Evenings with DADo: F for Fake at Robin Boyd's Walsh Street

Walsh Street in South Yarra, Victoria hosts an intimate series of film evenings at Robin Boyd's own Walsh Street home, 290 Walsh St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia. Evenings with DADo brings architecture, design and cinema into the living room of one of Australia's most provocative mid-century modern houses. On this session the feature is Orson Welles' F for Fake (1973), preceded by an illuminating introduction from Dr AnnMarie Brennan from the University of Melbourne.

Arrive early to take in the house itself: a work of design history with cantilevered planes, cork floors and purpose-built furniture that reflects Boyd's belief that modern architecture should challenge ordinary taste. The program begins with a short talk that places Welles's playful documentary about forgery, illusion and authorship into conversation with postwar architectural culture and media. Then the 89-minute film runs in the living room where Boyd staged conversations about design in a domestic setting—an intentional, slightly mischievous context for a film that revels in trickery.

This experience is both cinematic screening and site-specific interpretation. The venue at 290 Walsh Street South Yarra, Victoria AU 3141 keeps numbers small: expect a compact audience, focused acoustics and the gentle resonance of real-world joinery beneathfoot. Restrictions are specific: attendees must be 16 or older, large bags are checked at entry and stiletto or pointed heels are not permitted because of the cork flooring. If you need tailored mobility support, contact [email protected]; note that as a heritage building Walsh Street cannot be modified for universal access.

Why book? For design-minded travelers, the evening compresses history, theory and spectacle into two-and-a-half hours. You'll leave with sharper ideas about authorship and authenticity, a clearer sense of postwar domestic modernism in Melbourne, and a story about watching Welles in a house that itself questioned architectural conventions. The event is supported by local producers Konpira Maru Wines and Yumbo Soda, and Robin Boyd Foundation members receive ticket discounts—consider joining them to support programming.

Logistics: sessions run in the evening; check specific dates and book through the event link. Bring a small bag for essentials, wear flat-soled shoes, and arrive with curiosity. This is not a passive cinema screening but a framed conversation between film and place. For visitors staying in Melbourne, South Yarra is readily accessible by tram, train and ride-share, and the domestic scale of Walsh Street makes Evenings with DADo a rare chance to see architecture, hear expert context, and watch one of cinema's most mischievous essays in an authentic historic setting. Tickets are limited and often sell out for themed evenings, so check the calendar, reserve in advance through the booking link, and consider arriving early to tour the house before the discussion begins and bring your questions.