Breaking ground on the iconic Melbourne Arts Precinct

Work has officially started on Australia's largest arts and culture infrastructure project to transform the Melbourne Arts Precinct.

The first sod has now been turned on the transformation project that will deliver a landmark cultural and artistic hub, cementing Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s cultural capital.

Thanks to 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 Art Centre Melbourne’s heritage State Theatre  and 18,000 square metres of new public parklands in the heart of Melbourne.

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.

Early works 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 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.

Early works on Arts Centre Melbourne will be completed in early 2023, after which main works will begin.

Development Victoria is proud to be the delivery agency for the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project, Australia’s largest ever cultural infrastructure project.

We are working closely on behalf of Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co) who will take responsibility of the new open space as well as Federation Square.