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National heritage listing

The Queen Victoria Market has been added to the National Heritage List, recognising the significant place it holds in Australian history and providing further impetus for renewal and refurbishment of our nation’s iconic fresh produce market.

People arriving at the markets in horses and carts. Historic black and white photo.

​​​​​​​​​Heritage honour for Queen Victoria Market

The Queen Victoria Market has been added to the National Heritage List, becoming the 114th place in Australia to receive the heritage honour.

On 22 July 2018, the Australian Gover​nment Environment Minister officially announced that the market would be added to the list based on two key heritage values:

  • For the ability of the Queen Victoria Market to demonstrate the principal characteristics of a 19th century metropolitan produce market and the role of these markets  in supporting the sustainability of cities and their populations in that era.
  • The potential to provide information on the early population of Melbourne through the archaeological deposits of the Old Melbourne Cemetery, including the potential it offers for study into matters such as the diet, lifestyle, wealth, and burial customs of early Melbourne society.
Image
Close up of a building with letters that reads "Queen Victoria Market."

Through renewal of the Queen Victoria Market, the City of Melbourne has committed to protecting the heritage of the market and the respectful acknowledgment of the former cemetery.

The City of Melbourne first nominated the Queen Victoria Market for inclusion on the National Heritage List in 2015. A public consultation process took place between April and July 2017 to inform the Australian Heritage Council’s assessment of the nomination.

The National Heritage List has been established to list places of outstanding heritage significance to Australia. It includes natural, historic and Indigenous places that are of outstanding national heritage value to the Australian nation.

To view the market’s National Heritage List inscription, please visit the National Heritage ListOpens in new tab.​​

our acknowledgement

  • Torres Strait Islander Flag
  • Aboriginal People Flag

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. 

 

We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.