Queen Victoria Market development to provide community facilities and art gallery

Alongside the $250 million Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal program, the City of Melbourne plans to provide $70 million in community facilities in the Munro development including a 120 place childcare facility, a family and children's services centre, a community centre and kitchen, a city gallery and 56 affordable housing units.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp advised "we're expecting 24,000 new residents in this area by 2040 so it's essential we provide more community facilities and pedestrian friendly spaces to meet the needs of the growing population as well as encouraging more people to come to the market precinct.

"We're delivering a new network of interconnecting laneways featuring retail stores, cafes and restaurants. The popular street art precinct in Blender Lane will remain and the new community facilities will better connect the market precinct to the city.

"We purchased this site from the Munro family five years ago to protect the market from inappropriate development and prevent a supermarket or large chain stores being built in direct competition to fresh food offerings of the Queen Vic Market."

The development includes 500 basement car parks for market customers to help make the market more accessible for shoppers and freeing up the current surface car parking site for a new 'Market Square'.

The Munro development at the corner of Queen and Therry streets is being delivered by developer PDG Corporation and builder Hamilton Marino.

PDG Corporation Managing Director, Vince Giuliano, said the development is an important step forward in realising City of Melbourne's ambitious plans for the Queen Victoria Market precinct.

Giuliano added "in collaboration with the City of Melbourne, we are now able to continue advancing Melbourne's premier mixed-use project – a development that will be leading-edge for sustainability and liveability next door to Victoria's most beloved and visited icon, Queen Victoria Market."

It is expected the community facilities and basement car parking for market visitors will be complete within two years.

Mayor Capp said the historic Mercat Cross Hotel facade on the corner of Queen and Therry streets will be retained and carefully restored as part of the development.

Image: Artist's impression of Munro development as part of Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal