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Munro development

New buildings being constructed at the Munro development site.
Right on the Queen Victoria Market’s doorstep, at the corner of Queen and Therry streets, is the city’s largest new community hub.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​T​he Munro development is expected to deliver an estimated $70 million public benefit to the growing city north precinct, in one of Australia’s most sustainable mixed use developments. ​

narrm ngarrgu Library now open

Works to fit out narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services started in 2023 and are now complete. ​​​​​​​​Informed by community consultation and our Future Libraries Framework 2021, the new library and family services spans across three storeys of the Munro development in the heart of the market precinct. ​

The project team worked closely with Traditional Owners and Elders to ensure the design reflects and honours Aboriginal culture, celebrates First Nations knowledge systems and welcomes the Aboriginal community.​

Project overview​

  • a library, featuring a dedicated children’s library​ 
  • a family services centre
  • affordable housing apartments 
  • 500 underground car parks for market customers 
  • 2500 m2 of new open space 
  • ​boutique hotel and apartments 
  • hospitality and retail stores.

Hospitality venues

Seven hospitality venues will open in 2022 and 2023 for the first stage of the ground-level tenancies within the Munro development. The high-calibre food and drink venues will complement and enhance the market’s gourmet offerings and give visitors even more reasons to shop, dine and dwell in the precinct.  

Some of the new operators include one of Australia’s largest independent craft brewers, two specialty coffee roasters and a popular sushi outlet. The venues will be open day and night, seven days a week and will help deliver on our vision to create an active market precinct across the week and into the evening. Read the media release for the full details. 

Affordable housing 

In December 2021, the Munro development waved hello to residents from near and far, filling spots in 48 affordable apartments that are owned and operated by Housing Choices Australia.

An additional six apartments were also handed over to the Transport Accident Commission for clients with special needs. 

These affordable apartments have provided many with a safe and secure place to call home – making strides in the City of Melbourne's Affordable Housing Strategy for 2020–2030. ​

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation 

In June 2022, the Melbourne City Council entered into a lease with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation of level 4 at the Munro Community Hub, for a term of 10 years at a commencing rental of $262,300 per annum.

The Foundation will deliver a For Purpose Impact Accelerator Hub from the premises, where the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and key not-for-profit organisations can collaborate for more impact, emerging organisations can be incubated and knowledge and ideas can be shared to accelerate their work. The Foundation will carry out a $1.5M fitout of the premises to reflect a vibrant, contemporary space demonstrating design excellence and incorporating an environmentally sustainable design​.

Public artwork

Public artwork with the word 'MORE' on the building facade in white with red background.The City of Melbourne commissioned local artist Rose Nolan to create a striking artwork for the exterior of the new community hub at the Munro development.

The words ‘Now’, ‘More’, ‘Enough’ and ‘So’ are featured in bold red and white on the exterior screens of the community hub facade on Queen and Therry streets, adding both visual interest and to control solar heat gain (and loss) a requirement for building’s Green Star rating. 

The work was designed as a verbal-visual puzzle using a series of connected floating words that land gently to integrate with the architecture, creating an engaging experience for visitors to the market precinct.

Therry Street streetscape upgrade

The streetscape upgrade of Therry Street was complete in July 2023. Complementing the new Munro development and as a​ key gateway into the market, the upgrade has improved safety and created a pedestrian friendly street with wider footpaths, more greenery, lighting, shade and dining spaces for customers to stop and enjoy the market atmosphere. ​​

Stay informed

Throughout construction, we will keep Queen Victoria Market traders and visitors as well as local business and residents informed of works in and around the site. We will notify the community in advance of any works commencing and aim to minimise disruption wherever possible. Subscribe to keep up to date with project news and construction updates.​


Note: In reference to the video below, the 500 space underground market car park at Munro opened in July 2021 enabling the staged transformation of the open air carpark into public open space​. Parking for market customers is available across both the Munro site and the current open air car park.   ​​​

Development application

In July 2017, the Victorian Government announced the approval of new planning controls for the Queen Victoria Market precinct, to preserve and protect the market. The planning controls include mandatory height control of 125 metres on the Munro site.

A revised development application was prepared by the applicant, PDG Corporation, with the support of Melbourne City Council as the land owner. The revised application was submitted to the Minister for Planning as the Responsible Authority in late 2017. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning​, acting on behalf of the Minister for Planning, referred the application to Council as a recommending referral authority. Council considered the application at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting on 3 April 2018 (PDF 65 KB) and resolved to advise DELWP that it supports the application for the Munro development, subject to conditions. The application was approved by the Responsible Authority on 9 May 2018.

View the plans:

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