A list of buildings that will be thrown open to the public as part of the Open House Ballarat festival has been released.
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It is the first time Open House Melbourne has teamed up with a major regional centre, allowing Ballarat residents to take a look inside some of the city’s most well-known buildings not normally open.
Organisers say the two-day event over October 28-29 will see more than 20 private houses, architecturally significant buildings and landscapes all open for viewing.
Historic buildings on this year’s program include the former Ballarat Baptist Church, Bishop’s Palace Gardens and Loreto College.
Residents will be able to walk inside modern residential homes, including the Webster Street House and Two Halves House.
More well-known landmarks will also be open to inspect, including Ballarat Town Hall, Mars Stadium and the Ballarat Integrated Regional Cancer Centre.
Emma Telfer, who is the executive director of Open House in Melbourne, previously said Ballarat was chosen not only because of its rich heritage but also due to its contemporary building projects.
“We’d been thinking about doing a regional program, and then Visit Ballarat approached us, so it was the right time and the right place,” she said.
“Another factor was Ballarat’s intense growth in terms of population.
“A big part of what Open House does is prompt discussions around the future of a city.”
Sites will be open between 10am until 4pm on Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29.
There is no need to book for most buildings, but if it’s busy you may need to wait.
Five buildings will have pre-booked tours only, due to limited capacity and privacy reasons for the owners.
These include the former Ballarat Baptist Church, Two Halves House and Webster Street House. Bookings will open this Thursday from 8.30am on Open House’s website until booked out.
Visit Ballarat chair Sarah Beaumont said: "Open House Ballarat will celebrate the wealth, beauty and majesty inherent in this city, while also showcasing its contemporary offerings.”
To see the full list of 21 Ballarat buildings that will be open to the pubic in late October, head to openhouseballarat.org
All events during Open House Ballarat will be free.