Work has officially started on what is set to become Australia’s largest arts and culture infrastructure project to transform the Melbourne Arts Precinct.
With a $1.7 billion investment from the Victorian Government, the project includes the iconic new art and design gallery The Fox: NGV Contemporary, an extensive refurbishment of Victoria’s heritage State Theatre, and 18,000 square metres of new public parklands in the heart of Melbourne.
“We’re getting on with transforming the Melbourne Arts Precinct – building a global destination for arts and culture that will last for generations to come, cementing our reputation as Australia’s cultural capital,” said Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos.
“We are investing in this landmark creative project as a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to the state’s creative sector, one which we know will contribute to growing our economy by bringing in millions more cultural tourists to Melbourne.”
Early works on Arts Centre Melbourne will be completed in early 2023, after which main works will begin – they include relocating critical shared utilities and services, as well as site investigations and ground testing.
The works are vital to support the significant refurbishment of the heritage State Theatre, including improved accessibility, upgraded seating and acoustics, places to eat, and state of the art back-of-house facilities such as new rehearsal spaces.
The early works are starting with Art Centre Melbourne’s refurbishment and will continue with the demolition of the CUB building at 77 Southbank, preparing for the build of the already iconic The Fox: NGV Contemporary.
The transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct will create more than 11,000 jobs over its lifetime and is set to generate hundreds of ongoing creative sector jobs when it is completed in 2028.
“The Melbourne Arts Precinct has one of the highest concentrations of arts, cultural and creative organisations in the world, and this multidimensional project will establish the precinct as one of the world’s leading creative and cultural attractions,” Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation CEO Katrina Sedgwick.
For more information, visit: www.development.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: Render of Arts Centre Melbourne Redevelopment (supplied)