The City of Melbourne is investing nearly $40 million for new trader and customer facilities and a revitalised Food Hall at the iconic Queen Victoria Market, as part of the next stage of the market’s revitalisation.
Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, said the City of Melbourne will invest $35 million to build the new Trader Shed and Northern Shed facilities in Queen Street and a further $4.5 million on a major refurbishment of the existing Food Court.
“The revitalisation of the Food Hall and new Trader Shed and Northern Shed facilities will employ around 400 construction workers, in addition to another 500 workers already building the Munro development and restoring the market’s heritage sheds. These stages of the market renewal program will deliver 900 jobs for our city at a time when we need them most,” she said.
“Businesses throughout the City of Melbourne have been hit hard by COVID and major projects such as the Queen Victoria Market renewal are critical to create local jobs and support our economic recovery.”
New concept designs and plans for upgrades to the Food Hall will be considered at a meeting of the Future Melbourne Committee on 13 April, along with planning applications for the Northern Shed and Trader Shed.
“Traders have told us that the existing Food Court, which was built in the mid-1990s, is outdated and limits the potential to grow their businesses,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This upgrade will include an improved dining area including more seating, flexible layout, cooking demonstration area, greenery, new flooring and roof.”
The Trader Shed and Northern Shed facilities include new logistics, storage, waste and recycling facilities, customer toilets and dedicated trader toilets, showers and meeting rooms for the market’s 2000-strong workforce.
Heritage permits for the two facilities were approved by Heritage Victoria in December 2020.
“The Trader Shed and Northern Shed will deliver important safety, efficiency and sustainability improvements,” the Lord Mayor said.
Construction of the Food Hall, Trader Shed and Northern Shed is expected to commence in early 2022, subject to approvals.
“Queen Victoria Market is one of our most iconic destinations and we are committed to its renewal because this project creates hundreds of jobs now and will help to attract more shoppers for decades into the future,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Investing in the market is about delivering upgraded facilities for traders and customers to help local businesses thrive again and bringing back the buzz to one of our most important tourist destinations.”
Other key market renewal projects underway include the $30 million heritage shed restoration and new community facilities, event spaces and affordable housing at the Munro development. The Munro car park is on track to open on 1 July 2021 followed by new retail and hospitality later in the year.
