Open House Melbourne: Catholic Theological College

Catholic Theological College will again be welcoming visitors as part of the 2025 Open House Melbourne weekend.

The college comprises two buildings, both architecturally significant in different ways. The site’s original building, an imposing three-storey bluestone structure on Victoria Parade, was built in 1871 and designed by William Wardell, the architect of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne and St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. The building was occupied by Parade College until 1967 when the college relocated to its current site at Bundoora. In 1999, Melbourne-based architect Gregory Burgess oversaw the redevelopment of the original building and the construction of a new building for the Catholic Theological College, which had previously been located in Clayton.

The original bluestone building is connected via two levels to the new building, which has a striking modern design and provides light-filled facilities for the reception, offices, common room, meeting spaces and an extensive library. The building won the 2001 Heritage Property Award from the Australian Property Institute and the Melbourne Prize Commendation in the 2000 Royal Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Architecture Awards.

A brochure will be available for visitors to do a self-guided tour of the building.

Architect Gregory Burgess will be on site between 10am and 12pm to engage with visitors.

The open day is free of charge and no bookings are required.