Your CBD community space received an Honourable Mention


June 27, 2023

Micro-Labs has received an Honourable Mention in the Cohesive Community category of the Commonwealth Government’s National Awards for Local Government.

Your participation in this community meeting space has secured its continuation for the rest of 2023. Local communities and small businesses can continue to access this free, accessible and inclusive place to connect right in the heart of the city.

We won’t be taking any new bookings for July as we review the data and explore how to better support users in the future. We will reopen bookings and share an update in August.

In 12 months, there have been more than 17,000 visitors, 340 events and 60 organisations visiting and using Micro-Labs. The data has so far revealed:

  • the tools and amenities most valued; resulting in Micro-Labs adding and removing resources as required
  • a community co-designed space that is flexible and adaptable continues to match community needs but more work is needed to make it sustainable
  • Micro-Labs is like a city ‘water cooler’ providing a place to to stop by, share a cuppa and provide incidental connections between diverse community members
  • the location, design, amenities and staff have created a supportive, culturally-safe space connecting our community to resources and programs or a place for some ‘time out’
  • small businesses and social enterprises are using the space to trial how they might scale up or broaden their offering. There have been retail activations, events, installations and more.

Data provides us with valuable information about what we need to look at when planning for the future of Micro-Labs and in other City of Melbourne spaces.

Standby for an update in August when we will open bookings again and share what to expect for the rest of the year.