Hobby Groups Melbourne

Social Chess Meetup - Wednesday 12 August

🎉 We’re excited to announce a brand new CBD venue for Melbourne Chess Society! Join us on Wednesday, 12 August, from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Oche Melbourne (263 Bourke Street) for another evening of social chess. Everyone is welcome, from complete beginners to experienced players – there’ll always be someone to challenge. We’ll be playing on the top level of Oche, a fantastic venue with great food, drinks, and complimentary dart boards available for chess players to enjoy throughout the evening. As this is a smaller, more intimate space, attendance will be capped at 80 people. To help us manage numbers, please register via Meetup (it’s free). If your plans change, we kindly ask that you update your RSVP so someone else can take your place. ♟️ Boards, pieces and clocks will all be provided, just bring yourself :) Stay up to date through our socials or WhatsApp community: 📱 WhatsApp Community: Message David on +61 438 004 729 to join. 🔗 Instagram, Facebook & more: https://linktr.ee/MelbourneChessSociety See you there!

Hook, line, and stitcher

Let's build: A.I/ML/Robots using Google Colab and Aiko Services

**Aim:** Create A.I / Machine Learning projects ... optionally with Robots **Web-site: [https://ai-ml-robots.github.io](https://ai-ml-robots.github.io)** **Discussions: [https://tinyurl.com/ai-ml-robots-discussions](https://tinyurl.com/ai-ml-robots-discussions)** **Pre-meeting catch-up:** 6:00 pm at **[Grill'd Burgers, 127-133 Swan St, Richmond](https://maps.app.goo.gl/N6QBydEVo1JW6ctn9)** ... great opportunity for casual discussion and especially for newcomers to get acquainted with the group ***(our table will have orange traffic cones)*** **Activity:** Using [Google Colab](https://colab.google) and [Aiko Services](https://github.com/geekscape/aiko_services), we will build a project utilizing A.I/ML and simple, low-cost robots. **Agenda:** **7:00 pm sharp at 415 Church Street, Richmond** \- 7:00 pm ML software "guided" build session using Google Colab \- 9:30 pm Projects show and tell: ad\-hoc for anyone to contribute \- 9:45 pm Tidy up room \- 10:00 pm Hard stop \! **Please bring a laptop, as these are hands-on build sessions.** Just think of a laptop as a robot without wheels or legs ! If you are a newcomer to Machine Learning or robotics, you are still very welcome. If you do have a robot, please bring it along !

