Sydney Open returns on Sunday 1 November 2026, with more than 40 buildings opening their doors across the Sydney CBD and surrounds for a single day of public access to spaces that are ordinarily off limits. Presented by Museums of History NSW, the annual event gives visitors, including architects, designers and built environment professionals, structured access to heritage landmarks, adaptive reuse projects, and contemporary commercial developments that rarely admit the general public.

This year's program extends well beyond heritage tourism. Several of the participating buildings represent significant moments in Sydney's architectural development, including works of adaptive reuse, mid-century modernism, Art Deco civic design, and integrated heritage-contemporary campus typologies.

Adaptive reuse at the forefront

Among the program highlights is The Lands by Capella, the redevelopment of the historic Department of Lands building at Bridge Street. Originally constructed between 1876 and 1892 to designs by Colonial Architect James Barnet, the building has been reimagined as a heritage-integrated luxury hotel, preserving the original sandstone fabric alongside contemporary fitout. Also featured is Grace House, an adaptive reuse of the original Grace Brothers warehouse, extended skyward with a contemporary four-storey rooftop addition, and Machine Hall, a disused 1930s electrical substation converted to an urban cultural precinct widely regarded as one of Sydney's most considered adaptive reuse projects.

Grace House, Sydney. Photo © Simon Whitspread — *Hinchcliff House. Image by Jiwon Kim*

Grace House, Sydney. Photo © Simon Whitspread — *Grace House. Image by Simon Whitspread*

Machine Hall, Sydney. Photo © Machine Hall — *Machine Hall. Image © Machine Hall*

Machine Hall, Sydney. Photo © Machine Hall — *Machine Hall. Image © Machine Hall*

Gaffa Creative Precinct, a heritage-listed 19th-century police station, has been reimagined as a centre for creative and entrepreneurial businesses. Former prison cells now function as intimate exhibition spaces, and former police offices house commercial tenants. The City of Sydney Fire Station, the oldest active fire station in New South Wales, built in 1888 in the Victorian free classical style, has been subsequently refurbished to a contemporary operational standard and returns to the program this year.

Gaffa Gallery at Gaffa Creative Precinct. RESTRICTED - Sydney Open promotion only. Image by Hamish McIntosh, courtesy of Supercontext Studio (3).jpg — *Gaffa Gallery at Gaffa Creative Precinct. Image by Hamish McIntosh, courtesy of Supercontext Studio*

Modernism, Art Deco and commercial campus

Studio Kong at WorkHouse offers access to the building designed by Harry Seidler as his first commercial project, completed in 1955. The building is among the earliest examples of climate-responsive design in the Sydney CBD and represents a key moment in the introduction of modernist architecture to the city. The Kimpton Margot Sydney, the former Sydney Water Board headquarters completed in 1939, is one of the CBD's most intact examples of Art Deco civic architecture, refurbished and reopened as a hotel in 2022.

Studio Kong @ Workhouse. RESTRICTED - Sydney Open promotion only. Image by Terence Yong Architecture.jpg — *Studio Kong @ Workhouse. Image by Terence Yong Architecture*

Studio Kong at WorkHouse. Image by Studio Kong — *Studio Kong @ Workhouse. Image by Studio Kong*

Kimpton Margot Sydney. Photo © Kimpton Margot Sydney — *Kimpton Margot. Image by Kimpton Margot Sydney*

Grace House. RESTRICTED - Sydney Open promotion only. Photo © Simon Whitspread.jpg — *Grace House. Image by Simon Whitspread*

At 477 on Pitt, an entire city block has been transformed into a workplace, event space and technology hub at the heart of Sydney's evolving Tech Central precinct. The project incorporates heritage elements including the original Australian Gaslight Company showroom (1922) alongside Wardle Architects' award-winning Sydney studio. The precinct at 1 Elizabeth/50 Martin Place brings together the new 1 Elizabeth Tower with the historic 50 Martin Place banking building to create a commercial campus spanning both contemporary and heritage typologies.

477 on Pitt, Sydney. Image by Peter Marko — *477 Pitt Street, Sydney. Image by Peter Marko*

477 on Pitt, Sydney. Image by Peter Marko — *477 Pitt Street, Sydney. Image by Peter Marko*

"We pass many of Sydney's most significant buildings every day without knowing what lies inside," says Annette Pitman, CEO of Museums of History NSW. "Sydney Open gives people the chance to step inside, explore spaces they may not otherwise see, discover hidden gems and experience the city from a completely different perspective."

Other participating buildings

The 2026 program also includes Government House, the heritage-listed vice-regal residence of the Governor of New South Wales; City Recital Hall, with exclusive backstage tours available; and the Royal Automobile Club, the grand Macquarie Street headquarters of Australia's first association for prestige motoring.

Government House, Sydney. Photo © Rebecca Rosconi, Museums of History NSW — *Government House. Image by Rebecca Rosconi, Museums of History NSW*

Visitors design their own itinerary from the full building list, which covers talks, tours and special activities in addition to general building access. The complete 2026 program is available at sydneyopen.com.au. Tickets are required.

Hero Image: James Horan for Museums of History NSW

Architecture & Design Team

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