Open House Melbourne
With 21 events this side of town Open House Melbourne Weekend on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July is the perfect excuse to get out of your usual stomping-ground and explore more of Melbourne’s west.
The 2019 Open House Melbourne program aims to challenge us to view Melbourne in new ways.
An underlying theme that says ‘strong cities empower communities’ is explored through the lens of open access and inclusion.
Free up your weekend for the chance to get the inside scoop on the best in the west.
Incinerator Gallery
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 10 am – 4 pm
Address: 180 Holmes Rd, Aberfeldie
Formally known as the Essendon Incinerator, this innovative building was designed by architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. Visitors will gain knowledge and insights into the history of the site, and how the significant building created a cleaner and healthier city. Click here for more info.
Werribee Mansion
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 10 am – 4 pm
Address: 320 K Road, Werribee
Visit the historic Werribee Mansion and gardens and learn what it took to maintain the household and the estate, how the busy kitchen wing was run, the work of the servants, and what the lives, society, and leisure activities of the rich and famous pastoralists of the colony of Victoria were like.
Click here for more info.
Willows Historical Homestead
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 12 – 4 pm
Address: 3a Reserve Rd, Melton
The heritage-listed homestead is a rare example of an intact building from the original era of farming in the Melton area. Visitors can also wander and explore delightful gardens and walking trail around the Park, and view the exterior of other heritage buildings. Click here for more info.
Melton Library
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 10 am – 3.45 pm
Address: 31 McKenzie St, Melton
Guided and self-guided tours running regularly throughout the weekend, providing insight into the building, as well as showcasing unique aspects such as its recording studio, its sustainable features, and the artwork throughout the building. Click here for more info.
Westgate Tunnel Project
Open Sat 27 for tours: 11 am + 12 pm running 40 minutes in groups of 10
Address: Corner of Whitehall Street and Somerville Road, Yarraville
Exclusive small-group tours will visit the West Gate Tunnel Project’s northern portal construction site, taking in the project’s tunnel boring machines, a 22 metre deep launch shaft and massive rock and soil handling shed. Click here for more info.
Spotswood Pumping Station
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 10 am – 4.30 pm
Address: Enter via Scienceworks, Spotswood
Built in the 1890’s, this gorgeous old building was the heart of the Melbourne sewage scheme, pumping all of Melbourne’s smelly stuff out to the treatment works in Werribee. Free entry, with both guided and self-guided tours throughout the Victorian period architectural site. Visitors can also pre-book a specialist tour from Senior Curator Matthew Churchward, including a performance by members of the Orbweavers with their song “Spotswood” paying homage to the site. Click here for more info.
The SUBSTATION
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 11 am – 5 pm
Address: 1 Market St, Newport
Newport is one of the oldest substations in the metropolitan systems, and also one of the largest, comparable to the North Fitzroy substation and slightly smaller than the Newmarket substation. Free entry, self-guided tours available. Visitors are invited to experience ‘SubTerrain/Shadow Dancing’ by Linda Sastradipradja – a live performed work within ever-changing perspectives and locations within The SUBSTATION, as the building shifts through different cycles of light and darkness.
Click here for more info.
Australian Islamic Centre
Open Sat 27 from 10 am -12 pm
Address: 23-27 Blenheim Rd, Newport
A contemporary mosque that moves away from the traditional forms of Islamic architecture, the Australian Islamic Centre is a comprehensive complex with worship, educational and recreational facilities. Hakan Elevli, of Elevli+ Architects, will give tours of this extraordinary building, while explaining its design story. Bookings required. Click here for more info.
Modscape
Open Sat 27 from 10 am -12.30 pm
Address: 430 Francis St, Brooklyn
Tours lead by the Modscape team will provide a unique insight into the modular construction process. Visitors will get a behind-the-scenes tour as well as the opportunity to explore the display suite and design office. Click here for booking info.
Ann Street Morgue
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 11 am – 3.30 pm
Address: 82 Nelson Pl, Williamstown
Williamstown Morgue is a bluestone structure built in 1859 near Gem Pier, where the overflow from the autopsies could be swept into the sea. Bodies were encased in hessian bags and hung out of reach of rats. Visitors will be guided to the Morgue by the Seaworks Maritime Museum volunteers. The museum will also be open to guests over the weekend. Click here for more info.
Blunts Boat Builders
Open Sat 27 from 10 am – 4 pm
Address: 150 Nelson Pl, Williamstown
From sea-faring vessels carrying missionaries to beautiful race-winning yachts, the fifth-generation C. Blunts Boat Builders has been launching wooden boats into Port Phillip Bay for over 160 years. Located in Williamstown, the former workshop turned boatyard is an important link to Victoria’s maritime past. Visit for a self-guided tour of the workshop and yard access with city views. Meet Greg Blunt, sixth generation boat builder and proprietor of Blunts Boat Builders. Click here for more info.
Williamstown Botanic Gardens
Open Sat 27 from 10 am -12 pm
Address: Williamstown Botanic Gardens
Visitors will tour the Gardens revisiting views featured in vintage postcards and discover what these images and intriguing handwritten messages can tell us about moments in time and how they can help us restore and manage historic gardens. Click here for more info.
