Light to Night at Chadstone: Rone’s HOME Exhibition and What Else Is On
Chadstone has turned its winter program into a proper festival, with a free Rone exhibition at its heart. Here’s what’s worth your time, and how to plan the visit.
It’s rather nice to see a shopping centre making an effort beyond the usual seasonal window displays. Chadstone’s new Light to Night festival runs from 11 June to 12 July 2026, and the drawcard is HOME, a free immersive exhibition by acclaimed Melbourne artist Rone. Our contributor Kaye H went along and has shared her thoughts below. We’ve also rounded up the practical details, from parking to quieter visiting times so that you can plan a comfortable outing.
What Is Light to Night?
Light to Night is Chadstone’s first attempt at a month-long cultural festival, running daily until Sunday 12 July 2026. Alongside Rone’s exhibition, the program includes a large-scale light sculpture in the Luxury Precinct, chef-led dining events, live music and a school holiday program for younger visitors.
For our readers, the two standout drawcards are both free and both art-focused:
- HOME by Rone, a walk-through exhibition recreating an Australian weatherboard house
- Through the Looking Glass, a light sculpture by Dean Norton and Studio John Fish in the Luxury Precinct, near Tiffany & Co.
Both run during the centre’s normal trading hours, so there’s no need to plan around a separate timetable.
HOME by Rone: Kaye H’s Review
Rone is known for transforming abandoned buildings into atmospheric, large-scale installations. His past projects include Burnham Beeches and an exhibition inside the old ballrooms at Flinders Street Station. HOME is his first major show in three years, and rather than an abandoned building, this one is tucked inside a Chadstone shopfront on the Ground Level, between Mecca and Arc’teryx.
The exhibition recreates a typical Australian weatherboard house, room by room, complete with the kind of furniture, textures and small details many readers will recognise from their own childhood homes or a relative’s place. It’s a 20-minute self-guided walk-through, with sound and lighting shifting as you move from room to room. Book free tickets online here.
Kaye’s review
An Australian weatherboard house in a contemporary highly polished, fast moving retail space, that is exactly what you see at the Rone HOME installation.
Rone (Geelong-born, now based in Melbourne) is a street artist known for his large-scale portraits and immersive installations, often in abandoned unused spaces.
This current work is a striking nostalgic walk through a home and backyard suspended in time. Every room is layered with familiar details, from old household items, products no longer seen, faded furnishings, worn dust surfaces, a trace of life once lived. A home that the occupants stepped away decades ago and never returned
Entry is free until 12 July at the Chadstone Shopping Centre however, tickets must be booked via their website.
My daughter and I enjoyed the rest of the day with lunch, window shopping and the odd purchase. We drove with plenty of free parking available however there are other options – the Chadstone free shuttle service from Federation Square or PTV to Hughesdale station and a short 15 – 20 minutes walk.
Even though it is only a short timed stroll down memory lane, it evoked memories of grandparents, childhood suburbs and everyday rituals that have quietly disappeared that I was able to share with my daughter, a truly enjoyed day.
Planning Your Visit
A few things worth knowing before you go.
Bookings: Entry is free, but a booking is recommended. Walk-up spots are limited and subject to availability, so if you have a particular day in mind, book ahead through Chadstone’s website. You’ll need a Chadstone First membership to reserve a slot, which is free to join.
Timing: Arrive five minutes before your booked slot. The walk-through itself takes about 20 minutes, at a pace you can set yourself.
Accessibility: The exhibition is wheelchair accessible, and staff on site can assist if needed. Worth noting: the space includes some immersive sound elements with louder moments, which may be a consideration if you’re sensitive to noise.
Touching exhibits: Some of the props are deliberately aged and weathered as part of the artistic effect, but they’re fragile, so it’s a look-don’t-touch experience.
Photos: You’re welcome to take photos for personal use. Tripods aren’t permitted, and commercial photography isn’t allowed.
Related reading: Market Pavilion Chadstone: Melbourne’s new fresh food precinct
Getting to Chadstone
Chadstone is about 17 kilometres from the CBD, and there are a few sensible ways to get there.
By train and bus: The nearest stations are Holmesglen and Oakleigh, both around a 12 to 19-minute walk from the centre. Most visitors find it easier to combine the train with a connecting bus, such as the 900 or 903 SmartBus from Oakleigh, which both stop close to the centre.
By free shuttle: Chadstone runs a free Tourist Shuttle from Federation Square in the CBD, with bookings essential. It’s a comfortable option if you’d rather skip changing trains and buses.
By car: If you’re driving, Car Park C off Warrigal Road has direct access to the centre and includes family-friendly and accessible spaces, plus lifts. Valet parking is also available if you’d rather not navigate the car park yourself.
Getting around once inside: Chadstone is large, so allow time to walk between the HOME exhibition near Mecca and Through the Looking Glass in the Luxury Precinct near Tiffany & Co. Mobility scooters and wheelchairs can usually be hired at the centre if you’d prefer not to walk the full distance; it’s worth checking availability with Chadstone directly on the day.
Other Things on at Light to Night
If you’re making a day of it, there are a few other events worth knowing about, even if they’re not all squarely aimed at our readers:
- Dinner With Friends Sunday – dining events hosted by Melbourne food personalities including Julia Busuttil Nishimura and Alice Zaslavsky, held in The Market Pavilion
- Through the Looking Glass – the light sculpture mentioned above, which shifts in character from daylight into evening
- Home in Colour – a school holiday activity for children aged 3 to 12, running 27 June to 12 July, handy to know if you’re planning a visit with grandchildren
Most of the after-dark music events lean towards a younger crowd, so we’d suggest focusing your visit around daytime hours unless live gigs are your thing.
Related reading: Gluten-Free High Tea at Altus Rooftop, Hotel Chadstone
Our take
If you’ve enjoyed Rone’s previous work, or simply like art with a strong sense of nostalgia, it’s worth setting aside an afternoon before it closes on 12 July.
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