Melbourne’s City Square to shut for Metro Rail works

CITY Square will close within a month to make way for the construction of the Melbourne Metro Rail and new CBD South station.

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CITY Square will close within a month to make way for the construction of the Melbourne Metro Rail and new CBD South station.

The Metro authority will formally take over the Swanston St park on March 20, but Brunetti’s cafe will be able to stay until March 31 before it moves to a new site in Collins St.

A report prepared for city councillors has said that Town Hall was obtaining valuations on the square to seek compensation from Metro.

Shops are boarded up in Melbourne City Square last month in preparation for the new metro train station. Picture: Josie Hayden

The square is made up of three separate lots — the underground carpark, cafe and open space — for the Metro acquisition.

Part of the above-ground space will be taken up for station entrances, but some public space will be returned to the council when construction finishes.

The lease for the City Square underground carpark, run by operators Greenco, will end on March 19.

Small businesses under the Westin Hotel have already closed their doors.

The Burke and Wills statue which sits near the corner of Swanston and Collins streets is set to go into storage for up to five years.

The monument is the city’s oldest piece of public art and has been owned by the council since 1865.

Construction on the twin 9km cross-city rail tunnels that will create five new stations is due to start later this year.

The tunnels will connect South Kensington and South Yarra with the creation of new stations at Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain.

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