Historic South Melbourne Town Hall to be revitalised

Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design have been appointed to design the refurbishment of the historic South Melbourne Town Hall into a performance venue for the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).

The $65 million project will create a new 150-seat theatre, a 350-seat main hall, new foyer bar and lounge, commercial kitchen and a public terrace. The revitalised town hall will be able to host events such as stand-up comedy, string quartets, local school concerts, speech nights, weddings and special occasions.

"ANAM's reoccupation of the South Melbourne Town Hall is a rare legacy project: the building has great presence, character and historic significance. It can become a special place for ANAM - a home for making music and engaging with a wide audience. It will also be a destination venue and engine room for creative activity that will enrich the life of the local community and of Victoria," said architect Peter Elliott.

"We are working closely with Aunty Gail and Aunty Julieanne of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to acknowledge the importance of First Nations history of the site in our design. The stories and cultural knowledge shared by the Aunties, have informed our way of envisioning how audiences might gather together in intimate surroundings, to enjoy music, dance and culture, as well as in more conventional formats."

South Melbourne Town Hall originally opened in 1879, and was designed by architect Charles Webb after winning an architectural competition. The design was inspired by Melbourne's St Paul's Cathedral, the Windsor Hotel and Royal Arcade.

ANAM first became a tenant of the hall in 1997, following council amalgamations in the mid 1990s, that made South Melbourne Town Hall redundant. In 2020, the building was declared unsafe, leading to evacuation of all tenants.

In 2021 ANAM developed a proposal to revitalise the hall, which the City of Port Phillip endorsed. The academy will contribute $50 million in government and philanthropic funding to the project, with the council contributing $15 million.

ANAM has received funding from the Commonwealth government and is discussions with the Victorian government and philanthropic community.

The project is anticipated to be complete in 2026.