Open House Hobart

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Open House Hobart Even locals can be tourists in their own city for a day. Head to the website for more information openhousehobart.org

Open House is a not-for-profit event providing the public a free and rare opportunity to discover a hidden wealth of architectural, engineering and historic buildings nestled around their city. Open House Hobart 2025: Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 November

Stay tuned for more details on Open House Southern Midlands 2025

These events open a variety of buildings and invite visitors into often inaccessible spaces in our cities. To participate all you need to do is turn up at one of the open buildings during the opening hours advertised or book online for the free guided tours.

Step inside the newly reimagined Millington Coffin Workshops on Liverpool Street and discover a building beginning its n...
19/10/2026

Step inside the newly reimagined Millington Coffin Workshops on Liverpool Street and discover a building beginning its next chapter.

Designed by Taylor and Hinds Architects, the former workshops have been given new life as a place for creativity, gathering and performance. For Open House Hobart, the building becomes the setting for something a little unexpected.

Begin at Scholé with a glass and a bite from acclaimed chef Luke Burgess, then let Second Echo Ensemble lead you deeper into the building.

One person at a time, you’ll be invited into a fleeting private performance: an aria sung just for you.

Part architecture tour, part tiny opera, part beautiful interruption, ARIA HOUR offers a glimpse of The Eternal River, Second Echo Ensemble’s new opera in development.

Come and explore a building finding a new purpose, meet architecture through performance, and experience the extraordinary intimacy of a voice, a space and an audience of one.

A building beginning its next life.

A voice.

An audience of one.

Book via link in bio

What lies hidden beneath the grass and bushland above the Derwent?Step into Alexandra Battery and discover a remarkable ...
19/10/2026

What lies hidden beneath the grass and bushland above the Derwent?

Step into Alexandra Battery and discover a remarkable piece of Hobart’s military history, set within one of the city’s most spectacular landscapes.

Built in the 1880s and completed in 1885, Alexandra Battery formed part of the network of coastal defences established to protect the River Derwent and the growing city of Hobart.

Today, much of the military complex remains hidden in the landscape. Explore the tunnels, storerooms and fortifications and imagine the soldiers who once occupied this strategic site, watching the river and waiting for a threat that never came.

Then step back outside and discover a very different side of the Battery. Now a public park, the site offers sweeping views across timtumili minanya/the River Derwent, from the Tasman Bridge and Hobart city to the South Arm and the estuary beyond. The Battery was transferred to Hobart City Council in 1962 and opened as a public park two years later.

Come and have a look, explore the hidden spaces and walk through the landscape where military history and everyday recreation now sit side by side.

And don’t forget to look out across the river. The view is part of the story too.

Register via the link in bio

Note: This site features uneven and undulating ground surfaces, heritage stairs and areas with significant drops. Children must be closely supervised at all times, and all visitors are encouraged to take care when moving around the site.

Visitors are encouraged to practise sun safety by wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water.

Image: Remi Chauvin

THE FIRST SIZAThursday 12 November 20266:00pmState Cinema, 375 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart$20 — limited tickets avail...
16/10/2026

THE FIRST SIZA

Thursday 12 November 2026
6:00pm
State Cinema, 375 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart
$20 — limited tickets available!

What happens to a building, and the people who call it home, over 60 years?

Some buildings are remembered for their architecture. Others for the lives lived within them. But what happens when both stories become inseparable?

Join us for a special Open House Hobart 2026 screening of The First Siza, a beautiful and thought-provoking documentary exploring the beginnings of one of the world's most celebrated architects, Álvaro Siza.

Directed by Sara Nunes, the film takes us back to where it all began — Siza's Four Houses in Matosinhos, Portugal, his very first built project, designed while he was still a student.

More than six decades later, Siza returns to these homes to reconnect with his first client, Fernando Neto, and reflect on the architecture, memories and lives that have unfolded within their walls.

Through intimate conversations, archival footage and the perspectives of those who have called these houses home, The First Siza offers a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between architecture and everyday life.

Because a building's story doesn't end when construction is complete. In many ways, that's only where it begins.

Whether you're an architect, designer, film lover or simply someone who appreciates the stories behind the spaces we inhabit, this is a screening you won't want to miss.

Come along and discover how four modest homes became the beginning of an extraordinary architectural career, and a lasting part of the lives of those who inhabit them.

Book your tickets via the link in our bio!

