South Melbourne Connects
Meet, Connect & Be Part of What’s Next
Experience South Melbourne launches its new Business Networking Series
South Melbourne’s business community came together on 31 August for the first Experience South Melbourne Business Networking evening, launching a new series designed to strengthen connections, share ideas and create greater collaboration across the precinct.
Held at the Limerick Arms Hotel, the evening brought together around 35 local business owners, operators, organisations and precinct stakeholders for a combination of networking, live music and discussion about some of the significant changes ahead for South Melbourne.
The evening opened with musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), before guests were welcomed by South Melbourne Business Association President Anne Michaels, Mayor Alex Makin and Member for Albert Park Nina Taylor MP.
Building a More Connected Business Community
The networking series forms part of the South Melbourne Business Association’s commitment to building a stronger and more connected local business community.
South Melbourne is home to an extraordinary diversity of businesses, organisations and people, but there are not always enough opportunities to meet one another, understand what others are doing and build relationships across the precinct.
Meet, Connect & Be Part of What’s Next is intended to change that.
While the subject of each event will vary, the purpose will remain consistent: bringing people together, creating connections and encouraging greater collaboration across South Melbourne.
Over time, the Association also hopes to bring representatives from across the precinct together for a broader conversation about a shared Vision for South Melbourne.
A Town Hall Reimagined
For the first event, the focus was appropriately on one of the most significant projects currently underway in the precinct, the renewal of the South Melbourne Town Hall and the future of the surrounding Emerald Hill precinct.
ANAM Project Director Nick Bailey introduced architect Peter Elliott, who took guests through the history, restoration and transformation of the landmark Town Hall.
The presentation explored the building’s remarkable history of adaptation since its construction in 1879 and the vision for its next chapter, transforming the Town Hall into a welcoming 21st-century cultural and community performing arts destination and a permanent home for ANAM.
Guests were given a glimpse of the proposed spaces within the renewed building, including the refurbished Town Hall performance space, new performance and rehearsal studios, practice spaces and a proposed bar and lounge.
The presentation provided an insight not only into the restoration of an important South Melbourne landmark, but into the potential for the renewed Town Hall to become an active cultural and community destination for the precinct.
The Future of Emerald Hill
The conversation then moved beyond the Town Hall itself to the surrounding public realm.
City of Port Phillip representatives Paula Kilpatrick and Agus Batara presented the findings from the first stage of community engagement on the Emerald Hill Master Plan Refresh.
Council advised that 388 responses had been received during the June consultation, with 88% of respondents supporting the proposed vision and 82% indicating a preference for Option A, the closure of Bank Street to create a larger area of public open space.
Key themes raised through the consultation included green space, arts and culture, First Nations recognition, safety and lighting, and parking and access.
The Master Plan Refresh is intended to guide the future of the precinct in response to major changes including the Town Hall redevelopment, relocation of the Bank Street Police Station and emerging community needs.
The draft updated Master Plan is the next stage in a process that will include further community engagement before a final plan is considered.
Looking at the Precinct as a Whole
One of the important themes of the evening was the relationship between the renewed Town Hall and the public realm surrounding it.
Rather than viewing the Town Hall renewal and Emerald Hill Master Plan as separate projects, the discussion encouraged guests to consider how the building, public spaces, cultural activities and surrounding business precinct could work together to create a destination used throughout the day and evening.
For the Association, this broader precinct perspective is particularly important. Major investment in the Town Hall and Emerald Hill presents an opportunity to strengthen connections with Clarendon Street and surrounding businesses and to consider how increased cultural and community activity can contribute to a more vibrant South Melbourne.
The formal presentations concluded with questions and discussion before guests continued conversations over drinks and refreshments.
Continuing the Conversation
Thank you to Peter Elliott, Nick Bailey, Paula Kilpatrick and Agus Batara for sharing their expertise and insights; Mayor Alex Makin and Nina Taylor MP for joining us; ANAM and its musicians for helping make the evening particularly memorable; and the Limerick Arms Hotel for hosting us.
Most importantly, thank you to the businesses, organisations and members of the South Melbourne community who attended our first networking evening.
This was only the beginning.
The Experience South Melbourne Business Networking Series will continue to provide opportunities for people from across the precinct to meet, connect, exchange ideas and participate in conversations about what’s next for South Melbourne.
We look forward to seeing you at the next one.