Open House Westside

Open House Melbourne Weekend 2026: Discover Melbourne's West

24–26 July 2026

Every year, Open House Melbourne Weekend throws open the doors to some of the city's most fascinating buildings, hidden spaces and architectural landmarks. It's a rare opportunity to explore places that are usually closed to the public, hear the stories behind them, and discover how good design shapes the places we live, work and gather.

This year's theme, Generous City, celebrates how architecture, creativity and thoughtful design can create more welcoming, connected and inclusive communities.

Melbourne's west has a fantastic program this year, with everything from heritage theatres and contemporary arts spaces to bustling markets, landmark civic buildings and behind-the-scenes access to the infrastructure that keeps our city running.

Whether you're passionate about architecture, local history, engineering, food or simply love discovering somewhere new, here are some of the Westside highlights.

Arts, culture and reinvention

One of the strongest themes across this year's westside program is the way historic buildings have been reimagined for contemporary community life.

Footscray Community Arts

For more than 50 years, Footscray Community Arts has been a cultural anchor on the banks of the Maribyrnong River.

Open House visitors can explore exhibitions inside the warehouse, wander through heritage-listed Henderson House - once part of Henderson's Piggery - and experience the riverside precinct that has become one of Melbourne's leading community arts spaces.

A particular highlight is exclusive early access to the soon-to-open Lango Stage, an architecturally designed outdoor performance space set within re-Indigenised gardens featuring native plants and cultural storytelling.

It's a wonderful example of a place celebrating its history while continuing to evolve for future generations.

The Substation, Newport

Originally built in 1915 to power Melbourne's electrified railway network, The Substation tells one of the west's great transformation stories.

After sitting abandoned for decades, local residents successfully campaigned to restore the building, which today is recognised as one of Australia's leading centres for contemporary and experimental arts.

Visitors can join guided or self-guided tours, watch archival footage documenting the building's restoration, and discover how this former industrial site has become an internationally recognised creative destination.

Families can also enjoy a children's activity encouraging young visitors to imagine how they would reinvent an old industrial building.

Cinema, theatres and the stories of entertainment

Long before multiplexes and streaming, Melbourne's west was home to magnificent neighbourhood cinemas and thriving theatre culture.

Sun Theatre, Yarraville

The Sun Theatre has become one of Melbourne's most loved cinemas, but few people know its remarkable story.

Built in 1938 as a luxurious single-screen cinema seating more than 1,000 patrons, it later became a Greek-language cinema before falling into disrepair.

Its careful restoration has transformed it into today's boutique eight-screen cinema while retaining its beautiful Art Deco character.

During Open House, visitors can step behind the scenes, see the famous 70mm projector and watch historic cinema newsreels.

Footscray Heritage Theatres Walking Tour

Footscray once had a thriving theatre district.

This guided walking tour explores the stories of La Scala, the Trocadero, the Grand and the Barkly theatres, revealing how architecture, entertainment and community life evolved throughout the twentieth century.

Led by members of the Footscray Historical Society and a former Hoyts projectionist, it's a fascinating journey through one of the suburb's lesser-known histories.

Civic buildings that belong to everyone

Maribyrnong Civic Precinct and Community Hub

Originally built in 1936 as Footscray Town Hall, this landmark building has recently undergone an impressive transformation.

Visitors can explore how heritage features including the marble staircase, richly detailed interiors and Footscray Coat of Arms mosaic have been carefully preserved alongside contemporary offices, community spaces and a welcoming civic green.

The redevelopment has also achieved a 6 Star Green Star sustainability rating, demonstrating how heritage buildings can be thoughtfully adapted for the future.

Williamstown Town Hall

One of Melbourne's most significant interwar civic buildings, Williamstown Town Hall is approaching 100 years of continuous community use.

Open House visitors can explore the former council chambers, offices, grand ballroom and stage, while enjoying guided tours, interpretive displays and live ensemble performances.

It's a chance to experience both the architecture and the continuing role the building plays as a cultural and community hub.

Food, migration and everyday community life

Not every Open House experience is about grand architecture. Some celebrate the places that shape everyday life.

Footscray Market

Few places capture the multicultural character of Melbourne's west quite like Footscray Market.

This guided tour explores the market's history, architecture and diverse trading culture while introducing visitors to long-standing traders and sharing behind-the-scenes stories.

Along the way there are curated tastings and insights into how migration, entrepreneurship and food traditions have shaped one of Melbourne's best-loved markets.

Foodbank Victoria, Altona North

Foodbank's new purpose-built headquarters offers one of the most inspiring experiences of the weekend.

Visitors can tour the impressive warehouse that distributes more than 14 million kilograms of food each year, board one of Foodbank's mobile supermarket buses and learn how food relief reaches around 76,000 Victorians every day.

There's even an opportunity to help pack an emergency food hamper before leaving.

It's a powerful reminder that thoughtful design isn't just about beautiful buildings - it's also about creating places that improve people's lives.

Walking through history

Williamstown's Historic Public Houses

Williamstown's historic hotels tell the story of one of Victoria's earliest maritime settlements.

This guided walking tour explores how these heritage buildings developed alongside the port, revealing stories of migration, commerce and community life while showcasing the beautiful streetscapes that make Williamstown such a special place to explore.

Families can also take part in an architectural scavenger hunt along the way.

Behind the scenes of the modern city

One of the most fascinating parts of Open House Melbourne is the chance to visit places that usually remain hidden from public view.

Transurban Freeway Control Centre

Ever wondered who keeps Melbourne's traffic moving?

This rare behind-the-scenes tour explores the new Freeway Control Centre that manages CityLink and the West Gate Tunnel.

Visitors will learn about the technology operating Melbourne's motorway network while also discovering the surrounding wetlands, walking trails and public artworks created as part of the West Gate Tunnel Project.

Greater Western Water's Altona Treatment Plant

Engineering, environmental sustainability and public art come together in this unique experience.

Visitors can see how wastewater is transformed into recycled water before exploring A Forest for Australia, the internationally recognised environmental artwork by Agnes Denes, where more than 3,700 trees form sweeping spiral patterns across the landscape.

It's one of the most distinctive Open House experiences anywhere in Melbourne.

New Footscray Hospital

The new Footscray Hospital opens selected public spaces for self-guided exploration during Open House.

Visitors can experience the building through an audio tour highlighting its architecture, artwork, landscaped gardens and patient-centred design.

It's an opportunity to see how thoughtful planning and design are helping shape healthcare for Melbourne's rapidly growing western suburbs.

More to Explore

There's even more to discover across Melbourne's west during Open House Melbourne Weekend.

Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds opens the doors to the beautifully restored former Essendon Town Hall, with behind-the-scenes theatre tours revealing the history of one of Moonee Valley's most loved performing arts venues.

Just around the corner, Moonee Valley Park offers guided walking tours through one of Melbourne's most ambitious urban renewal projects, showcasing how contemporary architecture, landscape design and heritage have come together to create a new "neighbourhood within a park".

Check the full Open House Melbourne program for tour times and booking requirements.

Plan your Open House adventure

Open House Melbourne Weekend runs from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.

Start planning your own Westside itinerary and discover just how generous, creative and welcoming Melbourne's west can be.

Explore the program