Discover Whittlesea: Courthouse, Show and Market

Whittlesea can be explored through its local history and recurring events. Whittlesea Courthouse, the annual Whittlesea Show, the Monday Market and a local history walk offer clearly distinct ways to experience the town. If you’re looking for a hotel in Whittlesea, it helps to consider whether your stay should coincide with a particular weekend, a Monday or a walk through town.

Whittlesea Courthouse and its history

The heritage-listed Whittlesea Courthouse dates from around 1864 and served as the Whittlesea Court of Petty Sessions until 1989. After being restored, it became one of the area’s oldest surviving buildings. In 1996, it reopened to the public as a tourist and visitor information centre.

Run by volunteers, the Whittlesea Courthouse Visitor Information Centre provides tourist information for visitors to the City of Whittlesea and surrounding districts. Its former use as a courthouse and its later role serving visitors are two distinct chapters in the town’s history: the Courthouse combines a historic building with an information service for travellers.

Whittlesea Show: agricultural history and demonstrations

The Whittlesea Show takes place annually on the first full weekend in November; the exact date varies from year to year. The show’s Heritage Pavilion focuses on agricultural history. Its topics include historic machinery in operation and early farming practices. For the 2025 show, the pavilion program included historic farm machinery and cars, blacksmithing demonstrations and sheep shearing.

Another way to enjoy the show weekend is the Animal Nursery. Visitors can pat young animals there, including miniature ponies, alpacas, lambs, goats and chickens. The event offers different experiences side by side: a look at agriculture and its history in the Pavilion, and encounters with young animals in the Animal Nursery.

Monday Market and Local History Walk

The Whittlesea Monday Market takes place on Mondays at the Whittlesea Showgrounds and features more than 120 stalls. The goods on offer include eggs, among other things. As a weekly event, it is easy to distinguish the market from the annual show. Check the latest market information before your visit if you plan to go on a Monday.

The Whittlesea Township Local History Walk is a short, flat loop that passes through parts of Whittlesea and can be extended. You can stick to the compact walk or plan a longer route. The walk complements the historical impressions of the Courthouse with a route through parts of the town.

Planning the dates for your stay

The two recurring events are easy to distinguish when planning your dates: the Monday Market takes place on Mondays, while the Whittlesea Show is held on the first full weekend in November. Check the exact show dates for the relevant year and the latest market information before arranging your stay around either event. If you’re looking for a hotel, these different dates can help you choose a travel period that suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Willung South, Taradale, Seymour, Amphitheatre, West Wodonga, Quambatook, Geelong, Pyalong

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.