Lightscape at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Lightscape returns to Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with glowing pathways, large-scale light installations, colour, music, and a winter night atmosphere. We’ll meet at 6:30pm near The Observatory Café, say hello, then head in together for the 6:45pm session. The trail is a one-way walking route through the Gardens, starting near Observatory Gate and finishing at Oak Lawn Gate. This is a relaxed, low-pressure social event. You’re welcome to come solo, and there’s no need to know anyone beforehand. We’ll walk at an easy pace, stop for photos where practical, and enjoy the lights together. After Lightscape, there’s an optional dinner nearby for anyone who wants to continue the evening. **Who this is for** This event is good for anyone who enjoys light installations, winter evening walks, photography, relaxed social events, or trying something a bit different after work. Solo attendees are very welcome. **Links** * Meetup start point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUNa16T3JQc8rpEB6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUNa16T3JQc8rpEB6) * Lightscape official page: [https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/whats-on-melbourne/lightscape/](https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/whats-on-melbourne/lightscape/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * Lightscape FAQs: [https://cdn.rbg.vic.gov.au/media/xm1ba4pw/lightscape-at-rbgv-melbourne-2026-faqs-final-v1.pdf](https://cdn.rbg.vic.gov.au/media/xm1ba4pw/lightscape-at-rbgv-melbourne-2026-faqs-final-v1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * Related YouTube video: [https://youtu.be/dMo1b05xnd0?si=voGX1PkU-DxH3tPg](https://youtu.be/dMo1b05xnd0?si=voGX1PkU-DxH3tPg) **Timeline** * 6:30pm — Meet near The Observatory cafe * 6:40pm — Quick introductions and get ready to enter * 6:45pm — Enter Lightscape together * 6:45pm–8:15pm — Walk the Lightscape trail at a relaxed pace * 8:15pm — Meetup officially ends near the trail exit * Afterwards — Optional dinner nearby for anyone interested **Tickets / cost** Please buy your own ticket in advance for the 6:45pm Lightscape session on the selected date. A Meetup RSVP does not include entry to Lightscape. You’ll need a valid ticket from the official booking site. Tickets are timed, and availability/prices can change depending on the date. Please book early if you definitely want to join. **Transport** Public transport is recommended, as parking may be limited around the Gardens on event nights. Nearby public transport options include trams along St Kilda Road and Anzac Station, followed by a short walk to the Lightscape entrance. Please check PTV before travelling in case of disruptions or timetable changes. **Bring** * Your Lightscape ticket for the correct date and 6:45pm session * Warm clothing * Comfortable shoes * Weather-appropriate jacket or umbrella * Phone/camera for photos * Myki/public transport card if needed **Expect** * Distance: About 2.1 km * Difficulty: Easy to moderate walking, mostly relaxed pace * Pace: Social and unhurried * Vibe: Friendly, relaxed, small-group winter evening * Photos: Welcome, but please be mindful of others on the trail **Weather / backup** Lightscape is an outdoor event and usually goes ahead in rain or wind, so please dress for the weather. If the Gardens cancel the event due to unsafe weather, we’ll follow the official advice from Royal Botanic Gardens / Ticketek. Please check your email, the official website, and event updates on the day. **Important notes** * Please make sure your ticket is for the correct date and the 6:45pm session. * You need your own Lightscape ticket. * Please arrive on time so we can enter together. * The trail is one-way, so we may not finish where we started. * Food and drinks may be available at the event, but dinner afterwards is optional and self-funded. * Please update your RSVP if your plans change so numbers stay clear.

Knitting and Crocheting with Conversation and Coffee at Kindred Studios

**Description**: Join me to knit or crochet in the warm, friendly environment of Kindred Studios where we can share our skills and ideas. Knitters, crocheters and crafters of all abilities are welcome. The conversation is relaxed as we work on our projects together and it's a great way to make new friends. The Bass Note Cafe is within the studios and will bring great coffee and delicious snacks to our table. **Agenda**: I'll meet you at 10.00am inside Kindred Studios at the large table near the tiered seating. We have the space available until 12.00pm. **Location**: Kindred Studios 3 Harris St Yarraville Street parking is available nearby in Harris, Cowper, Hyde and Whitehall Streets. There are large red signs on the footpath to guide you to Kindred Studios. If you are coming by train take the Williamstown/Werribee line to Seddon Station. It's then about 10 minutes to walk to the Studios. When you RSVP please click attend on the Event Page and I will be in touch via direct message. I will also be available on the Events Comments page on the day. .

Paranormal Romance Book Club and Culture

Hi all, Welcome to the August Paranormal Book Club!! If you love books that are lighter and fluffier to read, with supernatural elements (magic, vampires, werewolves, etc.) then you will enjoy this group. After book club we head off and become a tourist in our own city, by attending an exhibition or some other cultural activity. For August, we are going to meet at Time Out Fed Square for book club, then head across to ACMI for a look at their free exhibitions. The play school exhibition we were originally thought about attending, will have concluded. I've included a link to the existing exhibitions and we can discuss which one we want to go to during the meet-up. [What's on | ACMI: Your museum of screen culture](https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/?what=exhibition&when_start=2026-08-23&when_end=2026-08-30) The books for Sunday 23 August 2026 are: An Ancient Witches Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward [An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236810735-an-ancient-witch-s-guide-to-modern-dating) The Book Witch by Meg Schaffer [The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238226952-the-book-witch) Stay for a spell by Amy Coombe [Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238766958-stay-for-a-spell) If you would like to look at all the books that we have read so far, click [here](https://1drv.ms/x/s!Am2wjNpl1c1ijCNvt-hrWM8gPaem?e=riV48x). Finally, if you can't make it, please change your RSVP to a NO. Spaces are limited, so it will give other people a chance to attend. Happy reading until then!! 🤓

