The creation of Market Square will deliver on a commitment in the precinct’s 2015 Master Plan to convert the existing asphalt car park into high quality open space for the growing City North area. This commitment is also part of an agreement between the Victorian Government and City of Melbourne to support the revitalisation of the market precinct.

The City of Melbourne is committed to relocating the current market car park spaces elsewhere within the precinct. The Munro development on Therry Street, already under construction and due for completion in 2021, will provide for 500 car parking spaces, and up to 500 more spaces will be provided at the future Southern Development Site on Franklin Street.

Melbourne CBD is experiencing a population boom, with the number of residents expected to double from 52,000 in 2019 to 109,000 by 2041. Our Open Space Strategy also identifies the need for more open spaces in the central city with existing parks including the nearby Flagstaff Gardens not sufficient to cater for Melbourne’s growing population.

Market Square will be a vital public open space for future residents, city workers and visitors. It will also improve the precinct’s walkability, cycling and connectivity with the surrounding city.

This initial round of public consultation on Market Square seeks to get the community’s views on how it would like to see the open space used. Following the completion of this first stage, we will undertake a further round of consultation in early 2020 to get the community’s input on the design for the new public space.

The Queen Victoria Market and the Old Melbourne Cemetery are well recognised and supported by the community as places of heritage significance, with both places recognised on the National Heritage List (2018) and the Victorian Heritage Register (1989). The site is also classified as being of national significance by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

Market Square is located within the former Old Melbourne Cemetery area, where many burials still remain. Our approach is to avoid disturbance to burials when creating this new open space.

As the design process commences in 2020, we look forward to working with the community on recognition of the site’s important history including the incorporation of interpretive elements such as artworks and landscape features. All proposed works will be subject to approval from relevant authorities.

Through renewal, the market precinct will reduce its environmental footprint with a focus on maximising energy efficiency, recycling and waste management, water saving initiatives and climate resilience. A key component of achieving our 6 Star-Green Star Communities commitment is to create more public open space with greening and water sensitive landscaping.

The current car park is one of the most significant contributors to the urban heat island effect in the city. A new open space will mitigate the build-up of heat in urban areas through the introduction of trees, planting and capture of stormwater runoff for irrigation.

Through renewal, we are improving safety, amenity and accessibility for visitors, market customers and traders across the market precinct. We are committed to ensuring equity of access and inclusion for people of all abilities, using high quality design to create a space that can be enjoyed by all.