Melbourne City Council to spend $6.5 million restoring Queen Victoria Market sheds

Melbourne City Council is set to announce millions of dollars in funding to get the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment going more than a year after Heritage Victoria rejected the original plan.

More than $6 million will be spent restoring Queen Victoria Market’s historic sheds over the next year under a redevelopment plan.

Cash for the refurbishment will be announced in the City of Melbourne’s 2019-20 budget on Thursday, more than a year after Heritage Victoria rejected the original plan.

That plan had been to dismantle the sheds and restore them off site, while a basement area was dug out to provide much-needed facilities for traders and customers.

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Work to restore heritage sheds at Queen Victoria Market will finally start

Following a long consultation, it was decided to seek a permit to refurbish the sheds on site, and to locate trader ­facilities in less heritage-­sensitive areas of the market.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the $250 million renewal was continuing, and Heritage Victoria had recently given the green light for the shed works.

“We will invest an initial $6.5 million this year for the staged on-site restoration of the heritage sheds,” she said.

“The total project requires an $11 million investment for conservation, restoration and structural enhancement works to the market’s open-air sheds and adjoining verandas.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp is keen for the market’s renewal to progress.

Ms Capp said the works would help secure the 19th century site’s future as a trad­itional open-air market.

“Further investments will be made towards improving storage, amenities, and waste and recycling facilities,” she said.

This would involve putting facilities at the former G Shed site, as well as centralised waste and recycling infrastructure, under the northern section of Queen St.

Under-counter storage will also be provided at fruit and vegetable traders’ stalls, while a new building with two basement levels at Queen St south will be used for market administration, loading and unloading facilities, and shops.

The master plan envisages a green plaza on the site of the current carpark on Queen St. The car spaces are to be replaced by 500 spots at a future commercial development site near Franklin St. Another 500 car spaces will be provided at the council-owned Munro site near Elizabeth St.

An artist’s impression of how Queen St will look near the market.

QVM CEO Stan Liacos said the 140-year-old market had no option but to change.

He said: “The plan is to see her receive the reinvestment and upgrades that she deserves and needs, while keeping all of what is great about her.

“We are helping her take new opportunities, and adjust to changed customer expectations to ensure she thrives. Achieving a delightful balance between old and new is necessary, and absolutely possible.”

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