Open House Melbourne is back for 2022. We’re thrilled to be throwing open the doors once more to some of Boroondara’s most fascinating and significant buildings on 30 and 31 July.
People of all ages will enjoy discovering these buildings, with lots of fun activities for children too. Young people will love taking part in an interactive game of ‘I spy’ at Camberwell Civic Precinct, Hawthorn Arts Centre and Kew Court House.
To make it easier to plan your weekend, we’ve created a trail to take you to all Boroondara’s Open House locations.
Start your journey of discovery in Kew
Uncover the history of Kew Court House, the longest-serving police station in Victoria until its closure in the early 2000s. Discover the jail cells and learn how the building was reshaped to become a community hub.
Your next stop is a visit to 2 of Kew’s famous house museums and galleries: Villa Alba Museum and the Lyon Housemuseum and Galleries. Villa Alba, overlooking the Yarra River at Studley Park, features rare handpainted, stencilled and gilded interior decoration – one of Australia’s most important examples of this work from the late-19th century. Lyon Housemuseum and Galleries is a unique hybrid combination of a private residence and museum.
Spend some time in Camberwell and surrounds
Join a tour through the Camberwell Civic Precinct’s 3 iconic buildings, dating from the 1890s. Steeped in rich architecture, heritage, and social history, learn how these buildings have evolved to meet the changing needs of the community.
Your next stop is the new Annie Hughston Centre at Fintona Girls’ School, Balwyn. Take a tour of this contemporary 2-storey building with the architects, and peer inside the adjoining arts precinct and iconic Tourmont house. Then swing past St Faiths Anglican Church in Glen Iris, one of Victoria’s first truly modern church buildings and listed by the National Trust.
Finish in Hawthorn with 4 exciting stops
Step behind the curtain at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, then stretch your legs by climbing the steps of the Auburn Uniting Church tower for a bird’s eye view.
Climb aboard to discover Melbourne’s heritage tram fleet at the former Hawthorn Tram Depot, including the original cable cars that graced the streets of Melbourne and beyond.
Program change: Onsite tours of Tay Creggan will no longer be running during Open House Melbourne 2022. Instead, on Sunday 31 July, you are invited to take a virtual tour of Tay Creggan, a magnificent heritage building on the Yarra and home to the year 9 students of Strathcona Girls Grammar.
In the lead-up to the weekend, new events may be added, and program changes can occur. For the latest updates and more information to help you plan the ultimate Open House weekend, visit our Open House Melbourne page.