Behind Coast Doors with Sunshine Coast Open House
Mark your calendars, lace up your walking shoes and prepare to consider where and how you live in a whole new light. Ida Fink Gundtoft opens the doors to Sunshine Coast Open House.
What does ‘home’ mean to you? A sanctuary, a memory, a place to gather. Or perhaps a building that tells a story of who we are as a community. This October, Sunshine Coast Open House returns for its eighth year offering insight and introspection to all these questions as the welcome mat is laid out and doors opened.
From heritage treasures to contemporary designs and rarely accessible private homes, the event offers a special chance to step behind the facade of some of the architectural wonders of the Coast. Running 10 to 19 October, Sunshine Coast Open House has become a highlight of the community calendar, with a program that includes a diverse line-up of open houses, walking tours, forums and workshops that invite everyone – from architecture lovers to the curious – to discover the stories behind closed doors.
The official launch at the lush Maroochy Botanic Gardens will set the tone for a festival steeped in design, heritage and community spirit. The much-anticipated Community Forum returns on 10 October to explore ‘What is Home #2?’ in an inspiring evening with seven speakers sharing heartfelt reflections on the meaning of home. From stories of living in the landscape, to the challenges of homelessness, the forum promises to be an emotional and thought-provoking experience.
The weekend of 11-12 October brings a mix of experiences that highlight both place and profession. For younger visionaries, Architect for a Day hosted by the Australian Institute of Architects engages students in an interactive workshop to sketch, build models and tackle design challenges while learning from architects, graduates and academics. It’s an invaluable glimpse into a profession that shapes not just buildings, but the very foundation of our world – and just might inspire the architects of tomorrow.
The ever-popular and free Ask an Architect sessions allow the public to chat with professionals about design ideas, sustainability, and the everyday magic of good architecture. Be quick to book! There are a host of free events from Library Talks to Urban Sketching, and walking tours which will guide participants through places including Tewantin, Moffat Beach, Cooroy, Eumundi and Maroochydore City Centre, uncovering stories that blend history, architecture and community spirit.
The Eumundi walking tour on 12 October will be a highlight with a guided tour of the heritage and historic buildings that make the town unique, followed by a ticketed event at Tollys Eumundi for an intimate gathering that celebrates heritage and community. Enjoy local food, drinks and lively conversation and insights with Eumundi historian Wendy Birrell; interior designer Sally Stent and architect Thomas O’Shea for a relaxed afternoon blending interior design, heritage, architecture and food!
On Wednesday 15 October, attention turns to Halse Lodge, one of Noosa’s most iconic heritage buildings. An event dedicated to sharing the stories of its history and recent renovations, shining a light on the challenges and triumphs of preserving such a beloved landmark, reminding us that heritage is as much about the future as it is the past.
The festival culminates with the main Open House weekend on 18-19 October, when doors across the Sunshine Coast swing wide for the public. From Caloundra to Kin Kin, historic cottages, innovative sustainable spaces, striking contemporary designs and corporate buildings alike will be free to explore.
Each building tells its own story, of design creativity, cultural identity, environmental responsibility or simply the joy of creating a place to belong. Together, they form a living gallery of the Sunshine Coast’s built environment. For many, it’s the only chance to step inside buildings they’ve long admired from the outside. For others, it’s a moment of inspiration, sparking ideas about the possibilities of their own homes and communities.
More than just an architectural showcase, Sunshine Coast Open House is a celebration of people, stories and creativity. It connects us with the places we pass by every day, deepens our appreciation for the region’s design legacy, and sparks conversations about the future we’re building together.
Open Gardens will also be held at Alsahwa Estate and Maroochy Regional Botanic Gardens, and the timing aligns with Queensland’s largest art trail, Noosa Open Studios. Both events are offering a choose-your-own adventure smorgasbord of art, design and architecture.
Sunshine Coast Open House Patron and co-chair and Noosa Open Studios Patron Ron Scott of Moon Mountain Sanctuary said it was fortuitous that the timing of the events aligned.
“A true journey into design and art can be planned by booking into a walking tour or building as part of Open House while also visiting a nearby artist’s studio,” he said. “It’s a great example of the role that community and collaboration play in the creative process.”
Whether you’re a design enthusiast, a student dreaming of an architectural career, or simply someone who loves a good story told through space and place, the 2025 program offers something to inspire and delight. Because sometimes, the most extraordinary stories are the ones hidden behind closed doors… until events such as this invites us all inside.
Find out more
SUNSHINE COAST OPEN HOUSE
10-19 October 2026
Don’t miss these events:
Key Highlights:
Walking Tours, library talks, urban sketching and more!
10 October: ‘What is Home #2?’ Community Forum, Coolum Civic Centre.
11-12 October: Walking tours; Architect
for a Day student workshop; Ask an Architect sessions.
12 October: Eumundi Walking Tour (free) followed by an afternoon of lively conversation and local food at Tollys Eumundi (ticketed).
15 October: Halse Lodge heritage event.
17 Oct: Library Talks, Noosa Library.
18-19 October: Open House and Open Gardens weekend from Caloundra to Cooran.
Some events are still being finalised.
For the full program and to book experiences, visit www.sunshinecoastopenhouse.com.au
