After fifteen years of steady and generous leadership, Malcolm Middleton has stepped down as Chair of the Brisbane Open House Board. Much of what Brisbane Open House is today, a much-anticipated fixture on the city’s cultural calendar, is the result of Malcolm’s vision and determination and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him and look back on how much Brisbane Open House has grown, during his tenure.
From small beginnings
The first Brisbane Open House, held in October 2010, was a modest one-day event: 16 buildings and no social media to speak of. It was run through a loose partnership between the Office of the Queensland Government Architect, the Brisbane Development Association and the National Trust.
Malcolm was appointed Queensland Government Architect in July 2011 and immediately became involved with the planning of the 2011 event. He joined a steering committee drawing together government agencies, founding partners and committed volunteers and the event began to find its feet with the essential management of the event coming out of the Government Architects Office. It was at this time that Brisbane City Council came on board as a supporter.
Tour of Fish Lane with Malcolm Middleton
Malcolm Middleton with some of our Brisbane Open House Volunteers. King George Square, 2026.
Building something lasting
Over the years that followed, Malcolm guided Brisbane Open House through a period of remarkable growth. The appointment of Ann Rainbow as the first Executive Director brought new energy, and the program expanded into a full weekend. Darren Lockyer lent his profile as Ambassador for five years, and the event welcomed Open House Worldwide founder Victoria Thornton OBE to Brisbane.
Under successive Executive Directors, the program kept growing, with a fortnight of allied events leading up to the main showcase weekend. In 2019, its tenth year, Brisbane Open House reached a high point: 119 buildings, 30 of them taking part for the first time, close to 80,000 visits and 64 talks, tours and workshops. Highlights included the International Open House lecture at QUT Kelvin Grove, Pecha Kucha, The Great Debate and the commencement of heritage bus tours with the Queensland Omnibus and Coach Society.
Brisbane Open House, Speaker Series 2020
Through the hard times
Then came Covid. With almost all sponsorship suspended or cancelled, the future of the event was uncertain. Through careful management of cash flow, and by moving online with virtual panels and filmed site visits in 2020 and 2021, Malcolm and the Board steered Brisbane Open House through this uncertain period. During this time, the organisation also transitioned to a company limited by guarantee, Brisbane Open House Limited, giving it the strong governance foundations it relies on today.
In 2022, the event returned in person with a new July date, avoiding clashes with Brisbane Festival and the football finals and offering cooler weather for visitors. That year also saw the first Villages of Brisbane event in Sandgate, followed in 2025 by the first formal Stradbroke Island program.
Malcolm also oversaw a careful renewal of the Board in the years after Covid. Following the move to Brisbane Open House Limited, Ann Rainbow returned as Executive Director. In 2025, John Ellway, Paul Butterworth and Yolande Vorster joined the Board, while Fiona Gardiner and Stewart Armstrong stepped down after many years of service. Fiona had championed the event from the Queensland Government’s Cultural Heritage team since 2011, and Stewart had looked after its administration through the National Trust from the very first event. In 2026, John became Co-Chair, ensuring a smooth transition as Malcolm prepared to step down after this year’s event.
Brisbane Open House Launch at Thomas Dixon Centre, 2025.
A legacy across Queensland
Malcolm’s influence reaches well beyond Brisbane. Open House events have since taken root on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast and in Maryborough, Toowoomba and Cairns, with proposals for Townsville. Throughout, he maintained the trust and support of successive governments in the value of this event, along with the consistent backing of the Office of the Queensland Government Architect, the Queensland Government’s Cultural Heritage team and the event’s vice-regal patrons. From Her Excellency Penelope Wensley AC, former Chief Justice Paul de Jersey through to the conclusion of their tenure, Joint Patrons, Her Excellency Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD. All our vice regal patrons have provided essential, high profile and enthusiastic support for the event,
Malcolm has reflected that, like any entrepreneurial venture, Open House has asked for many hours outside the working week. In return, it has tapped into something special: the willingness of so many people to share their city and give their time to help others discover it. Two launches stand out in his memory. The first was held in the Banco Court of the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, beneath Sally Gabori’s monumental painting, where he was ceremonially announced by the bailiff alongside the Governor of Queensland, the Chief Justice and the Queensland Government Architect. The second was the launch of Brisbane Open House 2026 in QPAC’s recently opened Glasshouse Theatre.
Brisbane Open House Launch at The Glasshouse Theatre at QPAC, 2026
Brisbane Open House Launch at The Glasshouse Theatre at QPAC, 2026
Thank you On behalf of the Board, our team, our volunteers and the many thousands of visitors who have explored Brisbane through Open House, thank you, Malcolm. Your generosity and belief in the value of good design have helped make Brisbane Open House the established event it is today.