Visitors to Queen Victoria Market will find there's even more to enjoy, with a new pop-up park which will host live music and community events.
The Market Square pop-up park is the first step in transforming the market's open-air car park into 1.75 hectares of green space for the community to enjoy, as part of the City of Melbourne's work to reignite the CBD.
The market's renowned shopping and dining will take place alongside a creative hub, when experimental arts space Testing Grounds moves to the park over the coming months, subject to relevant approvals.
A new 500-space underground car park opened at the market in July, absorbing the small portion of parking on Queen Street that has become a luscious, green open space for public use.
The $2 million project is part of the landmark $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund - a joint investment by the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government to stimulate the economy and bring the city to life.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
"Queen Victoria Market is one of Melbourne's most iconic destinations, and we're doing everything we can to entice people back as the city reopens.
"The park will be a drawcard destination, giving locals, workers and visitors even more reasons to visit the market, dwell and enjoy the market experience.
"We're encouraging people to come down to Queen Victoria Market, explore the open-air merchandise stalls, fill their picnic baskets with gourmet produce and enjoy an afternoon on the grass with family and friends."
Quotes attributable to Environment portfolio lead Councillor Rohan Leppert
"We know the city's north is growing rapidly and we want to provide more parks and gardens to meet the community's needs.
"The pop-up park will provide inner-city residents with a new green space, while also helping to combat the urban heat island effect."
Quotes attributable to Queen Victoria Market CEO Stan Liacos
"Our traders have been hit hard by ongoing restrictions on retail trade, lockdowns and in particular the restrictions on movement within Melbourne and the loss of interstate and overseas tourism, and we want to help them to thrive again.
"The new park will help bring the precinct to life with entertainment and events, providing the market's 600 small business owners with a much-needed boost as they bounce back."
