Donkey Wheel House opens doors for day of culture, creativity and connection

Melburnians stepped inside one of the CBD’s most striking heritage buildings on March 5 as Donkey Wheel House opened its doors for a day-long program celebrating community, culture and creativity.

The 1891 Venetian-Gothic landmark at 673 Bourke St – once the headquarters of Melbourne’s cable tram network – welcomed the public for “Inside Donkey Wheel House”, offering a rare opportunity to explore the historic building and meet the artists, social enterprises and changemakers who now call it home.

Operated by the Donkey Wheel Foundation, the building was purchased in 2008 to create what organisers describe as a “centre of gravity for changemakers” – a space for collaboration, learning and tackling societal challenges. The open day brought that vision to life, with visitors able to drop in for individual sessions or spend the day immersed in the building’s vibrant community.

Proceedings began with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Aunty Joy and the Children’s Ground team, followed by an open discussion. The ceremony set the tone for a program centred on inclusion, dialogue and shared experience.

Throughout the day, guided building tours invited guests to trace the site’s evolution from tramways headquarters to contemporary creative hub. Visitors explored its grand architecture, soaring ceilings and catacomb-style basement, discovering how the heritage spaces have been adapted to house studios, offices and event areas.

Creative practice was front and centre in a midday session titled Art as Access: Removing Barriers to Creative Practice, which showcased Jump Left’s inclusive gallery and studio culture. Conversations with artists and organisers highlighted the importance of supported creative environments and removing barriers to participation.

Later in the afternoon, attendees took part in “Meet the Neighbour” empathy conversations, an AMA-style panel designed to build understanding across diverse lived experiences. The session encouraged candid dialogue and challenged stereotypes through genuine connection.

The day concluded with a vibrant Flores de Mayo-inspired celebration of women’s empowerment and Filipino culture, featuring photography and a live presentation by beauty pageant queens. The colourful finale transformed the historic interiors into a space of festivity and cross-cultural exchange.

Donkey Wheel House’s open day underscored the building’s dual identity: a preserved slice of Melbourne’s transport history and a living, breathing centre for contemporary social impact.

Just a block from Southern Cross Station and serviced by tram routes 86 and 96, the building remains a prominent yet often overlooked part of the CBD landscape. For those who attended, March 5 offered a deeper appreciation of what happens behind its ornate façade.