Reg Livermore's Ned Kelly:The Musical

New Film club! - everyone welcome (optional social activities) $10

Starting a new Film Club! We’ll be watching Mother! By Darren Aronofsky, followed by some casual social activities and discussion after the film. Come on your own or with friends, stay for the activities, chat about the movie, or just enjoy the screening. Everyone’s welcome. ✨ [Tickets click here!](https://events.humanitix.com/anima-film-club-mother)

Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the Xtremescreen at HOYTS Docklands

Join me for a big night at the movies — the brand-new **Spider-Man: Brand New Day** on the huge Xtremescreen at HOYTS Cinema District Docklands. A fresh Spidey adventure on a giant screen with big sound is exactly the kind of thing that's more fun with a crowd, so let's go along together. We'll meet outside the cinema gates at 6pm, head in as a group, grab our seats and settle in before the lights go down. No pressure to chat through it — we're all there for the movie — but it's a relaxed, friendly way to enjoy a cinema night without going solo. This is a casual social meetup arranged so we can catch the film together — it isn't run by or affiliated with HOYTS. Please book your own ticket directly with them; an RSVP here doesn't include entry or a seat. **Who this is for** * Anyone keen to see the new Spider-Man on a proper big screen * Marvel fans and casual moviegoers alike — no prior homework needed * Solo attendees are very welcome; this is an easy one to come to on your own **Links** * Meetup start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9SaTvD4DXEKqpFPh7 * Book tickets: https://www.hoyts.com.au/orders/tickets?cinemaId=DOCCIN&sessionId=154614 * Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62bIsvRcPv0 **Timeline** * 6:00pm – Meet outside the gates of HOYTS Cinema District Docklands and say hello * 6:15pm – Head inside, grab snacks and find our seats * 6:30pm – Movie starts * 9:00pm – Movie ends and the meetup finishes **Tickets / cost** You'll need to book and pay for your own ticket directly with HOYTS via the link above. It's a popular new release on the Xtremescreen, so I'd recommend booking in advance as sessions can sell out. Try to grab a seat near the group if you can. My seat is **L18** and the screen/cinema is **Xtremescreen 02**. **Transport** HOYTS Cinema District is in The District Docklands. It's an easy walk or tram from the CBD, and there's paid parking on site if you're driving. **Bring** * Your booked ticket (on your phone or printed) * Money/card for snacks or drinks if you'd like them **Expect** * Vibe: Relaxed, friendly cinema night * Group style: Casual — we meet up, watch together, and can say hi before and after * Pace: Easy; just turn up on time so we're all seated before it starts **Important notes** * Please arrive by 6pm so we can head in together — once the film starts it's tricky to find each other in the dark. * A Meetup RSVP is not a ticket and doesn't guarantee entry or a seat — please book directly with HOYTS. * If your plans change, please update your RSVP so numbers stay clear.

