Back in 2016, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that Victoria would soon be home to Australia’s first Pride Centre. This community hub will not only showcase LGBTQIA art and history, but bring together advisory, health and support services and provide a safe social space for LGBTQIA people.
Last year we learnt the location of the centre, which was chosen to be a vacant block at 79-81 Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. Now, we know exactly what the building will look like and who will be occupying the space.
Photograph: Supplied
The $15 million Pride Centre will be modelled after San Francisco’s LGBTI Community Centre, and has been designed by two St Kilda-based architecture firms. Minister for Equality Martin Foley said that will be a symbol of LGBTQIA “resilience and inclusion”.
“It will be a space for the community and LGBTI organisations to share ideas, collaborate and celebrate our diversity – it’s also at a key site the Pride March goes past,” Mr Foley said in a statement.
Photograph: Supplied
It’s clear the Victorian Pride Centre will soon become the beating heart of Victoria’s LGBTQIA community. The centre will soon be home to ten major community organisations including queer youth supporters Minus18, community broadcasters JOY FM, community health service the Victorian AIDS Council, as well as groups LGBTQI Multi Culture, Multi Faith, Team Melbourne and the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives.
Photograph: Supplied
It will also house leading LGBTQIA festival teams including the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Midsumma Festival. Midsumma’s annual Pride March last weekend saw thousands of Melburnians hit the streets in celebration of the gay community and the passing of the marriage equality bill in December.
There’s no word yet on when the centre will open, but it's expected work will start on the new site soon.