open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm, and open on most public holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Monday is generally a closed day, though seasonal variations or special events may occasionally alter this pattern. Visitors should check the museum’s website before travelling for the most up-to-date information on opening hours.

TarraWarra Museum of Art charges admission for most exhibitions, with adult, concession, and child pricing that may vary over time and for special shows. Tickets can usually be purchased on arrival at the museum, and online booking is often available or recommended during busy periods or for major exhibitions. Current ticket prices and booking options are listed on the TarraWarra Museum of Art website, which visitors should consult before their visit.

TarraWarra Museum of Art offers a range of public and education programs, including guided tours, talks, and school visits that explore both the exhibitions and the site. Tours are typically available on selected days and times by appointment, with bookings essential. The museum also presents lectures, workshops, and events connected to its exhibition program, and details of upcoming activities are updated regularly on its website.