Project Connect
About Project Connect
South Melbourne Market was established in 1867 and is the oldest continuing market in Melbourne. Over time, the Market has undergone regular improvement and expansion to accommodate the growing needs of its traders and the local community, as well as to ensure it meets changing regulations.
The Market continues to thrive in the local community, despite ageing infrastructure, growing competition and a limited footprint. As it moves into the future, planning and investment will ensure it continues to deliver a sustainable, safe and inclusive market experience for years to come.
A range of capital improvement projects have been identified as being required to address building compliance at the Market. These projects are major infrastructure improvements including, but not limited to:
- an increase in amenities (i.e. more bathroom facilities)
- improved pedestrian gradients via aisle and footpath regrading works
- compliant access to the rooftop carpark
Council has approved additional funding in their 10-year budget commencing 2023-24, alongside these major compliance works, to achieve greater community experience improvements. This includes additional external public space for seating and pedestrian movement and additional back-of-house improvements beyond what is deemed compliance requirements to continue to support our traders in what are aged, and very constrained spaces.
Given the need to address these compliance requirements to ensure the Market is safe and accessible for all, we will also review and address major pinch points such as congestion and lack of public space to improve customer experience.
While these improvements take place, the Market will be focused on protecting and retaining what makes it great – the authentic market experience, its rich history and cultural significance, the quality and unique offer and our valued traders.
Community Engagement
In 2023, the City of Port Phillip and South Melbourne Market hosted a community and trader engagement program which ran from 3 November to 3 December.
We asked about your preferences around when the Market is open, how you use the Market, how the proposed changes will impact you, and how you think we can improve public space around the Market.
Click here to read the summary report of the Help Shape the Future of South Melbourne Market community engagement.
Next Steps
A draft concept design is currently being developed. This concept design will be informed by a range of information, including the feedback received from our community and our traders through the engagement project.
We'll be asking our community and traders for feedback on the draft concept design in late 2026.
Click here to sign up to the South Melbourne Market monthly e-newsletter. We'll be keeping our community up to date on project news through this newsletter and our website.