Open House Melbourne Weekend 2025 returns 26-27 July exploring Stories of the City across Melbourne.
Open House Melbourne Weekend 2025 returns to Melbourne with the theme Stories of the City, exploring how the city’s buildings, streets and public places tell unique stories shaped by time and diverse communities. The weekend festival examines Melbourne’s character beyond its physical architecture, focusing on the human stories embedded within the built environment.
Open House Melbourne takes place on 26-27 July, offering architectural experiences across the city. The Stories of the City theme reflects how Melbourne’s urban landscapes represent the people who live, work and play throughout the metropolis, emphasising the connection between place and community.
If 2024’s program is anything to go by – which opened up the Essendon Incinerator, Cairo Flats in Carlton, Willsmere (formerly Kew Asylum), Truganina Explosives Reserve, Mount Burnett Observatory and the former Williamstown Morgue – we’re in for a serious treat.
Open House Melbourne 2025
- Dates: 26-27 July 2025
- Theme: Stories of the City
- Format: Building tours, talks and architectural experiences
- Access: Free public events across Melbourne
- 2024 attendance: Over 63,000 people
- Global network: Part of 60-city worldwide program
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
The weekend festival offers direct experiences with architectural excellence in an accessible and non-elitist manner. Participants can explore buildings normally closed to the public, attend guided tours, and participate in talks examining Melbourne’s built environment and urban development.
Open House Melbourne operates as an independent not-for-profit organisation, part of the Open House Worldwide network spanning 60 cities across five continents. The global network reaches over 750,000 people annually, representing the largest audience of any public-facing architecture program worldwide.
The Stories of the City approach emphasises Melbourne’s character through the lens of human experience and community connection. This theme allows exploration of how architecture and urban design reflect and shape the lives of Melbourne residents across different neighbourhoods and cultural backgrounds.
The 2024 event attracted over 63,000 in-person and online visits, demonstrating strong community engagement with architecture and urban design. The festival’s success stems from its diverse programming that appeals to both architecture enthusiasts and curious members of the general public.
The weekend provides opportunities to discover Melbourne’s architectural heritage, contemporary developments, and innovative design solutions. Events range from intimate building tours to large-scale public talks, ensuring broad accessibility for people with varying levels of architectural knowledge.
Open House Melbourne’s mission focuses on fostering public appreciation for architecture while encouraging conversations about the future of cities. The organisation also empowers people with knowledge about good design decisions to ensure Victoria remains liveable and vibrant.
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