A treat for culture lovers, history buffs and those who like a good yarn, this storytelling experience illuminates the little known life of former Hotel Esplanade resident Alfred Felton, Australia’s largest philanthropist to the arts.

ALFRED FELTON
Besides being a name cited in the gallery text sitting alongside a few thousand works at the Melbourne’s NGV, few people know much at all about Alfred Felton. Let’s begin here… born is the 1831 Alfred Felton was a successful businessman and avid art collector who came to Melbourne in the gold rush era. An eccentric character who lived modestly then upon his death bequeathed just enough money to be the making of the NGV as a gallery on the world stage. Not to mention donating the other half of his fortune to charities supporting women and children. Felton’s life and the impact of his bequests is nothing short of fascinating. 

FELTON’S ROOMS AT HOTEL ESPLANADE
Felton resided at the Hotel Esplanade for the last twenty years of his life. His business partner Russell Grimwade described his two modest rooms as, “Bookshelves all round, crammed in places with orderly series of volumes; crammed elsewhere with disorderly heaps of books, papers, and serials. Above, pictures, clocks, ornaments and rubbish; above that, on the walls, the earlier pictures, properly hung. In front, the later pictures, leaning against the books, or a pedestal carrying a marble statue. Perhaps an ormolu timepiece with its glass dome, and the auction room number still on it.” 

STORYTELLER
Melbourne publican Matt Mullins is an art and history lover. Like many publicans he tells a great tale and loves a few laughs. Ever since discovering Alfred Felton was a former resident at the Hotel Esplanade, Matt has dug deep into every detail of this fascinating man’s little known story. His passion is perhaps best demonstrated by the obsessive number of sticky-notes hanging from the pages of Mr Felton’s Bequests, a biography by John Poynter that has been a permanent fixture under Matt's arm for many months.

This experience includes a refreshment on the upper level of the newly restored hotel, which has been created in Felton’s honour.

DATES: Select Mondays over multiple dates beginning 26 November 2018  

DURATION: 60 minutes

MEETING POINT: Details will be sent to ticket holders 3 days before the event

MORE INFO AND ACCESSIBILITY ENQUIRIES: arts@hotelesplanade.com.au

All U18's MUST be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian at all times

**Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the start of your tour. Unfortunately latecomers may not be able to join until a suitable point in the journey.**

We acknowledge the lands on which we present this work are the lands of the Yalukit Willam people of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and future.