Heritage Victoria has approved the development of new trader facilities at the Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market.
Designed by NH Architecture, the facilities will deliver essential service for traders and upgraded services for shoppers.
The approved works include new logistics, storage, waste and recycling services, customer toilets and dedicated trader toilets, showers and meeting rooms.
Heritage Victoria has also approved the demolition of the Meat Market Annex and toilet building, which was a 1980s addition to the 19th century market.
The building will be replaced with a New Trader Shed with loading docks and a four-level basement.
The permit also approves the development of the Northern Shed, which will house centralized waste and recycling facilities for the entire market as well as segregated loading facilities at ground level and street improvements.
However, Heritage Victoria has not granted approval for a proposed canopy structure to the Northern Shed that would have been a covered loading dock.
The City of Melbourne welcomed Heritage Victoria’s permit decisions. Lord Mayor Sally Capp said, “I am very pleased that Heritage Victoria has approved plans for new facilities that will deliver significant safety, efficiency and sustainability improvements while retaining the market’s unique character.
“The renewal of the Queen Victoria Market precinct is an important project in Melbourne’s economic recovery from COVID-19, creating hundreds of jobs and helping small businesses to innovate and grow.
“Now, more than ever, we need to deliver this significant project that will protect this important National Heritage listed site and ensure Melbourne’s top visitor attraction is ready to welcome visitors back.”
Previous plans for the renewal of the market, designed by Grimshaw Architects, fell by the wayside after Heritage Victoria refused a permit application for the project.
The Grimshaw proposal would have seen the market’s Victorian-era sheds repaired, restored and rebuilt, with a three-level basement constructed beneath them. Heritage Victoria said the proposed works would be “unacceptably detrimental” and would have a “severe impact” on the cultural heritage significance of the market.
Following Heritage Victoria decision, the council established a “people’s panel” to inform the redevelopment of the market. A key recommendation from the people’s panel was the restoration of the more than 140-year-old market sheds. NH Architecture was appointed to design the restoration of the sheds in April 2019.
Construction on the new facilities will be staged, beginning in 2021. They are anticipated to be operational by 2024.
