Open House Latrobe is the first program of its kind, opening the doors to some of regional Victoria’s historical landmarks from 9-11 October.

Not your traditional open house, the festival will open up more than just historic buildings. The program spans the area’s open mines, water treatment plants, landfill sites and community spaces across Moe, Traralgon, Morwell, Yallourn and Yallourn North, Yinnar and Churchill.

Presented by Open House Melbourne in collaboration with Latrobe City Council, the festival includes a range of walking tours, open buildings, talks and events that explore the region’s First Nations culture, coal mining heritage, natural resources and colonial boom. There are also plenty of award-winning contemporary spaces to explore for the architourists, such as the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre by Jackson Architecture with Katsieris Origami, Moe Library designed by FJMT (now FJC Studio) and Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre by Peddle Thorp Architects.

Other highlights include Australia’s first and only museum dedicated to Maltese culture and heritage, the Latrobe Valley Maltese Museum. Established in 2018 by Mario Sammut, a Maltese migrant who came to the Latrobe Valley in 1985, the Museum honours the Maltese diaspora in the region and its contribution to regional Australia while preserving cultural identity.

For anyone who became transfixed by the Erin Patterson trial, you can visit the Latrobe Valley Law Courts designed by Foreground Architects. Located in Morwell, the Courts serve as the headquarters and judicial venue for criminal, civil and family law across Gippsland.

One for the families, CHEAP-SKATE band at Moe Skatepark is a free, family-friendly outdoor music and skating event in the Moe Library forecourt by the popular CHEAP-SKATE, the brainchild of Blaike Murphy, a garage-rock artist from Gippsland.

Nature lovers can also take a self-guided walk around the Traralgon Railway Reservoir Conservation Area – 29.5 hectares of remnant bushland and native grassland, with two wetland areas linked by a canyon. With over 110 bird species identified at the reserve, this is one for those taking up Australia’s fast-growing favourite hobby.

“Open House Latrobe will celebrate the places, stories and communities that make the Latrobe region unique,” says Open House Melbourne executive director and chief curator Dr Tania Davidge. “Locals and visitors travelling to the region are invited to step inside remarkable buildings, explore significant places and enjoy experiences that will reveal the Latrobe region from a new perspective. There’s something for everyone to discover.

“Open House Melbourne has previously produced hugely popular regional Open House festivals in Ballarat and Bendigo, and we are thrilled to partner with the Latrobe City Council on this very special event,” says Davidge.

For the full program, visit the Open House Latrobe website. Tickets will be available from Wednesday 9 September.

Top image: Traralgon Court House.
All images: Supplied.