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                    Busking locations

                    Chessboard on the pavement near the town hall

                    The chessboard site on the corner of Little Collins and Swanston streets is a non-amplified busking area during business hours, Monday to Saturday 

                    Busking is permitted in public places where it meets the criteria outlined in the handbook. Most permit types have designated sites, and there are specific areas and times where amplified busking is not allowed.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sites may move, be temporarily unavailable or permanently removed at the City of Melbourne’s discretion. Buskers must follow the direction of City of Melbourne authorised officers if any busking site becomes unavailable either temporarily or permanently.

                    On this page:

                    Unavailable busking locations due to events

                    Busking sites may move or become temporarily unavailable due to organised events. Details of events that may affect busking locations will be posted here.

                    Designated sites and restricted areas

                    Premium permit locations

                    Premium permits include access to both designated premium busking pitches and general area busking.

                    Designated premium permit locations include the five musical sites and one non-musical site in Bourke Street Mall. Other permit holders may not perform in these designated premium permit sites.

                    Circle act permit locations

                    Circle act permit holders are limited to designated circle act pitches and have priority over other permit holders at these pitches.

                    The following locations are generally permitted for circle act busking:

                    • Southbank Promenade: 
                      • in front of 12 Riverside Quay (currently known as Esso House)
                      • Queensbridge Square 
                    • Docklands:
                      • Waterfront City Docklands
                      • New Quay Docklands
                      • Victoria Harbour Docklands 

                    The following locations are permitted, subject to availability and events:

                    • Birrarung Marr 

                    Some permits may be issued for small shows and walk-by acts for locations other than those listed above. These locations will be listed on the individual permits. 

                    Circle act performers may also recommend suitable locations to be approved by the Busking and Program Coordinator after consultation with the relevant areas of the City of Melbourne.

                    Amplified and non-amplified busking zones

                    Amplified busking on Southbank Promenade (between Evan Walker Bridge and Queens Bridge) is limited to 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

                    Non-amplified busking zones are designated for reasons of public safety or amenity. 

                    Any decision to remove or reinstate amplification to an area must be considered in the context of the busking principles. A reduction in permitted sound levels or permissible amplification times will be considered before the removal of amplification from the city streets. 

                    Except where designated in writing by the City of Melbourne, busking with amplification is strictly not permitted in the following areas: 

                    • outside Flinders Street Station 
                    • outside Southern Cross Station
                    • in front of the Southgate precinct, Southbank Promenade (between Princes Bridge and Evan Walker Bridge)
                    • Centre Place
                    • outside accommodation, including hotels, motels and residential buildings
                    • outside of the approved times for amplification. 

                    Non-amplified busking zones may change from time to time and differ from this list. 

                    No sound performances are permitted outside Telstra, 246-260 Bourke Street side.

                    Busking no-go zones

                    Busking ’no-go zones’ are designated for reasons of public safety or amenity.

                    Unless advised in writing by the City of Melbourne, the following locations are designated ‘No-go zones’ for City of Melbourne busking permit holders: 

                    • Within five metres of any intersection, pedestrian crossing, traffic signal or public telephone booth unless otherwise designated and excluding designated circle act and Bourke Street Mall pitches.
                    • Directly in front of ticket barriers, entrances to buildings or train stations.
                    • Underneath designated super tram stop shelters, as this prevents easy access on and off trams.
                    • Outside or adjacent to theatres when performances are taking place.
                    • In parks and gardens (excluding Birrarung Marr).
                    • Outside Parliament House. 
                    • Outside or adjacent to hospitals, memorial sites (such as Shrine of Remembrance, Bali Memorial) and places of worship when services are taking place. 
                    • At the intersection of Bourke Street Mall and Swanston Street, on the west side. 
                    • On Swanston Street: 
                      • between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane both east and west sides
                      • directly in front of the Town Hall on the eastern side of Swanston Street, between Collins Street and Little Collins Street. 

                    Busking is not permitted at any time in residential zones as designated in the Melbourne Planning Scheme. Residential zones are those areas that are primarily for residential purposes.

                    ​Map of busking locations

                    Note: the shaded areas of the map are designated no-busking zones. Select the arrows (>>) to expand the legend for the map.

                    Busking locations map

                    Locations not covered by City of Melbourne busking permits

                    • Federation Square
                    • Queen Victoria Market
                    • Yarra Promenade at the Crown Entertainment Complex between Spencer Street and Queensbridge Street
                    • Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, including South Wharf Promenade
                    • privately owned laneways and streets
                    • privately managed shopping arcades
                    • train stations.

                    Major events and other approved activities

                    The City of Melbourne issues permits for many other activities in public space such as events, promotions, festivals, outdoor cafes, markets, street trading, food trucks, handbills and fundraising. 

                    Specific restrictions or blanket prohibition on busking may be imposed during planned major events such as New Year’s Eve, White Night, Australia Day, Anzac Day, Moomba or other public holidays or events.

                    Restrictions may also apply during total fire ban days and other extreme weather events.

                    In the case of an organised event such as a market, promotion or festival, performers should not attempt to associate themselves with that event unless advised or invited by the event organiser.​

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