Originally known as Nunawading Arts Council, Arts Nunawading Inc. has an interesting and diverse history of involvement in the arts throughout the City of Whitehorse.
- 1964
- Mayor of Nunawading (Cr Dick Lack) called a meeting of local arts groups to establish a Festival of Arts. (Initial members: Mitcham Arts Association, Mitcham Repertory Group, Blackburn Film Society, Utassy Ballet and Nunawading Musical Society)
- 1965
- Festival of Arts established.
(New member - Maroondah Symphony Orchestra)
Professor Zelman Cowen (later Governor General of Australia) appointed Patron. Subsequent patrons: Lady Violet Brooks, Dame Margaret Sutherland. - 1966
- Festival of Arts membership expanded.
(New members - Babirra Players, Vermont Horticultural Society and East Victorian Highland Dancing Association) - 1972/3
- At the instigation of Councillor Albert Brown, Nunawading Arts Council was asked to receive and process applications from local groups for Nunawading City Council grants. This arrangement continued until the amalgamation of Box Hill and Nunawading Councils in 1994.
- 1977
- Nunawading Arts Council proposed to "provide a Rotunda Building with moveable walls as a Sound Shell, containing a modified practice area which is to be enclosed."
- 1978
- Cr Dick Lack presented plans for the Nunawading Arts and Entertainment Centre to Nunawading City Council.
- 1984
- The construction of the Nunawading Arts and Entertainment Centre was approved by Nunawading City Council. Nunawading Arts Council contributed $96,000 to help fund this development.
- 1986
- Nunawading Arts and Entertainment Centre was opened. (Mitcham Repertory Group performed first, followed
by Maroondah Symphony Orchestra and NOVA Theatre.
Nunawading Arts Council became an incorporated body. - 1986
- The ‘Dick Lack Award for the Pursuance of Excellence’ was introduced. The Award was instigated to provide local, advanced students the opportunity to pursue excellence in their chosen artistic field.
- 1987
- This first Dick Lack Award was presented to the Binneas String Quartet.
'Friends of Nunawading Art Centre' was established to co-ordinate and operate the Front of House and Kiosk at the Centre.
The Nunawading Art & Craft Market opened. - 1988
- Nunawading Arts Council took over the running of the Nunawading Art and Craft Market.
- 1991
- The Dick Lack Memorial Fund was established with a yearly allocation of funds into a specified account—backdated to 1987.
- 1994
- City of Nunawading and City of Box Hill Councils amalgamated to form City of Whitehorse.
- 1994
- City of Whitehorse ceased making grants to the Nunawading Arts Council for the promotion of art and cultural activities in the CIty of Whitehorse and assumed prime responsibility for making grants to local groups.
- 1994/5
- Nunawading Arts Council started its own programme of grants to member groups to help people develop their talents and to promote cultural activities in the City of Whitehorse.
- 1997
- Nunawading Arts Council arranged Annual fund raising concerts held at the Whitehorse Centre, including Carols at Twilight in 1998.
- 2002
- Installation of plaque by the City of Whitehorse acknowledging the efforts of Nunawading Arts Council members—Max Grant, Albert Brown, Hazel Mourney, Noel Browne and Jean Abbott—for their contributions to the building of the Whitehorse Centre.
- 2005
- Nunawading Arts Council Inc. changed its name to Arts Nunawading Inc. to reduce widespread confusion in the community with the City of Whitehorse Council.
- 2006
- Arts Nunawading Inc. website launched.