The Queen Victoria Market Is Set to Welcome Two New Sheds As Part of a $40 Million Transformation
The development will include upgrades to the existing food hall, too.
The City of Melbourne has announced plans to pour nearly $40 million into creating a new-look Queen Victoria Market. The proposed development will extend the market further into Queen Street with a new trader shed and northern shed, and also provide upgrades to the existing food hall.
From that hefty sum, $35 million of the investment will be directed towards the new Queen Street sheds, while $4.5 million will contribute towards the refurbished food hall. The proposed upgrades to the heritage-listed market were approved by Heritage Victoria in December of last year. The two new sheds will include fresh amenities, storage and recycling facilities, while the upgraded food hall will feature increased seating, a cooking demonstration area, and refurbished floors and ceilings.
Announcing the news in a statement, Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the redevelopment will bring 400 jobs to Melbourne and help in the city's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Both of the proposed changes are set to be discussed at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 13.
The Lord Mayor also advised that "traders have told us that the existing food court, which was built in the mid-1990s, is outdated and limits the potential to grow their businesses". However, some store holders and local residents have pushed back against the plans.
Not-for-profit organisation Friends of Queen Victoria Market is leading a campaign against the developments, and says that the City of Melbourne is turning QVM into "an entertainment, dining and event venue which will reduce traditional trading by half or more".
Melburnians with thoughts on the planned changes can make submissions in advance of the Future Melbourne Committee meeting via the City of Melbourne website, or register to ask a question live during the session.
This is not the City of Melbourne's first multimillion-dollar upgrade to the Queen Victoria Market precinct, with construction on a Munro development next to the QVM already in progress. The Munro community hub promises a 500-space market car park, set to open in July, as well as affordable housing, a childcare facility, event spaces, hospitality and retail.
Construction on the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment is set to being in early 2022.
