Sunshine Coast Open House 2025 Launch

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor, Councillor Rosanna Natoli; Noosa Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Frank Wilkie and Councillors; Queensland Government Architect, Ms Leah Lang; Sunshine Coast Open House Co-Chairs, Mr Madgy Youssef and Mr Ron Scott; Ambassador, Dr Noel Robinson OAM and committee members; Leaders in the fields of architecture and urban design; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by thanking Ms Brianna Hanson for welcoming us so warmly to the Kabi Kabi lands on which we are gathered this morning. I acknowledge and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people who join us today.

As Patron, it is a pleasure to join you once again to officially launch the 2025 Sunshine Coast Open House program – a weekend when doors are opened, stories are shared, and we invite everyone to celebrate the buildings, places, and people that make the Sunshine Coast so unique.

This event has become a much-anticipated fixture on the region’s calendar, not only for those with a professional or academic interest in architecture and design, but for the many community members who take great pride in the unique character and heritage of the Sunshine Coast.

Open House weekends offer something quite special. They provide the rare opportunity to step through doors that are usually closed — to explore the stories of buildings, landscapes and communities from the inside out. And in doing so, they remind us that architecture is never just about structure — it is always about people.

The Sunshine Coast is one of Australia’s most dynamic and diverse regions. It balances rapid population growth with strong environmental and lifestyle values; it honours heritage while embracing innovation; and it fosters both community life and economic diversification.

This year’s Open House program highlights how your region responds to such challenges, inviting us to examine the relationship between design and resilience — how we shape our built environment, and how it, in turn, shapes our communities.

Here, resilience is not an abstract ideal — it is a necessity. It demands architecture and design that acknowledge your region’s uniquely challenging environment, adaptability, heritage, community and change. And it encourages thoughtful reflection on how our buildings, old and new, contribute to the Sunshine Coast’s identity, enviable lifestyle and sustainability.

I warmly thank the Sunshine Coast Open House Committee for their continued leadership and vision in curating such a meaningful program. I also acknowledge the many building owners, volunteers, local councils, industry partners and sponsors who make the event possible through their time, support and generosity.

To the community and visitors: in October, I hope you wander widely — step into places you never thought you would, linger in conversations, and test your assumptions about what architecture is, or can be … and consider the vital role the built environment plays in shaping the future of this treasured Queensland coast.

It now gives me great pleasure to officially launch Sunshine Coast Open House 2025.

Thank you.