Description

The Neighbourhood Circle operates as a hyper-local network connecting residents, small business operators, building owners, social and creative entrepreneurs and the Immigration Museum drawn from the four blocks bound by Collins, Flinders Street, Queen and William Streets.

Join us as representatives from this corner of the CBD discuss their aspirations for living, working and playing in this unique part of Melbourne. The discussion will revolve around how multiple communities are working together to collectively reinvigorate this precinct. The new Market St Park has transformed the public realm, the completed Collins Arch has brought more residents and businesses as well as a new hotel. And once the Social Enterprise Hub led by Good Cycles opens in November, 16 new small-scale businesses move into the area. Turning Circle Collective has identified this precinct as their case study site for re-establishing creative production into the CBD, and is partnering with landlords, existing businesses and the Immigration Museum to achieve this.

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What’s On

Hear how this group have been working together to connect often siloed communities by fostering collaboration amongst businesses, public venues and resident communities; utilising public and private spaces to create opportunities for connection and engagement; and advocating for creative, accessible and sustainable design in our city.

View the panel discussion followed by a self-guided walking tour (Covid restrictions allowing) of the precinct using the PDF map available below – or on the Immigration Museum Website.

Jaison Hoernel (Good Cycles), Nene MacWhirter (Port Authority Apartments), Wendy Lasica (the Turning Circle Collective), Alex Smith (Collins Arch) and Rohini Kappadath (Immigration Museum). Moderated by Robert Buckingham (the Turning Circle Collective) with opening remarks from Sally Capp (Lord Mayor of Melbourne).

Self-guided Walking Tour

This precinct boasts significant heritage buildings including Immigration Museum and Port Authority Building, as well as the oldest men’s barber, and the building that housed the first pub in Melbourne. The new Market St Park has transformed the public realm, the completed Collins Arch has brought more residents and businesses as well as a new hotel. And once the Social Enterprise Hub led by Good Cycles opens, 16 new small-scale businesses move into the area. It’s the opportunities to build programs that improve the experience of how these spaces are used, that drives the Neighbourhood Circle.

Neighbourhood Circle amplifies the nuances of this neighbourhood, one part of a larger CBD area, by drawing on hyper-local experience. The re-introduction of creative production into the precinct, builds on existing activity and aspires to generate new local economies and communities – both imperative for Melbourne to continue as a creative capital.

Visit the Immigration Museum website.

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CONTRIBUTOR LINK

Images: (1) Immigration Museum with Port Authority Building and Collins Arch in the background, photo: Adam Renyard for What’s On Melbourne. (2) Good Cycles Social Enterprise Hub, photo: CHT Architects.