Southbank Promenade upgrade

Over 40,000* people visit Southbank Promenade every day, and this new and improved space aims to help build these numbers into the future.

We want to thank businesses for their patience and involvement throughout the project - as well as residents, workers and visitors to the area.

We also want to thank the Victorian Government, who helped fund this project through the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund (MCRF).

The project has delivered:

• a more spacious promenade
• new bluestone paving
• lighting upgrades
• new seating
• reconfigured stairs and ramps between promenade levels
• new trees.

*Statistic from prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Timeline

Works on stage one of the Southbank Promenade upgrade between Princes Bridge and Evan Walker Bridge are now complete.

To avoid affecting traders during the busy summer period, works were broken up into phases:

• The first phase was located at the eastern end of the promenade near Princes Bridge below Hamer Hall, and took place from April 2022 to December 2022.
• The second phase was located at the eastern end of the stage one site, and took place from August 2022 to October 2022.
• The third phase was located near Evan Walker Bridge, and took place from April 2023 to July 2023.

Future works

The remainder of the Southbank Promenade upgrade is being coordinated to commence following the Southgate development completion. This section of the project will deliver more trees and improved open space along the entire promenade.

The relocation of the 'Dervish' sculpture from Southbank Promenade to the Hamer Hall balcony has been postponed to minimise disruption on outdoor trading in the area, and will take place at a later date.

Trees

Plane trees were planted in Southbank Promenade in the 1980's, and are in a state of decline. 

As part of the works between Princes Bridge and Evan Walker Bridge, we've delivered nine new trees including one Livistona Australis (Cabbage Tree Palm), two Melaleuca (paperbark trees) and six Jacarandas.

More trees will be replaced between Evan Walker Bridge and Queens Bridge Street, but this part of the project is subject to future funding. 

Pedestrian and bike riding access

While pedestrian and bike riding access, and access to residential properties and businesses along Southbank Promenade were maintained at all times, some sections of footpath along the upper promenade were narrowed during the construction period.

People riding bikes were asked to dismount when passing the construction areas, and encouraged to try the Southbank bike route. This route was part of our commitment to deliver a program of new bike lanes and pedestrian improvements across the municipality. 

Community consultation

Following the development of a proposed landscape design, we asked the community for feedback between July and August 2020.

During the engagement process, we shared a copy of the proposed landscape concept plan, cross sections to show existing and proposed conditions, and artist renders of the final conditions with the community.

You can find more information about the community consultation process on Participate Melbourne Opens in new tab. 

Read our latest construction bulletin