Open House Bendigo Returns

Posted Mon 6th Sep 2021 | Isabella Radevski

Open House Bendigo Weekend: 23 + 24 October 2021

The Centre for Architecture | Open House Melbourne is excited to announce its return to Bendigo on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October 2021. Showcasing more than 20 public projects, buildings, spaces and programs, Open House Bendigo will deliver real-life events as a Covid-safe experience for locals and out-of-towners to enjoy (subject to restrictions).

The Open House Bendigo Weekend provides a public platform for celebrating quality and purposeful design in the City of Greater Bendigo and will also respond to the impact of the pandemic through the perspective of the regions via events and conversation.


Images: above and top – Beehive Building restoration by Williams Boag Architects, photography by Fred Kroh.

“We look forward to Open House Bendigo shining a light on spaces of architectural excellence, be it significant heritage sites or contemporary design. The program also aims to create a sense of civic pride in our changing urban environment.”

— Cr Jennifer Alden, City of Greater Bendigo Mayor

Open House Bendigo invites residents and visitors to celebrate the vibrancy of local contemporary design, the rich history of boom-style architecture, the remarkable social history of Greater Bendigo and wander into diverse spaces as they throw open their doors for the third year in Bendigo.

Highlights to the program include an exploration of Bendigo’s ‘Big Build’ projects including the currently under construction Bendigo Law Courts Development designed by John Wardle Architects’ with focus on the creative collaboration with the Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples of the Bendigo region. Also part of the ‘Big Build’, discover the extraordinary masterplan with a tour of the Bendigo TAFE Revitalisation Project, recently completed by Architectus in partnership with Six Degrees Architects.

Additionally, guided architectural tours will be led by Peter Williams of Williams Boag Architects of the Beehive Building (pictured above and right), the former Mining Exchange that recently won the John George Knight Award for Heritage Architecture in the 2021 AIA Victorian Architecture Awards.  

Other building highlights include: Bendigo Town Hall, Ulumbarra Theatre, The Capital, MacKenzie Quarters and more.

The Centre for Architecture Victoria and Open House Executive Director, Fleur Watson, says: “We are pleased to be working closely with the City of Greater Bendigo to create an inspirational and meaningful 2021 Open House Bendigo program. In 2021, we continue to celebrate the extraordinary architecture of the city and explore the region from multiple and diverse perspectives by investigating the creative ideas, design outcomes and policy pathways that support a quality-built environment now and into the future.”

The full program of tours, workshops and events will launch in early October 2021.


“…We continue to celebrate the extraordinary architecture of the city and explore the region from multiple and diverse perspectives by investigating the creative ideas, design outcomes and policy pathways that support a quality-built environment now and into the future.”

— Fleur Watson, Executive Director Open House




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