Open House Melbourne is a free event that allows visitors to explore the city’s most historic and significant buildings, religious structures, and architectural monuments.
Come and participate in this event and explore some of the city’s best architectural accomplishments. If you love history, architecture, and design, you’ll love Open House Melbourne.
Open House Melbourne, 2025 Dates, Building List Program & Tickets
However, since some of these buildings are not normally open to the general public, it’s a great chance to see what’s behind closed doors.
Most buildings are open free of charge; however, a few require pre-booking. Those buildings that require a ticket should be booked online in advance.
Visitors can explore the architecture, furniture, and modern methods used to protect and conserve these architectural wonders. In previous years, more than 100,000 people have visited these magnificent buildings all over Melbourne. Given the proximity of most of the buildings, most people can attend between 4 and 5 buildings per day.
Photography is restricted inside most historic buildings; however, visitors can request a pictorial brochure or buy souvenirs at gift shops.
Are there going to be anymore yours of Willsmere this year or only the March dates? Was hoping to get tickets but sold out :(
Hi Shell,
The Open House will be held on on 28-29 July 2018, however locations have not yet been confirmed. Check back when the 2018 program is released and make sure to register your interest early. Not sure if Willsmere will be taking part again this year, although it was hugely popular so would be a shame if it wasn’t included.
Best regards,
Jess
I would like to tour Kew Lunatic asylum as I grew up in the area and use to walk around the grounds. I would love to take my son as well. How do I get a list of all of the houses open to the public?
Hi Janine,
You can find a list of all the open properties on our Open House page, or you can click the link here.
Enjoy Open House 2016!
Regards,
Jess
I would like to do the Willesmere tour. When and where can I register my interest to attend an Open House Tour?
Hi Rosslyn,
You can register your interest here from 8.30am on 18 July.
Enjoy Open House 2016!
Regards,
Jess
Hello, I am on the list for an early booking because of the MCG tour last year not being what it was supposed to be. Do you know when I will be notified to get an early booking for this years open house. Thanking You.
Hello Clive,
We are not the organisers of the event and don’t handle bookings, so I suggest you drop the organisers a line.
You can call or email them on the following details:
Phone: (03) 8648 8612
Email: [email protected]
I hope they can sort this out and that you enjoy the Open House in 2016!
Regards,
Jess
Can you confirm that Willsmere is included this year as I am interested in a tour of this site.
Hi Malcolm,
Yes, Willsmere will be open for the very first time at Open House Melbourne 2016.
Visitors to the Willsmere tours must be pre-booked and you can make a booking from 18 July here.
Their website has still not been updated for 2016, so keep checking back to see when the tour booking page has been updated.
Enjoy Open House 2016!
Regards,
Jess
I am interested in the up & coming Open House tours of Melbourne’s old buildings. Could you please advise when we can book. Thanks
Hi Jo, thanks for contacting us.
The Open House Melbourne is mostly a free event and therefore no tickets are required.
If the building you wish to visit does not require a booking, then all you need to do is go to the building on the designated date and queue at the main entry point before entry.
To see if the buildings you are interested in are open access, check the “Buildings” page on the official website. The full program will be released in early July.
Enjoy Open House Melbourne 2016!
Could you please send me a program of buildings that will be open and whether we need to book.
Hi Louise,
As mentioned to others on the page, the organisers send out the paper programs at the start of July. I would expect an online version to follow soon after.
Also, most buildings are free to enter, so no booking will be required. I will update the page as soon as the program is released, so please check back.
Regards,
Jess
When will the 2016 program be released please ?
Hi Sarah,
The organisers send out the paper programs at the start of July. I would expect an online version to follow soon after. I will update the page as soon as the program is released, so please check back.
Regards,
Jess
I am interested in getting two tickets for the Open House Melbourne. How do I go about this please?
Hi Angela,
The Open House Melbourne is mostly a free event and therefore no tickets are required.
If the building you wish to visit does not require a booking, then all you need to do is go to the building on the designated date and queue at the main entry point before entry.
To see if the buildings you are interested in are open access, check the “Buildings” page on the official website.
Enjoy Open House Melbourne 2016!
Regards,
Jess
When will locations and bookings become available? I am interested in the Manchester Unity building in particular.
Hi Eileen,
Melbourne Open House has just recently closed the “expression of interest” stage for buildings to take part in the event for 2016. I would assume that submissions are still being collated, so unfortunately they have not released their program dates as yet.
In previous years, the Melbourne Open House program guide was sent out mid-July, so I would expect the same this year. Once the program is released, check the official website to see if you need to book for Manchester Unity, as most buildings are open access and self-guided, with just a select few requiring pre-booking.
I will post the program online as soon as it becomes available.
Regards,
Jess
The Manchester a Unity building used to be limited and was by ballot only. For the past two years it has not been on MOH list because they offer their own monthly tours in conjunction with 1932 cafe. Check the Manchester Unity website for details and booking. We have done the lunch package and the tour is worth every cent of the cost.
It is truly an amazing interior with great restoration.
Thanks for that info Philip. I didn’t go to Open House last year, so its hard to keep up with the changes to the program each year! Thanks again, Jess
The cafe underneath the Manchester Unity Building holds tours once a month of the building with either breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea for a price. I have done the afternoon tea tour and it was very good. If you go on to the facebook site of Cafe 1932 you can register and they will contact you.
Great advice, thanks Rosslyn!
Jess