Opened in May 2007 by Jon Stanhope, it is the largest dedicated glass studio facility in Australia.

[3] It is located in the Kingston Powerhouse which was designed by John Smith Murdoch, constructed from 1913-1915, and is a historical landmark.

[5][6] Particular effort was made to preserve the original building and surroundings where possible, and was developed within a framework of Ecologically Sustainable Design (ESD).

[7] artsACT and Jon Stanhope, Canberran Chief Minister and Minister for the Arts announced the name of the centre in late 2005, specifically to highlight 'Canberra' as a being potentially well reputed both nationally and internationally for studio glass and the term 'glassworks' to be clear about what equipment and facilities where available at the centre to artists as well as to the general public.

The creation of Glassworks and renovation of this building is part of the redevelopment of the lake foreshore surrounding Kingston.