Williamstown Town Hall
Open Sat 27 from 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Address: 104 Ferguson St, Williamstown
As the largest building of its kind in Melbourne’s west, Williamstown Town Hall, built in 1927 by prolific architect Joseph Plottel, is an original example of an interwar municipal complex. Visitors can take self-guided tours throughout the opening times. Click here for more info.
Hobsons Bay City Council Chambers
Open Sat 27 from 10 am – 2 pm
Address: 115 Civic Parade, Altona
Designed by mid-century architect Robert Warren in 1962-63, the Council Chambers were built to symbolise the progressive and forward-thinking philosophy of the newly-incepted Council for the former City of Altona, a region under rapid development. Visitors can take self-guided tours throughout the opening times. Click here for more info.
Williamstown Library
Open Sat 27 from 10 am -1 pm and Sun 28 from 2-5 pm
Address: 104 Ferguson St, Williamstown
Built in 2012, this vibrant public library is a best-practice knowledge and built environment and an integral part of its urban context. 30 minute guided tours are available on Saturday at 10.30am and 11.30am and on Sunday at 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Click here for more info.
Park Life Williamstown
Open Sat 27 from 10 am – 3.30pm
Address: Williamstown North
Park Life is a highly contextual extension and renovation designed by Melbourne practice Architecture Architecture. This contemporary design responds to the principles of the ‘garden city’, integrating home, garden and streetscape. In doing so, it continues the vision for the area as laid out by the Housing Commission of Victoria in the 1940s. Guided tours will be run by Architecture Architecture director Michael Roper. All areas of the house and garden will be accessible. Click here for more info.
Jacks Magazine
Open Sat 27 from 10 am – 4 pm
Address: Magazine Way, Maribyrnong
Working Heritage invites visitors inside the bluestone wall to experience the tunnels, tramways and towering earth mounds of this remarkable landscape. Visitors will have the opportunity to see inside some of the site’s main buildings – including the cavernous space of the nineteenth-century gunpowder store. A must for those intrigued by Melbourne’s hidden places and industrial past, this is a chance to get a taste of a place usually closed to the public. Click here for more info.
Sun Theatre
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 9 am – 10 am
Address: 8 Ballarat St, Yarraville
Built in 1938, The Sun took only six months to construct by the firm, Hansen and Yuncken Pty Ltd, for £25,000. Guided tours will take you through the cinema and into the projection rooms, with vintage newsreels playing in the cinema. Click here for more info.
The Drill Hall
Open Sun 28 from 12 pm – 4.30 pm
Address: 395 Barkly St, Footscray
The Footscray Drill Hall was built in 1914 to facilitate compulsory military training for men and boys, 12 to 26 years old. Join Women’s Circus for a guided tour and learn about the history of the site from the dedicated research team. Click here for more info.
FAB9 Makerspace
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 10.30 am – 2.30 pm
Address: 90 Maribyrnong St, Footscray
Located in a heritage-listed former mill, FAB9, part of co-working hub The Dream Factory, is one of the latest ventures to occupy this impressive example of late nineteenth century multi-storey industrial architecture. Visitors will be led on a tour of FAB9, the makerspace located on the ground floor, the second level co-working space, as well as the rooftop terrace which offers a spectacular view of Melbourne’s skyline. Click here for more info.
Footscray Town Hall
Open Sat 27 from 10 am – 1 pm and Sun 28 from 12 am – 3 pm
Address: 61 Napier St, Footscray
Bill Horrocks, former Mayor of the City of Maribyrnong 2000 and 2002, and his wife Heather, artist, writer and advocate for the Footscray community for nearly 20 years, will guide visitors through the Footscray Town Hall’s original heritage sections including the council chambers, reception hall, entrance lobby and portico. Click here for more info.
Ercildoune
Open Sat 27 and Sun 28 from 10 am – 2 pm
Address: 66 Napier St, Footscray
Built in 1876 for the National Bank of Australasia, Ercildoune was Footscray’s first custom-built bank. Guided tours of the building and its history will be led by Historical Society members.
Click here for more info.
For the full program of Open House Melbourne head here.
Stay and Play
Book a night away with one of these special hotel offers:
- Quest Williamstown 20% OFF the Best Available Rate
- Quest Flemington 15% OFF the Best Available Rate
- Quest Maribyrnong 10% OFF the Best Available Rate
- Quest Flemington Central 15% OFF the Best Available Rate
- Quest Werribee 10% OFF the Best Available Rate
- Quest Williamstown North 15% OFF the Best Available Rate
- Quest Caroline Springs – 30% OFF the Best Available Rate
- Quest Sanctuary Lakes – flat rate deals from $150 per night
All apartments include complimentary Wi-Fi. Click here to book.
Simply use reference to promotional code Love the West when booking.
Bookings can also be made direct with each property or via the Quest Customer Contact Centre Tel: 1800 334 033 or contact@questapartments.com.au
Valid for stays: Friday 26, Saturday 27, Sunday 28 July 2019