Warm up this winter with a walk through Robin Boyd’s neighbourhood

I recently joined one of the Robin Boyd Foundation’s walking tours through South Yarra, and I honestly loved it.
It was one of those experiences that makes you look at a suburb you thought you knew in a completely different way. The guides were so passionate, generous with their knowledge, and genuinely excited to share the stories behind the streets, houses and architectural moments that make this part of Melbourne so special.

South Yarra has such a layered architectural history. Its streets are filled with beautiful examples of Melbourne’s changing design story, from grand Victorian homes and gardens to apartment buildings, modernist houses and contemporary additions. It is also the neighbourhood where Robin Boyd designed his own family home, Boyd House II, better known as Walsh Street, in 1957.
Walsh Street is now home to the Robin Boyd Foundation, and it continues to operate as both a house museum and a place for conversation about architecture, design and Boyd’s extraordinary legacy. What I loved most about the walking tour was the way it brought the neighbourhood to life. It wasn’t just about looking at buildings. It was about understanding the social history, the shifts in how people lived, the architectural debates of the time, and the importance of protecting our built heritage.

South Yarra has been shaped by so many significant architects, including Reed & Barnes, Frederick Romberg, Walter and Richard Butler, Harold Desbrowe-Annear, Anketell Henderson, Yuncken Freeman and Neil Clerehan. Seeing their work and influence in the streetscape, with stories told along the way, made the whole experience feel incredibly rich and engaging.
The Robin Boyd Foundation currently offers two walking tours: Robin Boyd’s Neighbourhood and Stories of South Yarra. Each tour offers a different perspective on the area, and both are a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning or afternoon.
The tours are leisurely paced, around 2.5 kilometres, and run for approximately two hours. They begin in the Royal Botanic Gardens, acknowledging the significance of the area for the local Kulin Nation, before weaving through the leafy streets between Toorak Road and Domain Road.

One of the highlights is Marne Street, a beautiful example of Melbourne’s apartment history, where Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, mid-century modernist and contemporary buildings all sit side by side. It is exactly the kind of street you might walk past without realising just how much history and design thinking is hidden in plain sight. Since launching the tours in 2024, the Robin Boyd Foundation has also been embraced by the local community, with South Yarra residents joining tours, sharing their own stories and even inviting some lucky tour guests inside their homes.
I highly recommend booking a tour. Whether you are an architecture lover, a design enthusiast, or simply curious about Melbourne’s history, it is such a thoughtful and inspiring way to experience one of the city’s most iconic suburbs.

Bookings are available via robinboyd.org.au Instagram: @robin.boyd.foundation

Photo Credit of the Robin Boyd House Mainroad Marketing