Southbank Arts Precinct Transformation
We’re very excited that our recent precinct plan for Melbourne’s Southbank arts precinct is set to be realised.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley have announced that the Victorian Government will bring our 18,000m2 of new and renewed public realm to fruition. It will be a major element that knits together a series of future transformative projects, including the proposed NGV Contemporary Gallery.
ARM’s work envisions a generous outdoor space for people. It will join St Kilda Road between Hamer Hall and the Theatres Building (currently the Arts Centre lawn) and run along the western side of the Theatres Building and National Gallery of Victoria to Southbank Boulevard.
The whole precinct is elevated above City Road and it will create a direct pedestrian (and spiritual) connection from those venues to the Sturt Street venues (our Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Southbank Theatre, the VCA, the Malthouse, ACCA and the under-construction Melbourne Conservatorium).
The northern end of Sturt Street will be reclaimed for pedestrians. It will feel safe, busy and magnetic.
“Lots of land is being opened up for public space which will transform the area between the Southbank restaurants and the existing arts precinct of the National Gallery of Victoria and Arts Centre…It will be an entire redevelopment of the whole precinct.”
—Office of Premier Daniel Andrews
The new public space will look something like this. We’re imagining outdoor performance and event spaces, gardens, and places to eat, drink and hang out.
Images and animation by Urban Circus