Melbourne City Council is calling for Melbournians to provide feedback on Council’s proposal for a new ‘Market Square’ park at the Queen Victoria Market.
The 1.8ha ‘people’s park’ will be one of the largest in the CBD – with welcoming, green spaces for people to savour the market experience, relax with family and friends, and enjoy events and activations that will complement the historic market.
Ahead of detailed concept design, Council is seeking feedback from the community on eleven design principles for the Square – which respond to the Market Square Charter and extensive community engagement.
The principles propose a range of features for the Square, including:
- Expansive lawns for recreation, relaxation and reflection
- Native plants to improve biodiversity in the city
- Large trees to provide shade, helping to meet Council’s 40 per cent target for canopy cover
- A plaza to host events
- A play space
- A garden of acknowledgement, to be developed in partnership with Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Aboriginal Melbourne
- Paving, planting and ways of moving through the park to respectfully acknowledge the original cemetery
Community members can also provide feedback on a set of design principles for the Queen’s Corner Building – which will deliver important amenities for traders and the community, and support the precinct through activations and creative experiences.
Engagement will run until Sunday 8 October. Council will host a range of activities, including pop-up sessions and stakeholder workshops.
It will build on the first phase of engagement, which began on 12 July. Feedback from both phases of engagement will be presented to Council for consideration in late 2023.
There will be no loss of parking in the precinct – with 220 spaces for market customers, and 300 on weekends, to be delivered in Gurrowa Place, in addition to the 500 spaces already available in the Munro development on the corner of Queen and Therry streets.
Melbourne City Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said that a new Market Square will transform the city’s north – creating a wide range of community spaces to boost visitation and improve the way Melbournians experience the iconic Queen Victoria Market precinct.
“Our design principles build on existing community feedback, and propose a range of uses for the Square – from expansive lawns and shady trees, to spaces for relaxation, play and events,” Ms Capp said.
“We have an exciting vision for our ‘people’s park’, and we want to ensure our ideas resonate with the community, who’ll be making the most of this spectacular new city space.”
Environment portfolio lead, Councillor Rohan Leppert, said that the new Market Square will deliver much-needed public open space in one of the city’s fastest growing neighbourhoods – creating welcoming spaces for visitors and the local community to enjoy.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to convert a major grey space in the CBD into a vibrant, green open space that benefits our community – and we’re encouraging all Melbournians to have their say.”
