AMENDED PUBLIC TRANSPORT  TRAVEL METHODS & TIMES The 2026 Archibald Exhibition is on display in Victoria from Saturday 5th September to Sunday 1st November.  The annual Archibald Prize is eagerly anticipated by artists and audiences alike. Judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, the prize is awarded to the best portrait painting. Since 1921, it has highlighted figures from all walks of life, from famous faces to local heroes, reflecting back to us the stories of our times. This touring exhibition at SAM (only site in Victoria) is an opportunity to see the finalists in the Archibald Prize 2026. Travel by public transport is recommended as the event will include walks to/from Shepparton Station.  Time to enjoy a pub lunch then a walk to the Museum for a 2PM entry (last entry is at 3 PM). SAM traces its history back to 1936. The current purpose built complex, sitting opposite the man made Lake Victoria on the main north/south route in the city, was opened in 2021. SAM holds over 4,000 artworks, including one of the largest ceramic art collections in Australia. GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Grade 1 - Easy and Social, 4 km in total via multiple walks on sealed paths (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System).  ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Departing the train at Shepparton Station, we will walk some 7 minutes or 500 metres to the GV Hotel for lunch. Following lunch there will be a 22 minutes or 1.5 kms walk to SAM. The final walk will be via a different route of 20 minutes or 1.4 kms to Shepparton Railway Station to catch the final train back to Melbourne at 5:03 PM (arriving at Southern Cross at 7:39 PM).  For 2026 there were 1,034 Archibald Prize entries from which 59 were selected for judgement and display. A total of 42 per cent of Archibald finalists were painted by first-time nominees. From the remainder, the S. H. Ervin Gallery at The Rocks in Sydney selected works for an alternative display called the Salon Des Refusés, which has existed since 1992.   Archibald Prize 2026 is a timed-ticket exhibition, with entry at sixty-minute intervals on the hour until the last entry at 3pm. Adult entry is $24 (+47 cent fee), while Concession is $19 (+44 cent fee) (Humanitix system).  The Nomads booking will be scheduled for 2pm. BOOKING: by Thursday 15th October or ASAP to ensure you don't miss out on getting tickets for the gallery!  Entry Tickets: Purchase your ticket for 2pm on Saturday 17 October via Humanitix Archibald Tickets Nomads: To register for the walk and lunch, click on Get Tickets. Unsure if you've already booked with The Nomads? Click View my bookings. FURTHER INFORMATION: SAM Information Page | NSW Art Gallery - 2026 Archibald  MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 9:05am at Southern Cross Railway Station (for 09:16am departure) or at stations en route. We will travel in the front carriage. Check monitors for the allocated platform. Be wary of last-minute platform changes. MAP REFERENCE: Southern Cross Station - Google map: maps.app.goo.gl/uoapb4qq1C4nSNYb6. DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: Shepparton 191 km, 2 hours 33 minutes by train or by car. TRANSPORT: UPDATE: Due to Metro Works - the train between Southern Cross and Seymour has been replaced by a Coach departing Southern Cross Coach Terminal at 9:21, running Express to Seymour. Change at Seymour to a train which still arrives Shepparton at 1209. Train: Southern Cross Railway Station, meet at the underground Bus Bays opposite Bourke Street in time to depart on the 9:21 AM express bus to Seymour with a transfer to the 11:02 train to Shepparton. Train Return: Return train leaves Shepparton at 5:03 PM for the trip back to Southern Cross. At Seymour transfer to the express bus that departs at 6:15 PM Car: via Hume Freeway (M31) onto the Goulburn Valley Highway (M39) to Shepparton. Park at or near station. Make way to main waiting area inside the Station. Meet train that arrives at 12:09 PM. FOOD: Pre gallery tour lunch (Seniors Meals available) at the GV Hotel Menu  223 High Street (corner of North Street).  Participants must register to join the group booking for this communal lunch. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Casual clothing, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, repellent and camera. COST: Shepparton Art Museum: Adult $24 | Concession $19 | Trains: Myki money, Mastercard or Visa - weekend caps apply at $4 full; concession at $2 and Seniors FREE. LEADER: Garry Oliver. | Email LeaderGarryO@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS

