Discover Melbourne’s hidden stories at Open House Melbourne Weekend

This weekend, Open House Melbourne returns under the theme “Stories of the City”, giving locals rare access to fascinating buildings, new projects, and private homes usually closed to the public.

The Open House Melbourne Weekend is Oceania’s largest architecture and built environment festival, celebrating the importance of good design in shaping communities. More than 65,000 people are expected to attend, with this year’s program being one of the largest in the event’s history.

In keeping with the theme, Open House Melbourne’s executive director and chief curator, Dr Tania Davidge, pointed out this year was about more than just the buildings and interiors on display, but shines a light on all the people who lived and worked in these spaces.

“Stories of the City underscores the idea that the city is more than just bricks and mortar – Melbourne is about people and place,” she said, adding “every building, street and public place in our city has a unique story to uncover, and Open House Melbourne Weekend is your best time to explore the secret histories of our city hidden behind closed doors.”

Attendees can contribute to the weekend in a series of special events celebrating this year’s theme, at Bates Smart Gallery: Collective Narratives of Melbourne – a special interactive installation where anyone can tell their personal story of the city.

Dr Davidge “invites all Melburnians to share their own stories by contributing to a special exhibition, held over the weekend.”

Melbourne’s Camera Club will also host a special Stories of our City photography exhibition.

New this year is first-time public access to high-profile architecture and public infrastructure projects.

This includes Metro Tunnel Project’s Anzac Station, the new Veloway on the West Gate Tunnel Project and Port Phillip’s new EcoCentre. These landmark developments will be open on the weekend for a special public preview, providing a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the projects shaping the city’s future.

Private homes, including the award-winning Naples St House and Melbourne’s first turnkey Passivhaus development, ECHO.1, will also open to the public, showcasing sustainable living.

Accompanying the program is a variety of talks and conversations about the future of the city. Included in this are leading Indigenous thinkers, exploring how a deeper understanding of Country can transform contemporary design practices.

In total, more than 190 buildings and unique experiences are in the program this year, including 13 private residences, 10 churches and places or places of worship, four sporting facilities, three street art studios and 14 educational institutions.