Attention as Currency with Professor Katherine Johnson — North Fitzroy Library

Join me for a fascinating free talk on one of the most valuable things we own: our attention. Professor Katherine Johnson draws on developmental neuroscience to explain how attention works, why it's so easily taxed in an information-saturated world, and what we can actually do to protect and restore our focus in everyday life. It's a family-friendly evening talk hosted by Yarra Libraries as part of National Science Week, and it's a lovely low-key way to spend a Thursday evening learning something genuinely useful. We'll meet at the gates of the library at 5:45pm for a quick hello, then head in together for the 6pm start. The talk wraps up around 7:30pm, and anyone who'd like to keep the conversation going is welcome to join us for a casual bite nearby afterwards. Just so it's clear: this is a casual social meetup arranged so we can head along together — it isn't run by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Yarra Libraries or Professor Johnson. Please grab your own free ticket directly through Eventbrite; an RSVP here doesn't include entry. **Who this is for** * Anyone curious about how the brain works, focus, and the science of attention — no background needed. * It's family-friendly, so all ages are welcome. * Coming solo? You'll fit right in — lots of people come along on their own, and meeting at the gates first makes it easy. **Links** * Meetup start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iwfhPG14S4D1t6zM8 * Free ticket (book your own): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/attention-as-currency-with-professor-katherine-johnson-tickets-1992329016721 **Timeline** * 5:45pm – Meet at the gates of the library and say hello * 6:00pm – Talk begins * 7:30pm – Talk wraps up and meetup ends * 7:30pm onwards – Optional casual bite nearby for anyone keen (the meetup officially finishes here) **Tickets / cost** Free, but you'll need to book your own ticket through the Eventbrite link above. These talks can fill up, so it's worth grabbing yours in advance. **Transport** The library is at 182 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy. It's well served by tram along St Georges Road, and there's some street parking around if you're driving — please allow a little extra time to find a spot. **Bring** * Your booked Eventbrite ticket * Your curiosity (and maybe a notebook if you like to jot things down) **Expect** * Vibe: relaxed, friendly, and curious * Pace: an easy evening — sit back and enjoy the talk * Group style: a casual social group heading along together **Important notes** * A Meetup RSVP is not a ticket — please book your free spot on Eventbrite separately. * If your plans change, please update your RSVP so numbers stay clear for everyone.

26 July: Figurine Painting and Friends-Social

**✨Are you tired of making ‘how are you’ friends? This event is for you!✨** 🎨What better way to build and deepen connections than through a fun activity like **Figurine painting**! There are many social events but it isn’t easy to feel connected to someone in a large group setting. I am super extroverted yet found myself walking home after a great social feeling more lonely, because of all the superficial connections made. I started Hue&Crew to help people build their next close-friend circle based on age, personality and interest! 🎨**What to Expect** This isn’t a big mixer event, every event has a limit of 6 people per table and a fishbowl full of conversation starters to help people get started! We move around Melbourne's many beautiful cafes weekly to keep things fresh! Expect: * A fresh, comfy venue * A hosted structure so you’re never left awkwardly quiet * A fishbowl of conversation starters for the introverts * A relaxed atmosphere where you can genuinely be yourself * Hand-painted figurines you made yourself to bring home Each group is curated to feel natural, matched by age, interest and personality 🎨**Notice before you sign up:** As the events are really small and it might take some time to form a group with similar interests, we will inform you when there is a suitable group for you! **RSVP now:** [https://forms.gle/4MN6oygujee9qmej9](https://forms.gle/4MN6oygujee9qmej9) **Take a look at our instagram page to see past public events**👇 [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXY8PXADXsm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXY8PXADXsm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) **Bring a friend for a 10% Discount for the both of you!**

Maribyrnong River Bank Clean Up

Join us for a relaxed morning of community connection, light activity, and caring for the Maribyrnong River. **What to Expect:** We will walk along the riverbank and surrounds collecting litter, enjoying fresh air, gentle exercise, and friendly conversation. After the clean-up, we will head to Myrtle Café together for a coffee and chat. This is an optional part of the event, and all are welcome to join. **What to Bring:** * Drinking water * Sunscreen * Closed shoes * Gloves (optional – we also provide gloves if needed) We will supply rubbish bags, and have gloves, extra sunscreen, and hand sanitiser available. **Meeting Point:** We meet at Footscray Wharf, near Waterside Metal Art in Footscray. This location offers shelter and free parking on nearby streets. **Important Information:** Please check the exact meeting point before attending. If you need help finding us on the day, call 0418 184 457 or 0415 635 063. Our clean-ups take place once a month and continue in all weather, unless conditions are extreme. Please check the event page on the morning of the clean-up for any last-minute updates.