A walk from Spotswood to Williamstown Beach via the Bay Trail West.  GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Grade 2: Moderate 12.2 km point to point walk (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System).  ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: We walk along Hall Street to the Westgate Bridge where we join the Stoney Creek Walk to the Yarra River which we then follow for 3 km to its mouth, and will be viewed from Greenwich Reserve. Continuing on, we arrive at Williamstown for our lunch stop. After lunch we go via Point Gellibrand to Williamstown Beach, with time for a swim and or refreshments. It is then a short walk to the station for our train home. BOOKING: By Friday 16th October. To register click on Get Tickets. Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings. FURTHER INFORMATION: Transport Victoria |  Customs House Hotel MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10:30am near Spotswood Station in Hall Street near Hudsons Rd (level crossing).  MAP REFERENCE: Google map goo.gl/jKGccXiRzNYEMGLD8. DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 10.2 km, approximately 18 minutes by train from Flinders Street Station. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Catch the 10am Werribee train from Flinders Street to Spotswood, arriving 10:18am. Return train from Williamstown Beach. Fares are at 1/2 price - myki money weekend daily cap is $4.00 + Seniors FREE. FOOD: If you would like something to eat or drink before the walk, plan to arrive 30 to 60 minutes earlier. There are several cafes along Hudsons Rd, Spotswood to choose from. Carry snacks and 1 to 2 litres of water. Lunch will be at the Customs House Hotel, Williamstown: See Menu, including seniors menu or BYO for lunch in Commonwealth Reserve, opposite the hotel. Please select the "Pub Lunch" or "BYO lunch" option when Getting Ticket. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes and dress according to the weather forecast. Bathers if warm enough for a dip at Williamstown Beach. LEADER: Paul K | Email LeaderPaulK@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS  

Do you enjoy cycling, and are you sometimes free on Wednesdays? You're welcome to join the Nomads Wednesday cyclists. ** See Archive - Wednesday Bike Rides for the upcoming Wednesday's cycling details (posted on the prior Monday night). ** GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Rides are of varying length and difficulty, mostly in metro Melbourne, but sometimes in Regional Victoria. The typical distance is between 30 and 50 km, though there are usually options to either extend or shorten the ride. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Time off on Wednesdays? Join a small group of Nomads and friends for a leisurely cycle on trails around metro Melbourne, and occasionally into Regional Victoria, usually on the third Wednesday of the month. Emphasis is on the social aspect, not on breaking world speed records! All rides are designed to either start in central Melbourne, or to start and finish close to train stations. The rides usually start at around 10:30am to avoid needing to travel with bikes on trains in peak hour. We often meet in, or near, a cafe so you can have a coffee prior to starting the ride if you wish. We generally have lunch in a cafe or pub along the way, though occasionally you will need to bring a picnic lunch if there are no suitable options available - in that case the ride description will clearly indicate the need to BYO lunch. The upcoming ride details are emailed to everybody on the Wednesday Cyclists Mailing List, usually on the prior Monday evening, by which time the weather forecast for Wednesday is fairly reliable. That way, a ride can be chosen to suit the forecast, for example to keep the wind behind us as much as possible, and to ensure there are bailout train station options if there’s a likelihood of rain. (Tip: the details are also added at the start of the Archive - Wednesday Bike Rides document).  If you have any additional enquiries or requests, email Chris Stewart on LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au. If you're not sure whether your bike fitness level will match, contact Chris to plan your first foray. BOOKING: MAILING LIST: To join the mailing list so that you receive an email (usually on Monday evening) about the upcoming Wednesday ride, click on Get Tickets in this event. (Afterwards click the "+" to set the number of tickets to 1, click Checkout and follow the prompts to provide your contact details). You only need to do this once. If you decide in future that you don't wish to receive the weekly emails, just email LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au to be taken off the mailing list. RIDING: When you plan to ride, please put your name in a free cell of the Wednesday Attendees spreadsheet on the day prior (be sure to click out of the cell afterwards, so that your name gets automatically saved). If a blank cell has a coloured box around it, somebody else is currently entering their name in that cell, so select the next cell instead. Your first name plus the first letter of your surname will suffice. If having difficulty, just reply to the email or email LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au. COST: Free. Note that for most Nomads activities, visitors need to pay a small fee, but as an introductory offer that fee is waived for the monthly social nights and the regular Wednesday and Friday bike rides - a way for you to meet some club members and find out a little more about the club. After attending 5 or more rides, you will be asked to become a member though. FURTHER INFORMATION: Please see Cycling Tips for some things to consider prior to hopping on your bike. LEADER: Chris S. | Email LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website. HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS