Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 4 October 2026.
Free first, always. This page covers five places in and around Camberwell where the council, the venue or the traders directory lists something free: a library, a fresh food market, a park, a shopping centre and a cinema. Four are in Camberwell and Rivoli Cinemas is in Hawthorn East.
Each entry says what is free and what the catch is. The free cinema screenings at Rivoli need booking and belong to a seniors film festival, and the free cinema at Riversdale Park is a December event. We could not find a published entry charge for the market or the park, so the free part of those entries is the specific item listed.
Each place was confirmed at two independent sources on 4 October 2026. Check the official page for the latest hours before you head out.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Free WiFi, computers and study room | Camberwell Library | 340 Camberwell Road, Camberwell |
| Free kids’ activity on Thursdays | Camberwell Fresh Food Market | 519-525 Riversdale Road, Camberwell |
| Playground, barbecues and December cinema | Riversdale Park | 661 Riversdale Road, Camberwell |
| One-off free coffee event, October 8 | Camberwell Place | 793 Burke Road, Camberwell |
| Free festival screenings, booking needed | Rivoli Cinemas | 200 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East |
Camberwell Library — 340 Camberwell Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
Camberwell Library is run by the council, and the council lists several free extras. It says you can access free WiFi at its branches with a library membership, and that you can book a computer in advance or walk up and use a free one. Camberwell Library also has a study room you can book for up to 3 hours for free, per the council. OpenStreetMap lists hours as Mo 09:00-21:00; Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00, the council page shows the same, and the council says the library is closed on public holidays.
Free first: WiFi, a walk-up computer and the study room are the free items the council lists, and WiFi needs a library membership.
Camberwell Fresh Food Market — 519-525 Riversdale Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
Camberwell Fresh Food Market is a produce market, and the directory says it has operated in Camberwell for over 90 years. The free item is Market MUNCHkins, a kids’ activity its site says runs every Thursday; the line is undated, so check the What’s On page. The site lists trading Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday 7 am - 5 pm and Sunday 10 am - 3 pm with select traders, which leaves out Monday and Wednesday. The council describes fresh produce, meats, fish, poultry, gourmet food, flowers and deli goods.
Rain backup: The directory describes a generous indoor public seating area, which is the wet-weather option it lists.
Riversdale Park — 661 Riversdale Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
Riversdale Park, per the council, is suitable for children’s play, picnics, large events, weddings and other celebrations. The council lists slides, swings and a roundabout, covered barbecues, toilets, and seating and tables. In December each year, the council says, there is a popular and free Summertime Cinema screening in the park. We could not find a published entry charge or opening hours for the park.
Plan it: Bring a picnic for the seating and tables the council lists, and save the free cinema for December.
Camberwell Place — 793 Burke Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
Camberwell Place is a shopping centre, and the traders directory calls it a boutique shopping centre that includes Coles Local, Liquorland, JB HiFi, Medibank and Waterman Workspaces. The centre’s own site invites visitors to a free cuppa at Coffee with a Cop on Thursday October 8 (2026), a one-off dated event, to meet the people helping to keep Boroondara safe, informed and connected. Check the site for the event details before you go.
Time needed: We could not find a length for the event, so check the centre’s page before you plan around it.
Rivoli Cinemas — 200 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123
Rivoli Cinemas is described by the traders directory as an 8 cinema complex including two original 1940s cinemas with Art Deco design, and it lists a Gold Class option. The free part is the Seniors Film Festival in Camberwell: the directory says all screenings are free to attend, booking is essential, and the dates are 6th to 22nd October on select dates. These are festival screenings, not general admission, and we could not read session times or ticket prices for regular films. The directory says the cinema opens 15 minutes before the first session of the day.
Get there: The council places the Rivoli Cinema at Camberwell Junction, where Burke Road, Camberwell Road and Riversdale Road meet, so check the PTV journey planner for your route.
Quick answers
What free things can I do in Camberwell?
Camberwell Library lists free WiFi with membership, free walk-up computers and a free bookable study room. The Camberwell Fresh Food Market’s site lists a free kids’ activity on Thursdays, and Riversdale Park has a free Summertime Cinema screening in December. Camberwell Place lists a one-off free coffee event on Thursday October 8, and Rivoli Cinemas lists free festival screenings where booking is essential.
Does Camberwell Library have free WiFi?
The council says you can access free WiFi at any of its library branches with a library membership. Camberwell Library also lists walk-up computers that are free to use, and a study room that can be booked for up to three hours for free.
Is there free cinema in Camberwell?
Two free options are listed. The council says a popular and free Summertime Cinema screening runs in Riversdale Park each December. The traders directory says all screenings in the Seniors Film Festival at Rivoli Cinemas are free to attend, booking is essential, and the dates are 6th to 22nd October on select dates.
What is a free plan for a day in Camberwell?
Start at Camberwell Library for free WiFi or a study room, and check its hours listing first because it is closed on public holidays. Then try Camberwell Fresh Food Market on a Thursday for the free kids’ activity its site lists, and finish at Riversdale Park, where the council lists seating and tables for a picnic.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 4 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, council pages, camberwellshopping.com.au and the places’ own websites. Facilities and opening hours change, so check the official page before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Camberwell Library: openstreetmap.org/3222794520, boroondara.vic.gov.au/camberwell-library-hours-and-location
- Camberwell Fresh Food Market: openstreetmap.org/709059317, camberwellshopping.com.au/camberwell-fresh-food-market, camberwellfreshfoodmarket.com.au/whats-on, boroondara.vic.gov.au/camberwell-fresh-food-market, camberwellfreshfoodmarket.com.au
- Riversdale Park: openstreetmap.org/28356377, boroondara.vic.gov.au/riversdale-park
- Camberwell Place: openstreetmap.org/212225792, camberwellshopping.com.au/camberwell-place, camberwellplace.com.au
- Rivoli Cinemas: openstreetmap.org/396987047, camberwellshopping.com.au/rivoli-cinemas, boroondara.vic.gov.au/camberwell-junction
