The program for this year’s Open House Melbourne Weekend has been unveiled with more than 170 unique experiences later this month.

Over one winter weekend on 27 and 28 July, audiences are invited to ‘re/discover their city’ and explore some of Melbourne’s most fascinating buildings, places and spaces not normally open to the general public. 

Open House Melbourne 2024 highlights

More than 170 treasured and unique buildings located across Melbourne’s CBD and suburbs are part of the 2024 program. 

New and notable sites and experiences this year include: 

• a private home by renowned Architect Robin Boyd 
• forest land art by Agnes Denes at a water treatment facility
• a CBD tour that aims to better empathise with people experiencing homelessness
• a walk on the hallowed pitch of a city sports stadium 
• behind-the-scenes tours of Melbourne’s foremost medical research facilities 
• Australia’s oldest continuously operating artist collective 
• historic cemeteries 
• two former explosive storage facilities, and 
• 10 modern and historical private homes open to the public. 

Other new and returning favourites include the Essendon Incinerator, Carlton’s iconic Cairo Flats, the new Whitehorse Performing Arts Centre – The Round, recently renovated Koorie Heritage Trust, Willsmere (formerly Kew Asylum), Truganina Explosives Reserve, Mount Burnett Observatory, Hawthorn Tram Depot and the Former Williamstown Morgue. 

‘Re/discover your city’

Open House Melbourne’s executive director and chief curator Dr Tania Davidge says this year’s theme, ‘RE/DISCOVER your City’, hopes to encourage Victorians to see Melbourne in a new light. 

“Open House Melbourne Weekend is a chance for the curious at heart and lovers of architecture to discover new places and spaces in their city, to re-examine what they have perhaps overlooked and reconnect with beloved favourites,” Davidge says. 

“This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Victorian Heritage Register, an important milestone for the many significant places and objects protected by the register, many of which are in this year’s program.

“Open House Melbourne’s 2024 program of events, talks and tours underscore the importance of good design in shaping our community, with some of the country’s most celebrated designers and architects, photographers and artists generously sharing their knowledge.” 

The full program and tickets are now available on the Open House Melbourne website.

Lead image of WOWOWA Magic. All images supplied by Open House Melbourne.

See inside Aboriginal Housing Victoria Dandenong in our recent project feature.