Explore the real-world places that appear in The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include University of Melbourne — Department of Genetics, Don Tillman's Apartment, The Rosie Project Bar & Restaurant, Burnham Beeches Historic House & Garden, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and 10 more.
Grattan Street, Parkville — Don Tillman's academic workplace
Don Tillman, a genetics professor with undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome, works in the Department of Genetics at the University of Melbourne. The novel opens with Don conducting his meticulously planned life within these academic walls, where his brilliance in genetics is matched only by his social awkwardness. His office and laboratory become the setting for his initial rejection of the Rosie Project and his eventual acceptance of Rosie Jarman as his research assistant.
The University of Melbourne, founded in 1853, is one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious universities. The Department of Genetics was established in the 1960s and became a leading center for genetic research in the Southern Hemisphere.
The University of Melbourne remains a world-leading research institution. The Department of Genetics continues to operate in the Parkville campus, accessible to the public for tours and special events. The Victorian Gothic architecture blends with modern research facilities.
Visit: University of Melbourne Campus Tours (tour)
Carlton — Don's methodically organized bachelor pad
Don's apartment in Carlton is a reflection of his obsessive-compulsive nature: color-coded shelving, a precise schedule for household tasks, and meals planned with mathematical precision. Rosie Jarman arrives at this apartment with her own chaos, challenging Don's rigidly ordered world. The tension between Don's systematic life and Rosie's spontaneity plays out in the intimate setting of his home throughout the novel.
Carlton, a suburb north of Melbourne's CBD, developed as a residential neighborhood in the 19th century and became known for its Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses favored by professionals and academics.
Carlton remains a popular residential area with a mix of heritage Victorian homes and modern apartments. The suburb retains its academic character due to its proximity to the university, with cafes, bookstores, and restaurants catering to students and faculty.
Melbourne CBD — Where Don meets Rosie and conducts dating interviews
Don conducts his infamous dating interviews at various Melbourne restaurants as part of his elaborate Rosie Project—a scientific attempt to find a perfect female partner through genetic testing and questionnaires. Though the novel references multiple venues, Don's systematic approach to dating in upscale Melbourne restaurants sets the tone for his initial meetings. Rosie crashes the project by manipulating her way into Don's life, ultimately derailing his carefully constructed plan.
Melbourne's CBD has been the city's commercial and dining hub since the 1850s gold rush. The city developed a reputation for fine dining and vibrant restaurant culture by the 21st century.
Melbourne's CBD is renowned as Australia's culinary capital, featuring world-class restaurants, cafes, and bars. The restaurant scene continues to attract visitors and locals seeking quality dining experiences.
Visit: Melbourne Restaurants & Dining District (restaurant)
Sherbrooke, Dandenong Ranges — Rosie's ancestral home and search point
Rosie Jarman reveals to Don that she is searching for her biological father, and the Dandenong Ranges becomes significant to her quest. While Burnham Beeches is a real historic estate in the Dandenong Ranges, Simsion uses the area as a symbolic location where Rosie confronts her identity and family history. The natural beauty of the ranges contrasts with the emotional intensity of Rosie's search for paternity and belonging.
Burnham Beeches was built in 1886 by Sir Frederick Grimwade, a prominent Melbourne businessman, and is one of Victoria's finest examples of late-Victorian mansion architecture. The estate and gardens are considered historically significant.
Burnham Beeches Historic House & Garden is open to the public as a heritage museum. Visitors can tour the mansion and explore the beautiful gardens, which feature rare plantings and original design elements from the Victorian era.
Visit: Burnham Beeches Historic House & Garden (historic site)
St Kilda Road — Cultural and social encounter location
The NGV represents Melbourne's cultural sophistication, a setting where Don and his circle of academics and intellectuals move through the city's refined spaces. Don's social awkwardness contrasts sharply with the refined atmosphere of Melbourne's cultural institutions. The gallery symbolizes the kind of sophisticated world Don aspires to navigate but struggles with due to his social deficits.
The National Gallery of Victoria was founded in 1861 and moved to its current St Kilda Road location in 1968. It houses one of the world's finest art collections and is the major public art museum in Victoria.
