Knowing Frankston – Week 34

17-23 August 2026

Every week, Frankston writes another chapter of its story.

Here’s a look back at the people, places, changes and stories that shaped the week.

Frankston celebrates 60 years as a city

Frankston marked a major milestone this weekend, celebrating 60 years since it was officially declared a city on 24 August 1966.

Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the anniversary program brought together local history, art, film, music, markets and storytelling across the city. Young people imagined Frankston’s future with author Danielle Binks and illustrator Judy Watson, while Paul Kennedy hosted Growing Up Frankston with Shaun Carney, Alan Wickes and Sue Robinson, reflecting on how growing up locally shaped their lives and work.

Local artists Jack and Josh painted a community mural on Dandenong Road West celebrating Frankston’s landscapes, native flora and fauna and historic landmarks. Little Beauty Market returned early for the celebrations, Moon Dog Beach Club hosted a night market, and Cube 37 held a special Swing Night.

Frankston Arts Centre featured Postcards from Frankston, When Hollywood Came to Frankston and No Place Like Home, while Sunday’s program included free screenings of the 1959 film On the Beach. Ballam Park Homestead also welcomed visitors for tours and Devonshire tea, and McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery joined the celebrations with special activities and free entry to the sculpture park.

💙 Why it matters

The weekend was more than a birthday celebration. It brought together the people, places, memories and creative life that have shaped Frankston since 1966, while also asking what the city might become over its next 60 years.

Community

Frankston calls for greater homelessness support

Frankston City Council is seeking $2.5 million over five years from the Victorian Government to expand homelessness outreach, improve early intervention and strengthen pathways into housing.

At the end of July, 100 people were known to local homelessness services, including 56 people sleeping rough. Frankston has the third-highest recorded rough-sleeping population in Victoria, behind Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.

Community Support Frankston has also reported substantial demand for emergency relief as cost-of-living and housing pressures continue to affect local households.

💙 Why it matters

Behind the numbers are people without secure housing, and local services are reporting pressure at a time when Frankston has no crisis accommodation. Council’s funding push puts homelessness firmly on the local agenda ahead of November’s state election.

Seaford Place officially opened

The new $6 million Seaford Place was officially opened this week, bringing kindergarten, maternal and child health, youth and community services together under one roof.

The Railway Parade facility has actually been operating since Term 1, but this week’s ceremony marked its official opening. It includes two kindergarten rooms with capacity for up to 66 children, maternal and child health consultation rooms, an allied-health room, a dedicated Youth Hang-out and landscaped outdoor play space.

The Victorian Government contributed $4.5 million through the Building Blocks Partnership.

💙 Why it matters

Seaford Place brings services for children, young people and families together in one location while significantly increasing local kindergarten capacity.

Police & Safety

Man charged following two alleged Frankston stabbings

A 27-year-old man was charged this week following two separate alleged attacks on women in central Frankston.

Police allege a 53-year-old Skye woman was attacked from behind while walking along Young Street on Sunday 16 August. The following morning, a 29-year-old Western Australian woman was allegedly stabbed from behind on Playne Street before her belongings were taken. Both women were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A man was arrested shortly after the second incident and charged with two counts of intentionally causing serious injury, armed robbery and weapon offences. He was remanded in custody.

💙 Why it matters

 The two incidents occurred within 24 hours in heavily used parts of central Frankston. An arrest was made quickly following the second alleged attack, and the accused has now been remanded.

Politics

Bree Ambry endorsed as Liberal candidate for Frankston

Former nurse and health operations manager Bree Ambry has been endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Frankston ahead of the Victorian state election on 28 November.

Ambry has identified healthcare, roads, community safety, schools, small-business pressures and cost of living among her priorities. Frankston is currently represented by Labor MP Paul Edbrooke.

💙 Why it matters

The endorsement begins to clarify the local contest for Frankston ahead of November’s state election. Knowing Frankston will keep track of confirmed candidates and significant local commitments as the campaign develops.

Arts & Culture

Single Channel, a National Gallery Touring Exhibition drawn from Australia’s national collection, opened at Cube 37 on Thursday.

The exhibition brings together moving-image works created between 2000 and 2019 by significant Australian and First Nations artists, including Tony Albert, Destiny Deacon, Shaun Gladwell and Tracey Moffatt. Senior National Gallery curator Shaune Lakin introduced Thursday night’s opening screening.

💙 Why it matters

The touring program gives Frankston audiences access to significant works from the national collection without travelling to Canberra and adds another major exhibition to the city’s growing arts program.

Million Dollar Housecoat wins Frankston Open Exhibition

Melbourne multidisciplinary artist Rachel J. O’Connor was announced as the winner of Frankston Arts Centre’s 2026 Open Exhibition for her textile work Million Dollar Housecoat.

Created from reclaimed blankets, vintage buttons, found fabrics and photographs relating to Australia’s housing crisis, the wearable sculpture responds to this year’s theme, No Place Like Home. O’Connor receives $1,000 and a solo Cube 37 exhibition in 2027.

The exhibition continues until Friday 28 August, with visitors still able to vote for the People’s Choice Award.

💙 Why it matters

The annual exhibition gives emerging and established artists a platform in Frankston and invites audiences to consider different interpretations of home, belonging and connection.

Sport

Frankston Bombers keep their season alive

Frankston Bombers produced a 16-point comeback win over Seaford in Sunday’s MPFNL Division 2 elimination final at Somerville.

The Bombers won 12.13 (85) to 10.9 (69) after entering the finals in fifth place on percentage. They will now face Somerville in next Sunday’s first semi-final at Tyabb.

💙 Why it matters

Frankston had to fight simply to make the finals and has now survived its first elimination match, while Seaford’s 2026 campaign comes to an end.

Matt Gapes calls time on a 19-year Premier Cricket career

Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club great Matt Gapes announced his retirement from Premier Cricket this week after 19 seasons.

Gapes played 276 matches and scored 7,053 runs, making him the second-highest run scorer in the club’s history. His career also included a Thompson Medal and Club Champion award.

💙 Why it matters

Nineteen seasons at one Premier Cricket club is a substantial contribution, and Gapes leaves as one of Frankston Peninsula’s most prolific players.

Local Life

Frankston went back to 21st Century for one night

Nostalgia took over the Pier Bandroom this weekend for the 21st Century Nightclub Reunion, bringing former patrons back together to revisit one of Frankston’s best-remembered nightlife eras.

The event, hosted by Bec’s Unhinged Reviews, drew a packed crowd of people reconnecting with old friends and reliving nights from the former 21st Century nightclub.

💙 Why it matters

Sometimes local history isn’t a building or an anniversary. It’s the places people associate with a particular period of their lives. The response to the reunion showed just how strongly 21st Century remains embedded in Frankston and Peninsula memories.

Looking Ahead

The Frankston & Mornington Peninsula Business Festival comes to Frankston Arts Centre on Thursday 27 August, bringing together 80 exhibitors and speakers across property and investment, tourism, manufacturing, health, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.

No Place Like Home closes at Cube 37 on Friday 28 August, with voting for the People’s Choice Award continuing until the exhibition closes.

Frankston Bombers face Somerville in their Division 2 first semi-final next Sunday after surviving this weekend’s elimination final.

Today’s news becomes tomorrow’s history.