Brisbane Open House

What Brisbane Open House does

Brisbane Open House is a not-for-profit cultural organization founded in 2010 that operates a single annual flagship event, the Brisbane Open House weekend (18-19 July in 2026), providing free public access to buildings and architectural sites across Greater Brisbane. The 2026 program features 93 buildings and spaces including a record 16 private residential homes and 30+ new sites, supplemented by complementary programming: BOH for Kids, the annual Photography Competition (supported by BlueScope in 2026), guided walking tours, talks and panel discussions, and a 2026 Stradbroke Edition offering access to architecturally significant homes on North Stradbroke Island. The event sits within the Open House Worldwide network spanning 63+ cities globally and is supported by founding partners Queensland Government, Committee for Brisbane, and National Trust of Australia (Queensland), joint patrons including the Governor of Queensland, and a multi-tier partner ecosystem covering practice, government, program, and media sponsors. Revenue derives from donations (via the Australian Cultural Fund), partnership and sponsorship contributions, modest $8 non-refundable booking fees on pre-booked limited-capacity buildings, and photography competition sponsorship; the event is otherwise free to attend.

The underlying technology stack is deliberately lightweight: a WordPress-based website (brisbaneopenhouse.com.au), ticketing via Humanitix and Eventbrite, email newsletter marketing, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, X). Operations rely on a small core staff (approximately 5 people including Executive Director Ann Rainbow and Marketing Director Rozzy Middleton) and a large volunteer network. Distribution extends city-wide through direct walk-in access for most buildings, pre-booking for limited-capacity sites, free heritage bus service via Queensland Omnibus & Coach Society, and City Hopper ferry partnerships with Brisbane City Council.

The business model is a community-led, event-driven cultural non-profit go-to-market: no paid admissions for the majority of programming, with monetization concentrated in sponsorship acquisition across Practice/Industry, Practice/Consulting, Government, Program, Media, and Friends of BOH tiers. Customer segments span general public visitors (Brisbane residents and tourists), building owners and operators seeking public engagement, government bodies (Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council), corporate partners pursuing brand alignment with design and heritage, and regional Open House events receiving cross-promotion. The organization has received recognition including a 2015 National Trust Gold Award, 2016 Premier's Sustainable Heritage Award, and association with the 2025 Queensland Architecture Medallion.

Name

Brisbane Open House

Legal name

Brisbane Open House

Website

https://brisbaneopenhouse.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brisbane Open House is a Queensland not-for-profit founded in 2010 that runs an annual free weekend event opening 90+ buildings across Greater Brisbane to the public, funded by donations, sponsorships, and small booking fees, and operating within the global Open House Worldwide network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Public donations through Australian Cultural Fund platform. Not-for-profit community event relying on community generosity to deliver diverse and inspiring programs.
2. Partnership and Sponsorship: Partnership opportunities for organisations with interest in Brisbane's built environment. Partners include Practice/Industry Partners, Government Partners, Program Partners, Media Partners, and Friends of BOH.
3. Booking Fees: Pre-booked buildings incur small non-refundable booking fee ($8) to contribute to ticketing administration costs.
4. Photography Competition: Annual photography competition with prizes ($750 overall winner, $150 category winners). Photography Competition 2026 proudly supported by BlueScope.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Brisbane Open House is a registered not-for-profit that organises an annual weekend public event opening more than 100 architecturally and culturally significant buildings across Brisbane for free general access. The program is supplemented by guided walking tours, talks and panel discussions, a photography competition, the BOH for Kids education initiative, and a Stradbroke Island edition, delivered in partnership with building owners, corporate sponsors, and government bodies.

Product overview

Brisbane Open House is a not-for-profit cultural event organization that operates a single annual flagship event — the Brisbane Open House weekend — offering free public access to buildings across Greater Brisbane. The event celebrated its 17th year in 2026, having grown from 16 buildings in 2010 to over 90 buildings. The organization runs complementary programs including the BOH for Kids family initiative, an annual Photography Competition, and the Stradbroke Edition island event. Additional offerings include walking tours, talks, panel discussions, a volunteer program, newsletter subscription, partnership opportunities, and a donation program. The organization functions as part of the Open House Worldwide network spanning 63+ cities globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Brisbane Open House Weekend Event Free annual weekend event that opens more than 100 architecturally and culturally significant buildings across Brisbane to the general public, including private, heritage, institutional, and commercial properties.
• Guided Walking Tours Curated guided walking tours of selected Brisbane precincts led by specialist guides, with pre-booking required and a small booking fee applied via Humanitix.
• Talks and Panel Discussions Ticketed talks and panel discussions delivered as part of the program, covering architecture, design, and built heritage topics and bookable through Eventbrite.
• BOH for Kids Education Program Education stream aimed at children and families that introduces architecture and design concepts through activities integrated into the annual event.
• Brisbane Open House Photography Competition Public photography competition associated with the annual event, inviting attendees to submit images of participating buildings and precincts.
• Brisbane Open House Stradbroke Edition Satellite edition of the Brisbane Open House event focused on North Stradbroke Island, offering public access to culturally and environmentally significant locations on the island.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grown from 16 buildings and 12,000 visits in 2010 to 90+ buildings attracting tens of thousands of visitors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered practice partner, practice/consulting partner, founding partner, government partner, program partner, media partner, transport partner, global network, australian partner and regional partner.

