Open House offers a look behind the city’s closed doors

Seeing behind the scenes of some of Melbourne’s best-known venues and buildings can change the way people experience the city, Open House Melbourne boss Tania Davidge says ahead of the organisation’s annual architecture weekend from July 24 to 26.

There is a small turret on the ANZ Gothic Bank where its general manager, George Verdon, once watched ships come in via the Yarra’s “turning basin” through his telescope, Ms Davidge said.

For her, the feature is an example of “all these teeny parts of the city that you start to understand because you know the stories behind them”.

“It's a unique city and I think knowing the stories behind the city really helps you connect more deeply with its personality,” she said.

Opening with a “Designing on Country” talk, this year’s Open House Melbourne weekend will see more than 180 buildings and “experiences” opened to the public, including 16 in the city’s arts precinct.

For the first time, the Australian Ballet’s Southbank headquarters will open its backstage doors for the weekend.

Its tours, taking in rehearsal spaces, the costume department and “shoe room”, will give visitors a sense of the day-to-day operations of the centre, where 190 staff work with the company’s 80 dancers to bring productions to the stage.

The tours, which are likely to book out ahead of time, also provide views of the evolving Melbourne Arts Precinct.

“Transformation tours” of the sites set to become the National Gallery of Victoria’s new Fox contemporary gallery and the 18,000-square-metre Laak Boorndap urban garden have been running for a couple of years and will continue for a few more, Ms Davidge said.

“It’s fascinating to see the change,” she said.

Also open to inspection is the significant revamp of the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building, which is due to be unveiled later this year.

A “Stroll the City: Designing Culture” self-guided arts precinct audio tour will provide “a bit of history” to many of the precinct’s buildings and includes a discussion with ACMI CEO Katrina Sedgwick about “what the arts precinct will become when all of that construction work is finished”.

A glimpse into a more traditional side of Melbourne’s story, and a chance to hear about it firsthand, is on offer at Goldrush-era Government House, which this year marks its 150th anniversary.

Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner AC will be on site for the event, Ms Davidge said.

“You can literally go in and meet the Governor and chat with her,” she said.

The self-guided tour of the State Hall, drawing room, dining room and ballroom promises plenty of old-world grandeur, with the gardens also likely to impress.

Other attractions open to visitors include the Shrine of Remembrance, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne Recital Centre, Buxton Contemporary and Fed Square, where a “Get to Know the Greenline Project” tour is also taking place.

Many events require bookings, with a $7 administration charge.

Visit openhousemelbourne.org for more information.