Architect: Álvaro Siza Vieira
Image: Alexandre Delmar

WHO LIVED IN YOUR HOUSE?Saturday 7 November 2026, 12:30pmAllport Library, Ground Floor, State Library and Archives of Ta...
16/10/2026

WHO LIVED IN YOUR HOUSE?

Saturday 7 November 2026, 12:30pm
Allport Library, Ground Floor, State Library and Archives of Tasmania, Hobart
FREE — bookings essential, places limited!

If your walls could talk, what stories would they tell?

Ever wondered who lived in your house before you? What it looked like 100 years ago? Or what stories might be hiding in its history?

Every home has a past, and sometimes the most fascinating stories are waiting to be discovered in the archives.

Join us for Who Lived in Your House?, a special Open House Hobart 2026 workshop exploring how to uncover the hidden history of the places we call home.

Hosted by Dr Imogen Wegman from the University of Tasmania's Family History Program, in collaboration with the State Library and Archives of Tasmania, this workshop will introduce you to the fascinating world of historical research and show you how to begin investigating your home's story.

Whether you live in a century-old cottage, a much-loved family home or somewhere you've always been curious about, this is your chance to look beyond the bricks and mortar and discover the people and stories that came before you.

Because a house is so much more than its architecture. It's the generations of people who have lived within its walls, the changes it has witnessed and the memories it holds.

And who knows what you might uncover?

Come along, get curious and discover how to start uncovering the history hiding behind your front door.

Register via the link in our bio!

SOLD: WHO BROKE THE AUSTRALIAN DREAMTuesday 10 November 2026, 6:30pmAustralian Institute of Architects, 1/19a Hunter Str...
15/10/2026

SOLD: WHO BROKE THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM

Tuesday 10 November 2026, 6:30pm
Australian Institute of Architects, 1/19a Hunter Street, Hobart
Free - bookings required, places limited. Gold coin donation requested.

The Australian dream. A home of your own. A quarter-acre block. A mortgage you might actually pay off one day.

Sounds nice, doesn't it?

But somewhere along the way, the Australian dream became increasingly difficult to achieve. So, who broke it?

Join us for a special Open House Hobart 2026 screening of SOLD! Who Broke the Australian Dream? — a funny, factual and thought-provoking documentary that takes a closer look at Australia's housing crisis.

Hosted by satirist and renter Mark Humphries, SOLD! combines humour, personal stories and expert insights to explore how we arrived at a point where secure and affordable housing feels increasingly out of reach for so many Australians.

From the systems that shape our housing market to the decisions that have brought us here, the documentary asks some big questions about one of the most pressing challenges facing our communities.

And perhaps the biggest question of all — where do we go from here?

Whether you're an architect, designer, renter, homeowner or simply someone wondering what happened to the great Australian dream, this is a screening worth coming along to.

Come along for a film that will make you laugh, think and perhaps look at the Australian housing crisis a little differently.

Register via the link in our bio!

Architect: Preston Lane
Image: Adam Gibson

SHELTERED GROUND EXHIBITION AND SILENT AUCTIONExhibition opening: Thursday 5 November 20266:00–7:30pmWaterside Pavilion,...
15/10/2026

SHELTERED GROUND EXHIBITION AND SILENT AUCTION

Exhibition opening: Thursday 5 November 2026
6:00–7:30pm
Waterside Pavilion, 3 Argyle Street, Hobart
FREE — bookings required, places limited!

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

This November, we're bringing together art, design and community for a cause that matters.

Join us for the opening of Sheltered Ground, a special silent art auction held as part of Open House Hobart 2026, raising vital funds for Hobart Women's Shelter.

Organised by the Tasmanian Emerging Architects and Graduates Network (EmAGN), Sheltered Ground celebrates the generosity and creativity of our local arts and design community, with an incredible collection of works generously contributed in support of women and children experiencing homelessness.

Come along for a drink, explore the collection, discover something you love and perhaps even take home a beautiful piece of art. Whether you're an avid collector, a design enthusiast or simply looking for a meaningful way to support an important cause, we'd love to see you there.

And the best part? Every dollar raised through the auction will go directly to Hobart Women's Shelter, helping support their vital work in providing safety, stability and a place to call home.

Because great design can do more than inspire. It can make a difference.

Can't make the opening? The exhibition will also be open from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November, 10am–4pm.

Come along, celebrate creativity, find something special and help make a difference.

Register via the link in our bio!

