Council has prepared detailed designs for the Library and Heritage Centre forecourt, South Melbourne Town Hall forecourt and for the surrounding streetscape. You can view the designs here:

View the Emerald Hill Precinct Designs fact sheet to find out more about the designs.

Design features

The Emerald Hill Master Plan focuses on the heritage of the precinct, landscaping, improving pedestrian accessibility between the Town Hall, Library and Heritage Centre and surrounding streetscape and integrating public art into the area. Council has prepared detailed designs for the Library and Heritage Centre forecourt, South Melbourne Town Hall forecourt and for the surrounding streetscape.

The Library and Heritage Centre forecourt design proposes:

  • inclusion of a large, deciduous, Jacaranda tree and two small colourful deciduous trees
  • installation of curved garden beds and seating around the trees
  • use of steps which create a stage, and seating along a wall

    • The Town Hall forecourt design proposes:

  • enhancing the useability of the lawn area in front of the South Melbourne Town Hall and a permanent stage to accommodate events
  • landscaping and slightly raised lawn terrace
  • new planting around the memorial fountain.

    • Surrounding streetscape (overall precinct):

  • slightly narrowing Bank Street to create safer pedestrian crossings
  • slightly narrowing the road on Perrins Street to slow vehicles as well as implement Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) features
  • inclusion of kerb outstands to improve accessibility and pedestrian safety between the police station, Library and Heritage Centre and Town Hall
  • increase footpath width around the Town Hall to improve accessibility
  • additional seating in Daly, Layfield, Fishley Streets.

    • Car parking

    The number of parking spaces in the overall precinct will be reduced to improve access to and around South Melbourne Town Hall. In total 28 car parking spaces will be removed, 6 spaces in Fishley Street, 3 spaces in Layfield Street, 11 spaces in Daly Street and 8 spaces in the Bank Street slip lane. Vehicle access to the South Melbourne Town Hall forecourt will be maintained for emergency and limited commercial vehicles. The reduction of car parking will be staged to manage car parking demand in the area. Since the adoption of the Emerald Hill Masterplan an additional four car parking spaces have been integrated into the design in Layfield Street.