Open House Returns to Hobart, Expanding to the Southern Midlands for the First Time

Open House is coming back to celebrate architecture and design in Tasmania across two weekends, taking in both the best of Hobart, along with – for the first time – the Southern Midlands. Take a trip to Tasmania to experience the city and the country, to get access to Hobart’s award-winning buildings and take a peek at the heritage in the Southern Midlands, on the weekends of November 1 & 2 and November 8 & 9.

A preview of the Open House Southern Midlands program, to be held on the weekend of November 1 & 2, was released at an event that coincided with the Oatlands Heritage and Bullock Festival. Eleven buildings in and around Oatlands, Dysart and Kempton feature in the preview of the program. These range from iconic churches in Oatlands and Kempton – some of which have been converted to new uses (St Mary’s Anglican Church, St Peter’s Church in Kempton, and St Peter’s Anglican Church in Oatlands); colonial homesteads and cottages which have been restored, and in some instances, sympathetically added to with modern additions (Oatlands 101, Petit Chateau, Raffah House, Lonsdale and Glebe House); a 1970s artists retreat in the hills of Mangalore (Wolkenstein – which is now owned by architects Keith Westbrook and Madeline Sewall, whose apartment in the Skye House has been featured on the Design Files); along with service buildings, including the Cantwell Store and the Melton Mowbray Hotel). These can be viewed on the Open House Southern Midlands webpage.

The full program for both Open House Southern Midlands and Open House Hobart (to be held on the weekend of November 8 & 9) will be released to coincide with World Architecture Day, on Monday 6 October.

While the program for Open House Hobart is still under wraps, we can reveal that popular favourites will be back, including Hampden Road House, by Archier; The Boathouse by Maguire + Devine Architects; Blue Magnolia, by Biotope Architecture and Interiors; and Fusilier’s Cottage, by Bence Mulcahy.

Open House Southern Midlands is being organised and run by the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, the same team behind Open House Hobart – an annual, free architecture event, that opens some of Tasmania’s most unique and interesting buildings to the public. It is the local version of a global event, created by Victoria Thornton and first held in London in 1992 and now staged in more than 50 cities around the world. It gives visitors the chance to see how others live, work and play; look up, look inside, have a sticky-beak, and see the towns and cities from a different angle.

Tasmanian President of the Australian Institute of Architects, Daniel Lane, says, “architecture and design is all around us, and for everyone. The Open House program allows first-hand access to these spaces, to learn more about the buildings and the place. It’s wonderful that the program is coming to regional Tasmania this year.”

Jennifer Nichols, Open House Hobart co-producer, says that “more than just opening buildings, Open House will tell the stories of those who lived, worked and played in these spaces and places, and how they continue to tell the stories of the current custodians.”

“We’re excited to be heading to the Southern Midlands this year. Some of the buildings in this program are iconic landmarks that we all know from our drives across the Midlands Highway, and our stopping points along the way, while others are more tucked away. We’re looking forward to revealing their secrets over the weekend of November 1 & 2,” says Nichols.

Jennifer Nichols said “architecture and good design are the cornerstones of healthy, safe and sustainable places to live, work and play. The alternative is bleak; a world without good design lacks functionality, social cohesion, environmental sustainability, amenity and delight. Open House makes our cities and towns more accessible, more open and ultimately more equitable for all. Open House gives the opportunity for everyone to learn about the value of good design and experience those spaces first hand. An informed public conversation enables meaningful dialogue about the future of our towns and cities, the values we want to retain, those we don’t and the aspirations we have for the future of our built environment.”

Open House Southern Midlands received funding from the Tasmanian Government’s Built Heritage Grants, and is supported by the Southern Midlands Council.

Open House Hobart is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and partners, including major partner, the Tasmanian Government, and design partner, Futago; is supported by the City of Hobart; partners Austral Bricks, Lysaght & The Agency; and media partner, ArchitectureAU.

2025 Open House Southern Midlands

• Saturday 1 + Sunday 2 November 2025

2025 Open House Hobart

• Saturday 8 + Sunday 9 November 2025
• Building opening times and addresses will be released closer to the program date.

More information: openhousehobart.org