North Melbourne is located on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin, along the banks of the Moonee Ponds Creek.
As one of the first Victorian towns to be granted municipal status (Town of Hotham), North Melbourne is renowned for its charming village vibe, complete with Victorian-era shopfronts and Robert Hoddle’s distinctive wide streetscapes.
North Melbourne is a lively, cosmopolitan neighbourhood boasting an eclectic mix of boutique retail, arts, dining and community experiences.
It has come a long way from its days as an industrial employment hub for the local livestock precinct, though its landmarks still pay homage to these origins.
The Meat Market was once the site of boisterous bartering between butchers and meat traders. It now stages a different kind of theatrics as an important creative hub within the neighbourhood.
North Melbourne is also home to Arts House, in the former North Melbourne Town Hall. It stages about 25 new contemporary performance pieces a year, and is a haven for artists and small arts organisations.
The North Melbourne Library, built in 1882, has been an important community gathering place for many local residents over the years – as has the Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Services Centre, which has been serving local families for more than 80 years.
North Melbourne’s streets tell a story of its evolution, featuring both heritage and urban-industrial architecture seamlessly. The area is home to almost 18,000 residents – half of whom were born overseas, with the majority aged between 20 and 34 years.
More than 70 per cent of North Melburnians live in apartments – whether in public housing towers around Boundary Road, in private medium-density complexes, or contemporary warehouse conversions.
North Melbourne Neighbourhood map
- Find an address by selecting the magnifying glass in the top right hand corner.
- See the legend by selecting the second box in the top right hand corner.
- Zoom in and out using the + and - symbols in the top left hand corner.
Quick facts
Data is sourced from 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census of Population and Housing, ABS Estimated Resident Population 2023, and 2022 Census of Land and Employment (CLUE).
To access more data on North Melbourne, visit: North Melbourne community profile on profile .id.
To learn more about the ABS Census of Population and Housing, including definitions, visit: Guide to Census data.
Council services, facilities and spaces
The City of Melbourne delivers local childcare and integrated kindergarten services at Lady Huntingfield Children’s Centre (106 places) and North Melbourne Children’s Centre (48 places).
At Lady Huntingfield, young families can also book an appointment with Maternal and Child Health nurses, counsellors, and social workers, assisting families with complex issues to overcome practical and emotional challenges.
Free maternal and child health and family services are also available from North Melbourne Community Centre, where there is a dedicated space for facilitated playgroups.
The popular North Melbourne Library hosts free programs for babies, teens and adults. Members can borrow books, magazines, music and movies, as well as access a huge online catalogue.
Anyone can drop-in to use the computers, Wi-Fi and print/copiers.
The Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre is prioritised for use by older people and carers. It is a safe, accessible and welcoming environment where older people and carers can participate in a diverse range of social, cultural, educational, recreational and community activities. It has recently improved its audio equipment enabling people with hearing difficulties to participate in activities.
The North Melbourne Community Centre, which also has group activity spaces available for hire.
North Melbourne enjoys 8.9 hectares of public green space.
The City of Melbourne manages parks at:
- Bedford Street Reserve
- Canning Street and Macaulay Road Reserve
- Chapman Street Reserve
- Courtney Street Reserve
- Curzon Street Reserve
- Errol Street Reserve
- Gardiner Reserve
- Leveson Street Reserve
- Buncle Street Reserve
- Pleasance Gardens
It also maintains Clayton Reserve, a large fenced-off dog park, as well as North Melbourne Recreation Reserve dog off-leash area.
Located at the former North Melbourne Town Hall, City of Melbourne manages Arts House providing a contemporary performance space, artist in residence studios, investigation labs, presenting around 25 new works to audiences each year.
Meat Market is another important hub for creative arts and cultural productions. This venue attracts diverse programming from circus, theatre and exhibitions to solo visual art shows. It also offers low rent office space to small arts organisations, supporting approximately 60 businesses and community groups per year and around 90 artists and arts organisations.
North Melbourne Recreation Centre and Outdoor Pool supports participation in sport at all levels, from family to professional.
It is also home to North Melbourne Football Club and Fencing Victoria. Offering a gym, group fitness classes, seasonal outdoor pool, swimming lessons, stadium sports and facility hire, approximately 14,000 people clock-up 120,000 visits here per year.
At North Melbourne Community Centre and adjacent Buncle Street Reserve, locals can purchase low-cost gym memberships, participate in programmed soccer and basketball games, or have a casual kick on the outdoor futsal court and grassed sports pitch.
