Piazza proposal to make Bourke Street Mall a ‘true Melbourne destination that will become a new mecca for locals and tourists’

A push to turn Bourke Street Mall into a European-style piazza would make the precinct “a hub for food and entertainment”.

A design of what the Bourke Street Piazza could look like. Picture: Supplied

Struggling Bourke St Mall should be turned into a European-style piazza as the public continues to turn away from traditional shopping, says a top architect.

Managing principal of leading architecture and interior design firm Cera Stribley, Domenic Cerantonio, said the pandemic had been the “nail in the coffin” for several Bourke St Mall retailers whose businesses were already under siege from online shopping.

“David Jones offloading its Bourke St store to Newmark Capital in July 2020 was a blatant testament to that,” he said.

“So the question: is retail the best and most relevant use of such prime CBD real estate?”

“Perhaps this is an opportunity to reinvent Bourke St Mall as a hub for food and entertainment, a new hospitality precinct to drive economic revitalisation; a true Melbourne destination that will become a new mecca for locals and tourists alike.”

Myer ambassador Tayla Damir, Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Chef Guy Grossi in the Bourke Street Mall. Picture: David Caird

With many shops vacant in the once vibrant retail strip, Mr Cerantonio said the mall should be turned into an Italian-style piazza to reinvigorate the CBD’s life and soul.

“The heart of most Italian cities is signified by a piazza, which is a large, open urban space, surrounded by bars, restaurants and cafes that spill out into the public domain,” he said.

“It’s brought to life by street performers, live music, and events.”

Mr Cerantonio said cities like New York had made similar transformations, but doing it here would require cutting red tape relating to on-street dining, entertainment, and liquor licensing to reorient the area as a hospitality-focused precinct.

Top restaurant owner Chris Lucas, who has venues like Chin Chin, Society and Grill Americano, said that like most Melburnians, he always knew the restaurant, bar and events culture was at the heart of our city.

“Any ideas that can champion and help rebuild our reputation as one the great food cities of the world should be considered by the all levels of government,” he said.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said that Melbourne was still the nation’s shopping capital, and the mall hosted iconic stores like Myer and David Jones.

“We are seeing an increasing number of retailers introducing an ‘experiential’ offering into their city stores,” she said.

“Some exciting examples destined for Bourke St Mall include a flagship Mecca store (in the former David Jones menswear building), and the multimillion-dollar David Jones redevelopment across the road featuring live music and luxury interiors.”

Ms Capp said the city was both a CBD and a CED (central entertainment district), “and we are working hard to find more activations and events that will continue attracting those crowds”.

Art to transform hoardings

Developers will be encouraged to put artwork on construction hoardings under a scheme to improve the look of the city and deter illegal graffiti.

City of Melbourne will consider holding a 12-month trial that would see firms given free council-commissioned artwork and access to chosen artists for new commissions.

Big construction hoardings are often a blight on inner city amenity, producing negative impacts on small businesses and residents.

Rampant graffiti crime has also led to calls for the city to be cleaned up, with a council blitz announced recently.

The creative hoardings program is viewed as a low-cost option to improve public spaces during construction, celebrate local artists, attract visitors to the city and deter graffiti.

If approved at a council meeting on Tuesday, the trial will start later this year, and involve commercial construction projects longer than 12 weeks.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said that as Australia’s cultural capital, the city was committed to working with local artists and property developers to activate all parts of the city, including construction projects.

“If endorsed, the creative hoardings trial will add vibrancy, light and storytelling to Melbourne’s streets, enticing more visitors to our great city,” she said.

Creative portfolio lead councillor Jamal Hakim said Melbourne already had initiatives like Flash Forward, which transformed drab laneways into living works of art.

“It is hoped that our creative hoardings initiative might replicate that,” he said.

“Art is interchangeable, it is open to interpretation, but most importantly, it captivates. This is about using available space to demonstrate the incredible breadth of talent we have right at our doorstep.”

Expressions of interest for the trial start in July, with creative hoardings to be in place later in 2022.

Last week, the council approved a $5000 trip to Singapore for the Lord Mayor to attend the World Cities Summit, and learn about the city state’s graffiti removal and street cleaning programs.

Melbourne City Council’s latest budget includes $30 million for cleaning up the city, with $1.4 million set aside for graffiti removal.