• Duluxpractice partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPractice/Industry Partner and supporter of Dulux Study Tour program for emerging architects. Dulux hosts annual study tours taking participants to global architectural destinations including Singapore, Paris, and Vienna.
• Blight Raynerpractice partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrisbane-based architecture studio and Practice Partner. Has designed notable buildings in program including 360 Queen Street, Glasshouse Theatre at QPAC, and National Rugby Training Centre. Co-founders Jayson Blight and Michael Rayner.
• Archipelagopractice/consulting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and design practice listed as Practice/Consulting Partner.
• LAT Studiospractice/consulting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture practice listed as Practice/Consulting Partner.
• Aruppractice/consulting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and design consultancy listed as Practice/Consulting Partner.
• National Trust of Australia (Queensland)founding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner since 2010. Also represented on Board through Stuart Lummis. Provides heritage buildings and expertise for event.
• Queensland Governmentfounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner and Government Partner. Provides government support and recognition for the event.
• Brisbane City Councilgovernment partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment Partner providing municipal support and alignment with city initiatives.
• Queensland Housinggovernment partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment Partner under Queensland Government umbrella.
• Fisher & Paykelprogram partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram Partner sponsoring kitchen design demonstrations at residential home tours. Aligns with design philosophy of homes shaped around human experience.
• BlueScope Steelprogram partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram Partner and supporter of Photography Competition 2026. Parent company of COLORBOND steel.
• BDOprogram partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerAccounting firm listed as Program Partner. Rachel Smith, BDO Partner, serves as Board Treasurer.
• The Commsteamprogram partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunications company listed as Program Partner.
• MCWprogram partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as Program Partner.
• Must Do Brisbanemedia partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner providing promotional coverage for event.
• ABC Brisbanemedia partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner and building participant (ABC Brisbane Centre opens for tours).
• Architecture Mediamedia partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture industry media partner providing editorial coverage.
• Queensland Omnibus & Coach Society (QOCS)transport partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free heritage bus services for event transportation, offering hop-on-hop-off access to event venues.
• Committee for Brisbanefounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner since 2010. Meredith Hartigan represents Committee on Board.
• Open House Worldwideglobal networkStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of Open House events spanning 63+ cities including New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney. BOH is member with shared values and ideals.
• Open House Melbourneaustralian partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Open House events that BOH supports through network.
• Open House Hobartaustralian partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Open House events that BOH supports through network.
• Sunshine Coast Open Houseregional partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Queensland Open House event supported by BOH.
• Gold Coast Open Houseregional partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Queensland Open House event supported by BOH.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Open Days (England): Heritage Open Days is England's largest heritage festival, offering free access to historic properties each September. While not part of the Open House network, it shares the same free public access, heritage-celebration, and volunteer-driven operating model as Brisbane Open House.
• Open House Worldwide: Open House Worldwide is the umbrella organization that coordinates the 63+ city Open House network of which Brisbane Open House is a member. It is the convening body that enables cross-promotion, shared standards, and brand consistency across all member events.

Direct peers

• Doors Open Toronto: Doors Open Toronto is a Canadian architecture and heritage event offering free access to significant buildings. It is a directly comparable peer to Brisbane Open House in terms of city-scale event format, free public access, and government partnership structure.
• Open House Melbourne: Open House Melbourne is Brisbane Open House's closest Australian peer, delivering a similar annual weekend of free access to significant buildings across Melbourne. Comparable in scale, governance structure, government partnerships, and Australian design community focus.
• Open House Dublin: Open House Dublin runs an annual weekend of free building access across Dublin, modelled directly on the Open House format. It operates at a similar mid-sized city scale to Brisbane Open House with comparable building counts and government support.
• Open House Chicago: Open House Chicago is one of the larger North American Open House events, hosted by the Chicago Architecture Center. It shares Brisbane Open House's annual free-access format, architecture-focused mission, and reliance on a broad sponsor and volunteer base.
• Open House Sydney: Open House Sydney is another Australian peer event providing free annual access to Sydney's significant buildings. It is a directly comparable peer to Brisbane Open House given the shared Australian market, design community, and government-partner-driven operating model.
• Open House London: Open House London is the original and largest Open House Worldwide event, offering free public access to hundreds of buildings each September. It is the most directly comparable peer to Brisbane Open House, operating the same format, fee-free model, and architecture-celebration mission.
• Open House Barcelona: Open House Barcelona runs 48 Hours Open House Barcelona, offering free access to architecturally significant buildings across the city. Comparable in format, mission, and partnership-based operating model to Brisbane Open House.
• Open House New York: Open House New York runs a flagship Weekend and additional programming offering access to architecturally and culturally significant sites across New York City. It shares Brisbane Open House's annual festival format, free public access model, and reliance on building-owner partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/brisbaneopenhouse
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyhZK75vrky65DtV5AhjCpg
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrisbaneOpenHouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brisbane-open-house
• Instagraminstagram.com/brisbaneopenhouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brisbane Open House