Open House Melbourne in Hobsons Bay

Published on 25 July 2022

Hobsons Bay is taking part in this year’s Open House Melbourne with nine locations that people can visit for free over the 30 and 31 July weekend.

Discover the former morgue at Seaworks, a ‘garden city’ in Williamstown, Old Laverton School in Altona Meadows, and an internationally recognised construction concept in Spotswood.

Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Councillor Peter Hemphill, said Open House Melbourne is a wonderful opportunity to view Hobsons Bay’s architecturally and culturally significant buildings.

“Through Open House Melbourne, we can highlight Hobsons Bay’s heritage and showcase the impressive and diverse design and architecture across the municipality,” said Cr Hemphill.

“I encourage everyone to take part and explore the city with a different lens. It's an opportunity to celebrate the design, history and architecture of our diverse landscape, and maybe discover some hidden gems.”

For more information visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/ohm

Hobsons Bay Open House Melbourne locations:

Altona Homestead Saturday 30 July, open 11am to 2pm, Logan Reserve, Altona Built in the mid-1840s by Alfred and Sarah Langhorne, the homestead is on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay.

Old Laverton School Sunday 31 July, open 10am to 4pm, 43 Kiora Street, Altona Meadows Built in 1888, this beautiful single room schoolhouse is the last of its kind in the Melbourne metropolitan area.

Modscape - Modular Design Hub Saturday 30 July, 11am, 430 Francis Street, Brooklyn Custom home builder, taking pride in the design and construction of beautiful and functional modular homes and commercial projects, all of which are manufactured in their Brooklyn factory.

Passive House Saturday 30 July, open 8.30am-12noon, 13 Forrest Street, Spotswood An internationally recognised construction concept that practices the highest standards of building.

Park Life Saturday 30 July, tours run 10am - 4pm, on the hour, Park Crescent, Williamstown North This contemporary design responds to the principles of the ‘garden city’, integrating home, garden and streetscape. Tours of the house will be led by Michael Roper of Architecture architecture.

Blunt’s Boat Shed Saturday 30 July, open 10am to 4pm, 150 Nelson Place, Williamstown The Blunt family’s business has been operating in the Williamstown area since the 1880s.

Former morgue - located at Seaworks Sunday 31 July 2022, open 10am to 4pm, Seaworks, 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown Originally constructed near Gem Pier using convict labour, this single storey, Georgian style building was erected by HR Thomas and HR Hunt in May 1859.

HMAS Castlemaine Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July, open 10.30am to 4pm, Gem Pier, Williamstown A restored Bathurst Class Corvette (minesweeper) from World War 2 and the first Australian warship preserved as a museum.

Williamstown Town Hall Sunday 31 July 2022, open 10am to 4pm. Tours from 2pm. 104 Ferguson Street, Williamstown One of the state’s finest town halls; the front building dates to 1918 designed by Plottel and Bennett, with the ballroom designed in 1927 by Gibbs, Finlay and Morsby.

Open House Melbourne

30 and 31 July

Various sites throughout Hobsons Bay

More info: www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/ohm