The NGV remains one of Australia's premier art museums, free to the public for general admission. The gallery features major international exhibitions, contemporary works, and Australian art collections, with facilities including a restaurant and museum shop.
Visit: National Gallery of Victoria (museum)
Beachfront promenade — Casual social interactions and romance
St Kilda Beach represents the casual, spontaneous side of Melbourne life that attracts Rosie and challenges Don's preference for predictability. The beach and its famous promenade become settings where Don must navigate unstructured social situations. The beach symbolizes the threshold between Don's controlled world and the unpredictability that Rosie brings into his life.
St Kilda developed as Melbourne's premier seaside resort in the 19th century, with the famous Luna Park amusement park opening in 1912. The beach has been a recreational destination for Melburnians for over 150 years.
St Kilda Beach remains a popular destination for swimming, sunbathing, and socializing. The foreshore features the historic Luna Park, trendy restaurants and bars, and maintains its character as Melbourne's casual beach culture hub.
Visit: St Kilda Beach (park)
Southbank — Green space and public gathering area
Southbank Parklands represents the accessible, public face of Melbourne where casual encounters and romantic moments can unfold. Don and Rosie navigate this cultural and recreational space as their relationship develops. The parklands symbolize neutral ground where Don's rigid structures can loosen and romantic possibility exists amid the natural beauty.
Southbank was redeveloped in the 1990s from an industrial area into a major cultural and recreational precinct, featuring museums, theaters, restaurants, and parklands along the Yarra River.
Southbank Parklands is one of Melbourne's most visited destinations, featuring the Southbank Centre with museums and theaters, multiple restaurants, galleries, and beautifully landscaped gardens. It's free to visit and offers cultural events year-round.
Visit: Southbank Parklands (park)
Brunswick Street and surrounding area — Counterculture and artistic spaces
Fitzroy represents the bohemian, unconventional side of Melbourne culture that Rosie embodies and that Don finds simultaneously threatening and attractive. The suburb, with its artistic community, vintage shops, and alternative bars, contrasts sharply with Don's systematic approach to life. Rosie's connections to this creative scene highlight the fundamental differences between her spontaneous nature and Don's orderly worldview.
Fitzroy developed in the 19th century as a working-class neighborhood and evolved into Melbourne's bohemian heart by the late 20th century, attracting artists, musicians, and alternative thinkers.
Fitzroy remains a vibrant artistic and cultural hub with independent bookstores, vintage shops, street art, live music venues, and diverse restaurants. Brunswick Street is lined with eclectic businesses reflecting the suburb's creative character.
Visit: Fitzroy Commercial District (landmark)
Carlton — Institutional knowledge and cultural history
The Melbourne Museum represents the kind of structured, informational spaces where Don is comfortable. The museum embodies the systematic cataloging and organization of knowledge that appeals to Don's orderly mind. It serves as a symbolic location representing Don's world of facts, logic, and organized information before Rosie introduces emotional complexity and spontaneity.
The Melbourne Museum opened in 2000 in the Carlton Gardens, replacing the earlier museum. It is one of Australia's largest museums and features natural history, cultural history, and interactive exhibits.
The Melbourne Museum remains free to the public for general admission and features permanent collections on natural history, Indigenous Australian culture, and Melbourne history, along with special exhibitions and educational programs.
Visit: Melbourne Museum (museum)
South Yarra — Natural order and romantic encounters
The Royal Botanic Gardens represents a space where nature is organized and cataloged, appealing to Don's love of order while providing a romantic setting. The gardens become a neutral space where Don and Rosie can interact away from academic and professional pressures. The careful organization of plant species mirrors Don's own need for classification and structure, yet the natural beauty allows for spontaneity and emotional connection.
The Royal Botanic Gardens were established in 1846 and developed over 150 years into one of the world's most important botanical collections, featuring native Australian plants and exotic species from around the globe.
The Royal Botanic Gardens are open daily and free to the public. Visitors can explore 36 hectares of cultivated gardens, natural bushland, ornamental lakes, and walking paths. The gardens feature educational programs and seasonal special events.
