Words by Tehya Nicholas Images supplied
Open House—the Melbourne-born organisation that fosters public participation and appreciation for cities and their design, architecture, and planning—has set its sights on Bendigo this coming weekend (October 22 – 23) for a chorale of community engagement.
Open to locals and travellers alike, Open House Bendigo is a multi-location event that brings Bendigo’s historic and contemporary architecture and design into the limelight. Ever walked past the Town Hall and wondered what’s the story? Or clambered along the Bendigo Creek to ponder whose traditional lands you’re travelling on? Open House is designed to answer those questions — and then some.
Education and inspiration are at the heart of what Open House does, and the ethos unfurls itself within the lineup. The full program features more than 20 separate events to choose from; from guided tours of new buildings with the architect themselves to a ‘mini-marathon’ of inspiring talks exploring the development of the architecturally significant ‘Big Build’ projects that are shaping the future of Bendigo’s city centre.
A brand new and exciting addition to the program is a self-guided tour of the freshly (and extensively) renovated Former Bendigo Mining Exchange within the Beehive Building. Through careful restoration by DBG Projects, under the guidance of Williams Boag Architects, the building has been returned to its former glory and has won the John George Knight Award for Heritage Architecture 2021 in the AIA Victorian Architecture Awards 2021, and the Lachlan Macquarie award for Heritage Architecture in the AIA National Architecture Awards 2021.
Other highlights include the regional premiere of OHM’s popular Modern Melbourne documentary series, accompanied by Peter Elliott, AM one of our most celebrated architects and winner of the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 2017. He will be in conversation with Heritage Council of Victoria’s Chair Professor Phillip Goad and OHM Board President Stuart Harrison and Executive Director Fleur Watson. The event is hosted at the historic Star Cinema, which has a downtempo wine bar attached for a nightcap after the screening.
With such an impressive swath of public projects, buildings, spaces, and programs in this year’s event, Open House Bendigo is sure to foster plenty of joy within the City of Greater Bendigo. Some events are ticketed, while others are free, so head to their website for the full rundown.
THE DETAILS
WHAT: Open House Bendigo
WHERE: Multiple locations across the City of Greater Bendigo
WHEN: October 22 – 23, 2022
MORE INFO: Open House Bendigo
We wish to acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
