The Emerald Hill Master Plan has sparked an important discussion about the future of South Melbourne, with passionate views emerging from across our community.
Residents have raised concerns about traffic, parking and preserving the character of the area. ANAM has highlighted the opportunity to create a significant public gathering space that complements the remarkable transformation of the South Melbourne Town Hall.
The South Melbourne Business Association would like to add another important perspective, that of the businesses who invest in this precinct, open their doors every morning and experience South Melbourne every day. Like the broader community, they rely on South Melbourne continuing to evolve if it is to prosper.
The Association has been actively involved with Council’s planning for South Melbourne since 2021. Throughout that time, one consistent message has guided our advocacy: South Melbourne has enormous potential, but it needs more reasons for people to visit, spend time and explore beyond the Market.
Unlike many neighbouring precincts, South Melbourne has experienced minimal population growth over the past two decades. Parts of Clarendon Street, particularly south of the Market, have faced increasing challenges as retail patterns change and economic conditions become more difficult.
For local businesses, creating a vibrant public realm is not simply about attractive landscaping. It is about creating destinations that encourage people to stay longer, discover more of the precinct and support the businesses that give South Melbourne its unique character.
For that reason, the Association strongly supports Option A.
Our support is not because it closes Bank Street. It is because it creates the opportunity to reconnect Emerald Hill with Clarendon Street and establish a genuine civic heart for South Melbourne.
Long before European settlement, Emerald Hill was recognised as an important gathering place for the Boon Wurrung people. Today, we have the opportunity to respectfully continue that tradition by creating a place where people once again come together for community, culture, creativity and connection.
Importantly, we see this as much more than an event space.
Successful public spaces are those that people use every day, meeting friends for coffee, enjoying lunch outdoors, attending community events, visiting the Town Hall or simply lingering in a welcoming public environment.
With the Town Hall redevelopment, ANAM’s investment, the Library and Heritage Centre and Council’s planned public realm improvements, Emerald Hill has the potential to become one of Melbourne’s great civic destinations. The benefits extend well beyond the Town Hall itself. Residents gain a more welcoming public space, visitors have another reason to experience South Melbourne, and local businesses benefit from increased visitation and stronger connections throughout the precinct.
It also contributes to something our members consistently tell us is a priority: community safety. Well-designed public spaces that attract activity throughout the day and evening create passive surveillance, increase confidence and help people feel safer.
Of course, projects of this scale require careful planning. Traffic management, accessibility, landscaping and heritage considerations all deserve thoughtful attention as the detailed design evolves.
But these implementation challenges should not distract from the bigger opportunity before us.
The question before us is not simply whether Bank Street remains open or closed. It is whether we are prepared to invest in a vision that creates a genuine civic heart for South Melbourne, one that celebrates our history, supports local businesses and brings people together for generations to come.
The South Melbourne Business Association believes Emerald Hill represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It is an opportunity we should embrace together.
Anne Michaels, President
South Melbourne Business Association Inc.
