2025's Open House Melbourne Is Your Excuse to Explore and Enjoy Almost 200 Buildings, Places and Experiences
Wander around Werribee Open Range Zoo's new elephant habitat, Southbank Theatre, the new Melbourne Place hotel and more.
Perhaps you love architecture. Maybe you need a reason to play tourist in your own town. Or, there could be a specific building, place or even house somewhere around the city that you've always wanted to peek inside. Each year, Open House Melbourne delivers much to spark excitement about no matter which of these categories you fall into. Its aim, including from Saturday, July 26–Sunday, July 27, 2025: to get everyone appreciating the structures and spaces that make up the Victorian capital, and also pondering Melbourne's future in the process.
Accordingly, this is an event where you could be wandering around Werribee Open Range Zoo's new 21-hectare elephant habitat one moment, then peering behind the scenes at Southbank Theatre or exploring the new Melbourne Place hotel the next. Or, you might prefer to check out the new veloway on the West Gate Tunnel Project, hit up Port Phillip's new EcoCentre, make a date with Essendon Fields Airport Terminal and get on the turf — and see where the players hang out — at the Western Bulldogs' Whitten Oval.
In total, almost 200 buildings, places and experiences are on the just-announced 2025 program, giving attendees ample options. Thanks to that hefty number, this is one of Open House Melbourne's largest-ever lineups. Highlighting hidden histories is a particular focus, with 'stories of the city' this year's theme.
"'Stories of the city' underscores that idea that the city is more than just bricks and mortar — Melbourne is about people and place. Every building, street and public place in our city has a unique story to uncover," explains Open House Melbourne Executive Director and Chief Curator Dr Tania Davidge.
Also pivotal this year: championing accessibility, which is where Open House Melbourne's new Access Map, detailing mobility-friendly and neurodiverse-considerate sites, comes in.
Other sites on the full program include Melbourne Recital Centre, Rone and Callum Preston's street art studios, the Melbourne Vixens' home ground, the Duldig Studio museum and sculpture garden, Crumpler's Bag House, Australian Print Workshop, Australian Tapestry Workshop, the Spotswood Pumping Station, the new Prahran Skate Park and Kangan Institute's Health and Community Centre of Excellence. The ABC's Southbank studios, Yarraville Sun Theatre, Yan Yean Reservoir Park and the Shrine of Remembrance have been popular in past years — and they're back on Open House Melbourne's 2025 lineup, with more than 65,000 people expected to attend.
If you're always interested in stepping inside stunning private residences, 13 are welcoming in visitors this year. Also doing the same: both 1 Heller St Brunswick and Bills Street Social and Affordable Housing.
On the events side of the bill, Reworlding: Naarm is a three-hour adventure that plays out on the city's streets; First Nations kayak tours of the Yarra are at the heart of What's Good for the Birrarung is Good for Everyone; and you can learn more about some of those secret histories at interactive installations, talks and photography exhibitions.
Plus, because every city needs a soundtrack, Mick Harvey, alongside producers Ernie Rose (Little River Band and Split Enz) and Roger Savage (Rolling Stones and The Easybeats — and an Oscar-nominee for Moulin Rouge!'s sound), will get chatting. Open House's film series is back, too, with architect Greg Burgess in the spotlight.
Open House Melbourne runs across Saturday, July 26–Sunday, July 27, 2025 around Melbourne — head to the event's website for more details.
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