Visit: Royal Botanic Gardens (park)
Market Street, South Melbourne — Public gathering and daily life
South Melbourne Market represents the everyday, unstructured social world that Don finds overwhelming. Markets embody chaos, unpredictability, and human interaction without predetermined rules—the opposite of Don's preferred environment. Rosie's comfort in such spaces and Don's discomfort underscore their fundamental incompatibility in the early stages of their relationship.
South Melbourne Market was established in 1867 and is one of Australia's oldest continuously operating markets. It has served as a community gathering place and shopping destination for over 150 years.
South Melbourne Market remains an active public market featuring fresh produce, meat, fish, flowers, and specialty foods. The historic market operates daily and attracts locals and tourists seeking fresh ingredients and traditional market atmosphere.
Visit: South Melbourne Market (landmark)
Sherbrooke — Natural beauty and family history
The Dandenong Ranges, particularly the Sherbrooke area, becomes significant to Rosie's quest for her biological father. The natural landscape contrasts with urban Melbourne and represents the personal, emotional journey Rosie undertakes. The ranges become a symbolic location where Don confronts his own limitations and learns to value human connection over systematic planning.
The Dandenong Ranges were designated as a National Park in 1882 and feature tall mountain ash trees, native ferns, and diverse wildlife. The ranges have been a refuge and retreat for Melburnians for over a century.
Dandenong Ranges National Park is open to the public and features walking trails, picnic areas, and natural attractions like Sherbrooke Falls. The park is popular for hiking, birdwatching, and experiencing natural forest ecosystems close to Melbourne.
Visit: Dandenong Ranges National Park (park)
Southbank — Performance and cultural sophistication
Hamer Hall represents Melbourne's cultural refinement and the kind of sophisticated social environment where Don attempts to navigate and succeed. Attending performances here symbolizes Don's efforts to become more socially competent and engaging. The theater embodies both structure (the predetermined program) and emotion (the artistic experience), bridging Don's analytical world and the emotional world Rosie represents.
Hamer Hall opened in 1968 as the home of the Victorian Opera. It became part of the Australian Centre for the Performing Arts complex and is named after philanthropist Rupert Hamer.
Hamer Hall continues to host major theater, ballet, and opera productions. The venue is accessible to the public for performances and some daytime tours. The surrounding Southbank complex offers a complete cultural and entertainment experience.
Visit: Hamer Hall (theater)
Flinders Street — Iconic Melbourne landmark and transportation hub
Flinders Street Station, one of Melbourne's most iconic buildings, serves as a symbolic location in Don and Rosie's story. The busy, chaotic station represents the unpredictable urban environment that Don struggles with but must learn to navigate. The station's historic beauty contrasts with the overwhelming sensory input it provides, mirroring Don's journey toward embracing life's complexities.
Flinders Street Station opened in 1910 and is one of Australia's most recognizable buildings. The Victorian Renaissance Revival architecture made it a symbol of Melbourne's cultural identity and has served as a major transportation hub for over a century.
Flinders Street Station remains a major metro railway station and tourist landmark. The building's iconic clock tower and ornate architecture make it a popular meeting point and photography destination. Visitors can access the station, travel on metro services, or simply admire the heritage architecture.
Visit: Flinders Street Station (landmark)
Grattan Street, Parkville — The Rosie Project's scientific headquarters
Within the University's Department of Genetics, Don's personal laboratory becomes the epicenter of the Rosie Project. It is here that Don develops his elaborate questionnaire for finding a genetically compatible mate and conducts the genetic testing at the heart of his flawed logic. Rosie insinuates herself into this space, ultimately transforming it from a laboratory of romantic calculation into a place where human emotion and spontaneity challenge scientific methodology. Gene testing equipment, filing systems, and research notes fill the space that becomes a battleground between Don's systematic approach and Rosie's chaotic authenticity.
University of Melbourne's genetics laboratories have been at the forefront of genetic research in the Southern Hemisphere since the 1960s, producing numerous publications and contributing significantly to the field.
The Department of Genetics continues to operate as a leading research institution with modern laboratory facilities, student workstations, and advanced genetic analysis equipment. The university maintains a commitment to cutting-edge genetic research.
More by Graeme Simsion: All Graeme Simsion books