The Basement

The Basement is suitable for:

performances and rehearsals
meetings.

Catering, staff hire and additional equipment hire are available for this room. See the Hiring Guide for more information.

Capacity

Theatre: 100 people

Boardroom: 30 people

Cocktail: 100 people

A small event space with rows of red folding chairs facing a black curtained stage. The walls are wood paneled and there are lighting fixtures and speakers mounted on black tracks on the ceiling.

A room prepared for a presentation. Rows of red folding chairs are arranged on a wooden floor facing the back of the room, with wood paneling. The black ceiling features square lights and stage lights. A doorway with a green exit sign is situated on the right side of the room.

Red chairs are arranged in rows facing the front inside an event space. The walls are constructed of wooden panels and illuminated by square ceiling lights and stage lighting.

A dance studio with a wood floor and wood panel walls. There is a black curtain at the far end of the room. Overhead lights are mounted on a black ceiling. A green exit sign is above the doorway on the left.

Interior view of a dance studio or theater rehearsal space with wooden floors and walls, overhead lighting and rigging, and two red chairs.

A room with a wooden floor and wood-paneled walls, equipped with lighting and a stage area with black curtains. The room also contains speakers mounted on the walls and an exit sign.

Content components

Booking process

To make a booking enquiry, email [email protected] or call (03) 8761 6657. We will discuss your booking requirements and provide you with a quote.

Booking fees

Room hire - hourly

Booking type	Monday to Thursday	Friday to Sunday
Standard (per hour)	$62	$78
Community (per hour)	$15.50	$19.50

Minimum booking time: 3 hours.

Room hire - daily

Booking type	Monday to Thursday	Friday to Sunday
Standard	$400	$472
Community	$100	$118

Room hire - weekly

Standard: $2,120

Community: $530

Booking times

Seven days a week including public holidays – subject to availability.

Some restrictions apply for alcohol service and noise.

Room facilities

Parking and transport

Public parking is available behind Hawthorn Arts Centre and can be accessed from Kent Street or Oxley Road. There are limited 2-hour free parking spaces and limited 4-hour paid parking spaces. Fees apply to some sections of the car park during business hours.

Parking may also be available from Serpells Lane and Swinburne Avenue car parks.

Public transport

Trains

The nearest train station is Glenferrie. Train lines: Alamein, Belgrave, Lilydale.

Head 200 metres south along Glenferrie Road then turn left into Burwood Road.

Trams

The nearest tram stops are:

Route 16, stop 73: corner Glenferrie and Burwood Roads
Head 100 metres minute east along Burwood Road.
Routes 70 and 75, stop 32: corner of Riversdale and Glenferrie Roads
Head north on Glenferrie Road for 700 metres until you reach Burwood Road, turn right and head 100 metres east along Burwood Road.

Accessibility

Accessible parking is available in the public car park behind the Hawthorn Arts Centre building.

Guide and companion dogs are welcome throughout the venue.

Hawthorn Arts Centre supports the Companion Card Scheme. Hirers of this room presenting ticketed events are required to adopt the scheme for their events.

If you or one of your members or participants have access requirements, please discuss with the Event Coordinator during the booking process to make sure your needs are properly addressed.

Download the Hiring Guide

Hawthorn Arts Centre venue hiring guide 2025-26

7.26 MB [PDF] 10 September 2025

Contact us

For more information about hiring this space, contact our events team (03) 8761 6657 or [email protected].