Free Hawthorn exhibition shares centenarians’ life stories – closes 30 May

The chalk wall at the heart of this exhibition started with a single prompt: “Before I turn 100, I want to…”. Hundreds of people wrote their answers. Now, six Boroondara residents who have already crossed that centenary mark are sharing their own stories in return. The free exhibition “Before I Turn 100: A Century in the Making” at Hawthorn Arts Centre closes on 30 May, and for families looking for something to do this weekend, it is worth a visit not just for the videos, but for the quiet conversations they might start on the drive home.

The exhibition runs until Saturday 30 May. From Tuesday 27 May, that leaves only a few days to catch it. Entry is free and no booking is required. You can walk in at 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, and you will not need to register.

Inside, you will find video stories from Hilary Jose, Annie Doggett-Williams, Allan Trinca, Myfanwy Lavie, Jim Coulter and Margaret Prowse. Each centenarian’s story is paired with one of six themes distilled from the chalk-wall responses: Career, prosperity and achievement; Family, relationships; Health, wellbeing and longevity; Home and lifestyle; Meaning, community and social impact; and Travel, adventure and sport.

The 100 Project and the National Communication Museum collaborated with the City of Boroondara on the exhibition, which grew out of a community arts project launched last year. The chalk walls, inspired by American artist Candy Chang’s “Before I Die” installations, collected everything from grand ambitions to simple wishes. The result is a display that balances big-picture dreaming with the faces of people who have actually lived through a century of change.

For families, the draw is twofold. Children can watch the short videos and hear first-hand what mattered to someone born in the 1920s, while parents might find themselves thinking about what they want to achieve before their own milestone birthdays. The exhibition does not preach. It simply asks questions.

If you cannot make it to Hawthorn before the 30th, the centenarians’ videos are available on the100project.com. But the physical exhibition layers those filmed stories alongside the hundreds of chalk-wall responses, creating a sense of collective reflection that a screen alone cannot replicate.

Getting there is straightforward. Hawthorn railway station on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines is a short walk away. Tram routes along Burwood Road also stop nearby. Parking is limited around the arts centre, so the train or tram is the easier option, especially with kids in tow.

While you are in the area, Glenferrie Road offers plenty of cafes and shops for a post-exhibition treat. If the exhibition sparks a broader interest in local art, the Town Hall Gallery in Camberwell is a short drive or tram ride away and hosts regular community-focused shows.

The chalk walls are gone now, but the six centenarians remind us that a century is built one ordinary day at a time, and that the answers to big questions are often already written in the lives of the people around us.