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Covering the suburbs of Darebin and surrounds
Covering the suburbs of Darebin and surrounds
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Open House in Darebin, inside and out
⊸ News ⋅ By Emily Kulich
Published at 11:59am on Saturday 26 July 2025
NINE locations across Darebin are welcoming the public this weekend as part of Open House Melbourne.
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Open House Melbourne is an annual program of tours and talks which give the public access and insight into the infrastructure and people which make the city what it is.
Local sites taking part in the 2025 Open House Melbourne Weekend range from indoor entertainment venues to outdoor infrastructure. Oh, and there’s a kayak tour in the mix, too!
The information below comes from the Open House Melbourne website. Some events run both days. Follow the links to see the full details.
Please note: some venues require you to book before attending. A booking fee may apply.
Open Saturday 26 July only
Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
Join us for a unique guided experience to learn about the historic Bundoora Homestead Art Centre and the land on which it was built, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country. Hear the stories that shaped this iconic Queen Anne-style mansion, from its construction as a private family home and stables, to its rebirth as a repatriation psychiatric hospital, and its final reimagining as a community art gallery. Following the tour, you are welcome to stay and wander through the gardens, explore the current art exhibition or enjoy some house-made scones and tea.
Islamic Museum of Australia, Thornbury
The Islamic Museum of Australia will be open to the public for free, giving Melbournians an opportunity to see what lies behind our rusted Corten steel veil. We have five permanent galleries and two visiting gallery spaces.
Preston Service Reservoir
Join us for a guided tour of the reservoir. We’ll start with a brief talk on the history of Preston Reservoir, including its construction in the late nineteenth century and its role in Melbourne’s development, and share a display of historical photographs and documents.
Then we will walk through the reservoir grounds and listen to an explanation of the reservoir’s engineering and architecture. Significant features will be highlighted, such as the embankment, water treatment facilities, and original structures.
We will finish by sharing a brief overview of current day water supply operations.
What’s Good for the Birrarung is Good for Everyone, Fairfield
UPDATE: This event has been cancelled
Join us for a kayak tour along the Birrarung. As we paddle out from the suburbs and under the eastern Freeway, we encounter space to immerse ourselves in, experience and consider nature. This kayak tour is inclusive for all ages.
Open Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July
Merri House, Northcote
Come for a tour where owner/designer Luke Middleton of EME Design will present key aspects of this unique family home including the process of design with a focus on biophilic design, regeneration, resilience and flexibility; how the home has been designed to evolve over time; the process of building an airtight home; strategic decisions taken with an intent to reduce embodied carbon; the hybrid approach to insulation and thermal mass; the Heat Recovery Ventilation system; monitored results of the thermal performance of the building (in conjunction with Melbourne University); monitored results of energy consumption and production; water-saving measures and more.
No Rezzavations House, Reservoir
Come join a building tour led by the architect through the house, discussing design ideas and how they relate to the clients and the suburb. The tour will include the interiors and the exterior, and people will be able to view the screen and wider garden.
Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre
Come visit Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre and join us for a pre-booked guided tour or explore at your own pace with an open access, self-guided tour. Enjoy impromptu performances and historical images around the building and take a peek into our backstage areas.
Open Sunday 27 July only
Northcote House
Visitors will have full access throughout the house, including the rooftop terrace.
A small display of video footage, drawings and models will show the making of Northcote House. These will highlight how the majority of components were made locally at Power to Make’s digital fabrication workshop in Preston, such as the cross-laminated plywood roof beams and columns, the textured moulds for the off-form concrete, the plywood layered staircase and the galvanised steel tube trellis and balustrades which were made with the assistance of augmented reality.
Architects from LLDS will be on hand to answer any questions on the day.
Preston Level Crossing Removal Project
Join us for a special site tour to explore the publicly accessible Bell and Preston Station precincts, guided by members of the project team. They will share insights behind the community, the design and development process, and how the transformation of this transport corridor has reshaped the neighbourhood.
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