There’s so many beautiful gardens to explore around Melbourne, from a pretty rose garden in Werribee to Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens in the Dandenong Ranges. But, with the winter weather keeping us cold and wet, it’s good to stay nice and cosy indoors. If you’d like to shelter from the cold, but still enjoy a bit of greenery, why don’t you visit the Conservatory? Nestled within Fitzroy Gardens, this inner-city sanctuary is home to magnificent floral displays all year round. Right now, they’re showcasing tropical plants, which means that you’ll find plenty of warmth inside the building. The displays change five times a year, giving you the perfect excuse to come back for more. It’s free to visit, and open daily from 9am to 5pm.
The Conservatory in Fitzroy Gardens
If you haven’t been to the Conservatory before, it’s a beautiful building inspired by the Spanish mission style type of architecture. It opened in 1930, and over the years, it has wowed Melbourne with its spectacular floral displays.
See blooming hydrangeas from November to February and tuberous begonia from February to April. Then, heat up with tropical plants from April to July, followed by cineraria and cyclamen from July to September. Finally, return from September to November for their pretty schizanthus display.
In 2026, The Conservatory is scheduled to close for display changes on:
- July 27 to 31
- September 14 to 18
- November 9 to 13
Right now, you can see around 2,000 plants in the Tropical display. The building is heated to a comfortable 25°C, so you’ll feel nice and warm. It’s also the only display that is heated during the year. Amble gently along the paths, soak in the greenery of the lush ferns and leaves and feel as though you’ve escaped the cold Melbourne winter.
If you can’t make it to see the tropical plants, come back later this winter for the colourful cineraria and cyclamen display. See plenty of pretty flowers, in colours like pink, purple, white, red and blue.
Return in spring to see the schizanthus, which you might know as the ‘poor man’s orchid’. These colourful flowers come in shades like pink, blue and violet.
When you’re not hanging around the Conservatory, stick around Fitzroy Gardens to find other lovely attractions, like Cooks’ Cottage, the Fairies’ Tree and the Model Tudor Village.
