Season 2026 Now On Sale - LEARN MORE

 

Menu

South Melbourne Town Hall

About the Project

On the southern edge of the CBD, the South Melbourne Town Hall currently sits empty and fenced-off despite being close to the Melbourne Arts Precinct, well-serviced by public transport, surrounded by cafes, businesses, arts companies, schools, and a couple of minutes walk from the South Melbourne Market.  

As a grand civic monument built in 1879, the South Melbourne Town Hall has served a wide range of purposes over the years: from an orphanage to a courthouse and holding cells, a library to a fire station, and a maternal healthcare centre to an internationally acclaimed music school.

The restoration of this beautiful but broken building is an absolute necessity. 

ANAM and Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design have unveiled plans for a stunning multi-million dollar transformation of the Town Hall, creating a set of state-of-the-art destination venues and a vibrant hub for creativity, education and community. 

 

With huge potential to host a wide variety of events from comedy shows to community meetings, dance spectaculars to seminars and school presentations, a renovated South Melbourne Town Hall will once again be a place of gathering, a central meeting point, a tourist destination, and a centre of inspiration and creativity for all.

“It will be great to see ANAM return to its historic home at the grand South Melbourne Town Hall which, in its renovated form, will be a centre for the training of musicians and the performances of beautiful and creative music that will add greatly to the cultural life of our society.”  

— Charles Goode AC 

Bank Street Frontage render by PE_A Open larger view
Bank Street Frontage render by PE_A
Main Hall render by PE_A Open larger view
Main Hall render by PE_A
Main Hall 3 render by PE_A Open larger view
Main Hall 3 render by PE_A
Main Hall 2 render by PE_A Open larger view
Main Hall 2 render by PE_A
Reception & Box Office render by PE_A Open larger view
Reception & Box Office render by PE_A
Bar & Lounge render by Tilt Projects & Pause Paradiso Open larger view
Bar & Lounge render by Tilt Projects & Pause Paradiso
Rehearsal Studio render by PE_A Open larger view
Rehearsal Studio render by PE_A
The Terrace render by PE_A Open larger view
The Terrace render by PE_A
Ballantyne Studio render by PE_A Open larger view
Ballantyne Studio render by PE_A
Daly & Fishley St Corner render by Pause Paradiso Open larger view
Daly & Fishley St Corner render by Pause Paradiso
NW Studio 32 render by PE_A Open larger view
NW Studio 32 render by PE_A
Typical Studio render by PE_A Open larger view
Typical Studio render by PE_A
Bank Street Frontage render by PE_A
Main Hall render by PE_A
Main Hall 3 render by PE_A
Main Hall 2 render by PE_A
Reception & Box Office render by PE_A
Bar & Lounge render by Tilt Projects & Pause Paradiso
Rehearsal Studio render by PE_A
The Terrace render by PE_A
Ballantyne Studio render by PE_A
Daly & Fishley St Corner render by Pause Paradiso
NW Studio 32 render by PE_A
Typical Studio render by PE_A

Their refurbishment project, will deliver state-of-the-art facilities and spaces, including:

  • A 350-seat auditorium
  • A 150-seat performance space
  • Meeting rooms
  • Rehearsal and studio facilities
  • Catering kitchen – for weddings and events – together with a foyer bar and improved amenities

These spaces will be available for hire, with generous discounts for community members.

The design plan is future-focused, implementing best practice standards for sustainability and resilience against future climate risks, including:

  • Efficient energy generation and use  
  • Maximum solar panels on the Town Hall’s roof 
  • Rain-water harvesting  
  • Water recycling 
  • Adaptive reuse and selection of materials, and  
  • Waste management   

“It brings me great joy to see how Peter Elliott’s fantastic design will nurture and inspire ANAM’s musicians for generations to come.”

— Janet Holmes à Court, AC
    Patron of ANAM

 

Back to top