Discover Yarra Junction

Yarra Junction offers an artistic and historical perspective on the area: Yarra Junction Reserve features sculptures and information panels, while the Upper Yarra Museum includes historic buildings and the Heritage Station. There are also blacksmithing classes and experiences related to the craft. These themes give you different points of reference when considering Yarra Junction as a place to stay—from outdoor art and the history of individual buildings to craftsmanship.

Art at Yarra Junction Reserve

Three sculptures and five information panels are located along the River Walk and Rail Trail in Yarra Junction Reserve. Two of the sculptures have clearly identified locations, so the works can also be distinguished by where they are situated.

Find Junction was located in the garden bed between the Yarra Centre and the Rail Trail. The work was ephemeral; by 2025, only remnants remained. This timeline is part of the sculpture’s history and is worth bearing in mind when planning a visit if you are specifically looking for Find Junction.

Always Been Here, Always Will Be stands beside the path, directly in front of the Yarra Centre car park. Its specific location and name provide another point of reference for the art in the reserve. Together with Find Junction, the work shows how differently the named sculptures are situated in their respective surroundings.

Buildings and history at the Upper Yarra Museum

The Upper Yarra Museum collection includes several historic buildings. These include a railway cottage from the 1890s. Workers’ huts date from the construction of the Upper Yarra Dam. The collection also includes the Powelltown Police Station office and the old Yarra Junction jail, or lock-up. The different buildings provide several concrete points of connection to the area’s history, rather than limiting it to a single structure.

Another part of the collection is the restored Heritage Station. Its history connects two places and two points in time: the station was built in Lilydale in 1888 and relocated to Yarra Junction around 1915. The construction year therefore refers to its origins in Lilydale; the approximate later relocation places it within the history of Yarra Junction. If you are interested in historic buildings, this distinction is a useful way to understand the station alongside the other parts of the museum collection.

Blacksmithing and an annual event

D.A.S. Blacksmith offers blacksmithing classes and experiences related to the craft at the Upper Yarra Museum. This practical activity complements the artworks in the reserve and the historic buildings with a focus on craftsmanship. If you would like to include a blacksmithing class in your stay, check available dates and booking options in advance.

Crank Up and Woodchop is an annual event held at the Upper Yarra Museum in March; its tradition dates back to around 1978. If the event is important to your travel plans, check the dates for your preferred period. This will help you distinguish the long-running March tradition from planning a visit for a specific date.

When choosing where to stay in Yarra Junction, you can weigh up different interests: public art, historic buildings and blacksmithing.

Discover more destinations: South Yarra, Hawthorn, Seville, Glen Waverley, Brunswick, Attwood, Caroline Springs, Forest Hill.

For the broader travel overview: Melbourne.