Designer-maker: Benjamin Grieve-Johnson, Other Furniture
Image: Nina Hamilton

EVERYONE DESERVES A HOME: MAKING HOUSING AFFORDABLETuesday 10 November 20265:30–7:00pm (arrive from 5:15pm)UTAS Medical ...
15/10/2026

EVERYONE DESERVES A HOME: MAKING HOUSING AFFORDABLE

Tuesday 10 November 2026
5:30–7:00pm (arrive from 5:15pm)
UTAS Medical Science Precinct, Lecture Theatre 2, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart
FREE — bookings essential, places limited!

Everyone deserves a place to call home. But what does it actually take to make housing affordable?

As housing affordability becomes an increasingly pressing issue across Tasmania, the question of how we create homes that are affordable, safe and comfortable has never been more important.

Join us for Everyone Deserves a Home: Making Housing Affordable, part of the Open House Hobart 2026 Lysaght Speakers Series, as we bring together five local experts to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing our communities.

From architecture and urban planning to economics, development and housing advocacy, our panel will explore the many factors influencing housing affordability, and the opportunities we have to create better housing outcomes for all Tasmanians.

Hear from Trent Young, Ellen Witte, Daniel Lane, Pattie Chugg and Anna Bamforth as they share their perspectives on what needs to change, what is already being done and how we can work towards a future where everyone has a place to call home.

Because good housing isn't just about buildings. It's about people, communities and the right to a safe and secure home.

Come along, join the conversation and be part of the discussion about Tasmania's housing future.

Register via the link in our bio!

Architect: Cumulus
Image: Adam Gibson

Great architecture deserves to be seen, explored and talked about.We're delighted to have Architecture Australia on boar...
09/10/2026

Great architecture deserves to be seen, explored and talked about.

We're delighted to have Architecture Australia on board as our Exclusive Media Partner for Open House Hobart 2026, helping us share the stories, spaces and people that make our built environment so special.

As one of Australia's leading architecture publications, Architecture Australia plays an important role in celebrating and documenting the work of our architectural community, sparking conversations about design and the places we inhabit.

Their support helps us take Open House Hobart beyond the buildings themselves, sharing our program with a wider audience and encouraging more people to get curious about architecture, design and the city around them.

Partnerships like this are an important part of what makes Open House possible, helping us celebrate not only the buildings opening their doors, but also the stories and ideas behind them.

A very big thank you to Architecture Australia for helping us share the Open House story and open Hobart to an even wider audience!

Architect: Taylor & Hinds Architects
Image: Adam Gibson

Some partnerships are woven into the very fabric of Open House Hobart.The City of Hobart has supported Open House Hobart...
09/10/2026

Some partnerships are woven into the very fabric of Open House Hobart.

The City of Hobart has supported Open House Hobart for many years, helping us grow the program and continue opening more of the city for people to explore.

From supporting the program through event funding to helping us unlock some of Hobart’s much-loved civic places, the city plays an important role in giving people the chance to experience their city from a completely different perspective.

It’s a partnership that feels particularly fitting for an event all about getting curious about the city around us: looking up, looking inside and discovering the buildings, stories and spaces that make Hobart, Hobart.

Their ongoing support also helps us keep Open House accessible, with so much of the weekend remaining free for locals and visitors to explore.

We’re incredibly grateful to the City of Hobart for continuing to believe in Open House and in the value of giving people greater access to the places that shape their city.

A very big thank you to the City of Hobart for helping us open Hobart, year after year.

Architect: Denton Corker Marshall
Image: Nina Hamilton

Every longstanding partnership has to start somewhere, and we’re very excited for this one to begin.This year, we’re del...
09/10/2026

Every longstanding partnership has to start somewhere, and we’re very excited for this one to begin.

This year, we’re delighted to welcome McKay Timber as a new partner of Open House Hobart for the very first time.

As a Tasmanian business with a strong connection to timber, building and the places we create, McKay Timber feels right at home in a program that celebrates architecture, materials, craftsmanship and the people behind our built environment.

Support from partners like McKay Timber helps us continue opening doors across Hobart, sharing great architecture and creating opportunities for thousands of people to experience the city in ways they normally wouldn’t.

We’re incredibly grateful to have McKay Timber come on board for 2026 and to have their support as we bring another Open House weekend to life.

A very warm welcome to the Open House family, McKay Timber. We’re so glad to have you helping us open Hobart.

Architect: Bruce Goodsir
Image: Nicky Adams

Address

1/19a Hunter Street
Hobart, TAS
7000

Telephone

+61362141500

Website

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