A number of different parks and gardens can be booked for a wide variety of activities including functions and large gatherings.
You are required to obtain a permit if your event meets one or more of the following criteria:
- you plan to erect infrastructure
- there will be 50 attendees or more
- your event is catered by external source
- you require vehicle access to drop off equipment
- your event requires a reservation
- if you are charging participants a fee
- read the general terms and conditions for park use.
Lawn Reinstatement
Melbourne boasts numerous inner city parks and gardens, many of national and heritage significance. They are precious living assets set aside by our ancestors that provide Melbourne with it’s unique garden city streetscape we enjoy today.
Over the past decade the pressure of drought conditions and the increasing trend in outdoor events has created a situation where trees, shrubs and grasses are under immense pressure. Soil compaction and the inability to water has resulted in serious degradation of living assets.
The expectation from City of Melbourne is that each event organiser is responsible for the cost of reinstatement to return the park to it’s best possible condition after their event.
Although reinstatement is a real and quantifiable cost which can be calculated on a labour and material, these costs have risen steadily over the past years and we anticipate will continue to rise.
Climatic conditions leading up to the event will also impact the condition of the area. For example, extreme wet or dry conditions in the weeks leading up to your event will make a direct impact on the level of reinstatement required and in turn, affect the availability of the park for future users post event. Please take this information into consideration if you are holding an event in a park.
Infrastructure must not be erected or pegged in any parks or gardens without a permit.
Depending on the scope of your proposed activity you may be required to submit additional documentation regarding your event. If you are organising a large-scale or corporate event, please see Organising an event on our business website, Enterprise Melbourne.
Venue
When submitting an event permit application you will be required to select a specific lawn area within the park of your choice. Locate a lawn number by visiting Parks – location map.
Please note: the Crown Land (Reserves) Act, does not allow for exclusive use of the gardens or for an area to be physically cordoned off from the public.
Apply for an event permit
Once you have selected your venue, reviewed the above check list and are satisfied with the Terms and conditions, apply for your event permit by visiting Event permit application form.
Fees, booking confirmation and payment
After submitting your event permit application it will be reviewed and assessed by the City of Melbourne Strategic Planning and Logistics Team. If your booking has been approved you will be notified in writing.
Fees vary depending on the type of event. See:
Please note that you will be advised of the full payment details in the acknowledgement letter.
Payment for bookings can only be made after the event permit application has been approved. Payments can be made by credit card or cheque.
If you have any further questions about applying for an event permit for your function or activity please contact the City of Melbourne Events team on (03) 9658 8008.
Christmas parties
You can apply for a permit to hold your Christmas party in the following locations:
- Alexandra Gardens: Star Lawn, Engineers Lawn, Palm Lawn
- Fawkner Park: Lawn 3, Lawn 14, Lawn 18, Lawn 21
- Fitzroy Gardens: Lawn 4, Lawn 7, Lawn 9, Lawn 11, Lawn 12, Lawn 16, Lawn 17, Lawn 18, Lawn 19¸ Lawn 20¸ Lawn 21¸ Lawn 23, Lawn 24, Lawn 25, Lawn 26
- Flagstaff Gardens: Lawn 1, Lawn 7, Lawn 12, Lawn 13
- Kings Domain: Tom’s Block, Lawn 3, lawn 7, Lawn 9
- Parliament Reserve
- Powlett Reserve
- Princes Park: Lawn 2, lawn 3, Lawn 5
- Royal Park: Lawn 2, Lawn 7
- Treasury Gardens: Lawn 4, Lawn 5, Lawn 7
- Batman Park.
Please refer to Park Locations for park maps.
Once you have selected a location from the above list and have reviewed the events Terms and conditions, apply for your Christmas party permit by completing the Event permit application form.
A fee of $500 applies. (Conditions apply based on your proposed activity. Please discuss with the Strategic Planning and Logistics team before applying.)
More information
See our Event guidelines.