Discover Montrose

Montrose brings together a range of travel interests: the Town Centre is shaped by its park, gardens and culture, while the reserves focus on nature, play and picnic facilities. There are also horse riding and cycling trails, as well as a themed trail about the history of the brick industry. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to start by deciding which side of Montrose you want to shape your stay.

Green spaces, gardens and art in the town centre

Montrose Town Centre is set in a peaceful park with eucalyptus trees and native shrubs; First Nations gardens line the centre. At the entrance, a bell art installation designed and created by Anton Hassel flanks the entrance. The Town Centre also includes a public library. The park, First Nations gardens, art installation and library showcase different aspects of the town centre: landscape design, art and a public educational resource come together here.

Cultural activities throughout the year

Montrose Town Centre offers year-round programs featuring contemporary music and classical concerts. The program also includes read-aloud activities and school holiday offerings. The Town Centre hall is used for workshops, concerts and stage performances featuring local and visiting contributors. Two points are useful when planning: the program spans a range of cultural formats, while attending a particular concert or holiday activity requires visiting on a specific date. So check in advance when the activity you’re interested in is taking place.

Playground, picnics and nature trails

Montrose Recreation Reserve has an accessible, community-built playground with a large climbing net. Public toilets and picnic facilities are also available there. Kevin Heinz Gardens is connected to the reserve. Montrose Brickworks Flora Reserve offers a different natural setting: a well-maintained network of paths winds through intact vegetation, including ferns, grasses and tall trees. More than 6,000 native plants were planted at Richards Reserve after pine trees were removed. The three places therefore have distinct focuses: play and picnics, paths through vegetation, and the development of native plantings. The vegetation there contrasts ferns and grasses with the tall trees.

Trails and local history

Montrose’s trails also offer different perspectives. There are horse riding and cycling trails in the town. The Montrose Brickworks Heritage Trail runs through the gardens and commemorates the brick industry, which was Montrose’s only major source of employment in the 1920s. This links a specific route with part of the town’s history. Montrose is at the start of the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. The Cambridge Road Trail connection is separate: it connects to the town of Montrose via Montrose Road. The road’s location and the connection of a particular trail are therefore different points of reference for planning your trip.

For an overview of the wider area: Yarra Ranges Shire.