Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Melbourne Open House?
A. MOH is an annual free event which gives Melburnians and visitors to the city a rare opportunity to discover the often hidden wealth of design, architectural, engineering and historic ‘gems’ nestled around the city.

Q. What buildings are open during the event?
A. 32 buildings are open this year – refer to the Program 09 section of our website for details

Q. How can I secure a MOH program?
A. On event day programs will be sold for $5 at each of the participating buildings, and as well as the MOH Information Hub in the city square (corner of Collins and Swanston Streets. Programs will also be available for sale at the city square Information Hub on Saturday 18 July from 11.00am-5.00pm.

Q. Can I pre-book tickets to secure access to MOH buildings?
A. No. It is first come, first served basis. Buildings that have limited space have been indicated by the ‘lines expected, arrive early’ symbol.

Q. What hours will MOH operate?
A. MOH will operate from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Some buildings are only open for limited hours. Refer to the details on each building on our website for confirmation.

Q. Is MOH occurring for the whole weekend?
A. No. MOH 2009 will only take place on Sunday 19 July from 10.00am-5.00pm.

Q. What is the entry cost?
A. Free

Q. Where can I get more information on MOH?
A. Refer to our website (www.melbourneopenhouse.org) or visit our Information Hub at City Square (corner Collins and Swanston Streets) on Saturday 18 July 11.00am-5.00pm or Sunday 19 July 10.00am-5.00pm.

Q. Will there be tours/guides at each building?
A. A large number of the buildings are conducting tours – look for the ‘Guided Tour’ symbol against each building on our website or in the program.

Q. Where can I get a map of the location of the buildings involved?
A. Maps are included with the program and can be downloaded from our website. Free maps will also be available on the day.

Q. Can I register to be notified of future MOH events?
A. Yes. Join our mailing list for notification and reminders about MOH and any future events.

Q. Can I donate or provide corporate support for this event?
A. Yes. As a not-for-profit MOH relies solely on the support of supporters and sponsors. If are interested in donating or providing sponsorship please contact us at info@moh.org.au.

Q. How do I contact MOH?
A. Please contact us on info@moh.org.au.

Q. How can I volunteer?
A. You can volunteer by completing a volunteer registration form on our website. There are two shifts to choose from - 9.30am-1.30pm or 1.00-5.30pm.

Q. Are children welcome at the buildings?
A. Yes. A couple of buildings do have age restrictions (i.e. no children under 14 allowed) so please check the description for each building. Any restrictions are highlighted on the building page on our website and program – this information appears just above the list of symbols.

Q. How do MOH select the buildings involved?
A. As this is only our second year we are managing our growth and have kept the event to precincts off a central axis along Collins and Swanston Streets. In future years we hope to widen this geographic area. Please tell us your favourite building and we’ll see if we can get it open in future years!

Q. Am I allowed to photograph or record inside the buildings?
A. Mostly yes, however check the description on each building for any restrictions. We are running a Photography Competition on the day so please bring your camera.

Q. Is there disabled access?
A. Unfortunately a few of the buildings do not have disabled access. Please check for the Disabled Access symbol against each building in the program or on our website.

Q. Will the buildings be open for a longer period than 1 day in the future?
A. Depending upon the demand and the availability of buildings, MOH may extend over a weekend in future years

Q. How long has MOH been running?
A. This is our second year.

Q. Is there a limit to how many people can go into the buildings?
A. Some buildings limit patrons based on their maximum tour group size. All buildings with the ‘Guided Tour’ symbol will have a limit per tour. Some buildings (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Federation Square) have very limited tour sizes and will operate on a booking system. For these buildings, you’ll need to arrive at the start of the day to put your name down to reserve a tour time. Please get to these buildings early as the reservations will operate on a first come, first served basis. We expect all tour bookings will go early.

Q. Do I need to make reservations for tours?
A. Due to limited numbers, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Federation Square are the only buildings where reservations for tours will be taken. For these buildings, you’ll need to arrive at the start of the day to put your name down to reserve a tour time. Please get to these buildings early as the reservations will operate on a first come, first served basis. We expect all tour bookings will go early.

Q. Is parking available at each building?
A. No. There is no special parking for MOH. There will be limited parking available in the city. We suggest you take public transport. The closest tram stop and route is included in each building descriptions provided in the program and on our website.

Q. What public transport options are there to each building?
A. The closest tram stop and route is included in each building description provided in the program and on our website.

Q. Will there be other MOH events on the day?
A. Yes. We are running a Photography Competition. Send us your favourite photographs taken on the day and you could win some great prizes. Click here for for more information!

Q. How do I enter the Melbourne Open House Photography Competition?
A. Focus on Melbourne Open House sites on Sunday 19 July 2009 and send us your favourite photographs for your chance to win some fantastic prizes and the opportunity to be published.  For more information on entry details and rules, please  click here for for more information.

Q. How did Melbourne Open House begin?
A. Melbourne Open House is inspired by similar Open House events overseas, such as London Open House and New York Open House. The founder of Melbourne Open House brought this concept to Melbourne after volunteering in London.

Q. How long will I have to wait to enter a building?
A. Wait times will vary depending upon the building and the patronage. In 2008, some patrons waited over 2 hours to enter the Manchester Unity building, with the vast majority claiming it was well worth it! Check for buildings with the ‘Lines Expected. Arrive Early’ symbol for an indication of buildings where we expect some queuing.

Q. What should I bring with me?
A. We recommend you plan your day. With 32 fabulous buildings open you won’t be able to see them all – check the website and make a list of your favourite buildings. Programs will be available to purchase on the day along with free maps. Ensure you pack for Melbourne’s notorious weather, especially if you are planning on queuing! We recommend a warm jacket and an umbrella. Also, don’t forget your camera!