The City of Melbourne has announced new reinvigoration plans for the city’s iconic Queen Victoria Market. The plans are primarily focused on improving market infrastructure and car parking in the area, but also include a big new public space.
Included in the plan is the goal to create 1,000 new parking spaces for customers, which is an additional 280 spaces from the current capacity of 720. Five hundred car parks are already in the works as part of the adjacent Munro development (set to be completed in 2021) with 500 more spots planned for a future southern development site on Franklin Street outside the Hoddle Grid.
Lord mayor Sally Capp noted that once the new car parks are complete, the existing car park (located on Franklin Street) will be transformed into Market Square, a new 1.5-hectare public open space. Capp is anticipating it to become "Melbourne's largest new urban public area."
Other improvements mentioned include restoring the heritage sheds, improving the market’s opening hours for customers, as well as refurbishing the heritage-listed Elizabeth and Victoria Street terraces.
If the plans are approved, Queen Victoria Market will undergo its largest upgrade to date. It was considered to be the local government's "largest investment in its history" back when it was first announced in October of 2013. The latest master plan for the upgrades has been shaped by feedback from more than 7,500 Melburnians including market traders, shoppers and local residents.
If you’re worried that the market will be closed as a result of these major improvements, fret not. The City of Melbourne has ensured that the market will continue with minimal disruptions along the way.