Name: Calthorpes House Open Day
Start: 2025-10-19
End: 2025-10-19
Location: Calthorpes House

Overview

Calthorpes House Open Day offers a rare opportunity to experience a genuine time capsule of early Canberra life. Built and furnished in 1927, Calthorpes House remains largely unchanged, with original furnishings, gardens and family stories creating a vivid picture of life in the city's early years.

Visitors can enjoy guided house tours accompanied by live pianola music. These 20-minute tours bring the atmosphere of the 1920s to life inside one of Canberra's most intact historic homes.

A special walking tour, Who's who on Mugga Way? introduces the influential neighbours who shaped Red Hill. Judges, scientists, the national librarian, senior public servants and captains of industry all left their mark on the capital, and their stories are revealed along this guided walk.

Families can take part in free children's activities, including vintage wrapping paper making and traditional garden games. The heritage gardens also provide a beautiful setting to relax with coffee and lamingtons, with space to picnic on the lawns.

Calthorpes House Open Day combines history, culture and community in a unique setting, offering something for visitors of all ages.