Yarra Junction: Art, Local History and Blacksmithing

Yarra Junction showcases culture and craftsmanship in different ways. At Yarra Junction Reserve, public art and information panels come together; the Upper Yarra Museum’s collection includes historic buildings, and blacksmithing activities offer another perspective on local history. For travellers looking for more than a single theme, the appeal lies in these different ways of exploring the area: outdoor art, historic buildings, and a craft that invites visitors both to watch and to take classes. You can plan your time in Yarra Junction around whichever interest you want to shape your stay.

Art at Yarra Junction Reserve

The River Walk and Rail Trail at Yarra Junction Reserve feature three sculptures and five information panels. The Reserve’s art offering therefore includes information panels as well as artworks. Find Junction is considered a temporary work; it was located in the garden bed between the Yarra Centre and the Rail Trail, and by 2025 only remnants remained. This change over time is therefore part of the sculpture’s story. Always Been Here, Always Will Be stands beside the path, directly in front of the Yarra Centre car park. The two works make different impressions: the transience of Find Junction is part of its story, while Always Been Here, Always Will Be is defined by its location.

Buildings and local history at the Upper Yarra Museum

The Upper Yarra Museum’s collection includes a railway cottage from the 1890s, workers’ huts from the construction period of the Upper Yarra Dam, the Powelltown Police Station office, and Yarra Junction’s old jail, or lock-up. Together, they present different aspects of history: living and building, work on the dam, policing, and a former place of detention. The collection thus covers several historical themes. The restored Heritage Station adds its own story of construction and relocation: it was built in Lilydale in 1888 and moved to Yarra Junction around 1915. Its place of construction and later destination give the station its own local history within the collection.

Blacksmithing to watch and take part in

Blacksmithing in Yarra Junction is both a subject and an activity. From the Upper Yarra Museum, D.A.S. Blacksmith offers blacksmithing classes and experiences centred on the craft. The Upper Yarra Museum’s forge is described as a Sunday opportunity for anyone who wants to watch the work. Watching and taking a class are two different ways to engage: one focuses on observing the work, while the other offers the chance to try the craft yourself. If you are planning to visit to watch on a Sunday, check before your visit whether this is available on your chosen date. Crank Up and Woodchop is an annual event at the Upper Yarra Museum, held every March; the tradition dates back to around 1978. If you want to plan your travel around the event, check the exact date for your travel year.

A suitable reason to plan your trip

If you are looking for a hotel in Yarra Junction, first consider whether art and museum history or a blacksmithing experience will be the main reason for your trip. A stay focused on sculptures and historic buildings offers a different itinerary from a trip planned around a blacksmithing class or the March event.

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