The Open House Melbourne Children’s Program is an important part of the annual event as it works to educate and broaden the minds of Children and young visitors to the city. The program allows the children to build a new knowledge of the city as they become “Junior Detectives” completing activities, exploring new sites and making new friends; all while collecting “clues” along the way - to discover the history of Melbourne.  

In collaboration with the talented Studio Pounce team, Open House Melbourne has developed a fun children’s activity book for the weekend. All the activities, puzzles and games have been designed to encourage engagement with the city, its buildings and public transport. Pick one up from the OHM info hub outside Melbourne Town Hall or from child friendly locations over the weekend.

Weekend Activities

There is also plenty of things for the kids to see and do this weekend at many of the Open House buildings. Here’s a selection:

ArtPlay - Saturday 28 July and Sunday 29 July, 10am to 4pm

The ArtPlay building was formerly the Victorian Railways’ Jolimont Lecture Hall for electric train drivers. Today it is a popular arts studio for children and families.

This weekend we encourage you to find and photograph ‘unreal beasts’ around the city. Look out for all sorts of creatures, both real and imaginary, as you explore Melbourne. What statues, insects, pets and other beasts can you photograph? What buildings could come alive as monsters? What else can you discover? Look up, look down, look all around! 

Bring your phone or digital camera (and leads) to ArtPlay to print your snapshots. Take one home and add one to our mammoth photo wall of Melbourne’s cityscape so we can create a beautiful collage. Brought to you by Artplay and Michaels.

Brain Centre – How gooey is the DNA of strawberries? Visit the scientists for demonstrations of strawberry DNA extraction in the foyer lab.

Australian Tapestry Workshop – All kids can try their hand at weaving and take home their finished work. All weekend, suitable for years 3+.

Old Treasury – Visit the Kids Fun Trail in the original gold vaults under the building, and earn a gold licence! Suitable for kids aged 4 to 12 years.

City of Melbourne Bowls Club, Flagstaff Gardens – One for the bigger kids! Throw down a bowl or two in your flat shoes or bare feet. Fun for anyone over 12 years. 

NGV, St Kilda Road in the Great Hall (Saturday only) – Art Sparks and tour the new Kids Space with the Explore and Draw booklet.

NGVa, Foyer, Fed Square (Sunday only) – Art Cart and in the Kids Corner explore the time capsule - your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to follow the clues to step through time.

Victoria Mounted Police Branch – Come along and see riding and training demonstrations with the horses of Victorian Police.

Wesley Church Schoolhouse – Write your name in ink and learn copperplate in a Victorian 1859 school room. 

Buildings that are Great for Kids

The following buildings are Great for Kids and will the Children's Program availabe: