New Life for Melbourne’s McPherson Building

An art deco building from the 1930s in the heart of the City of Melbourne is on the cusp of a new life as a food and retail destination. 

Global food and retail destination brand Il Mercato Centrale will open its first Australian location in the McPherson’s building at 546 Collins Street.

The historically significant building was first commissioned in 1934 and completed in 1937, and was intended to be a warehouse, office and showroom for Sir William McPherson’s hardware empire. 

Architects Stuart P Calder, and Reid and Pearson designed the four-storey building with a basement level and a stair tower at the centre that provides access to what was a tennis court on the roof. 

It is considered an example of the streamlined modern style in Melbourne and shows how the McPherson company, protected from taxes after World War I, was able to manufacture goods without being affected by the competition. 

Sir William was the premier and treasurer for Victoria between 1928 and 1929. 

▲ The building is considered an example of the streamlined modern style in Melbourne.

Il Mercato Centrale has been working on restoring the building in preparation for an opening in September this year.

The brand has four locations—Florence, Rome, Turin and Milan. Il Mercato Centrale general manager Gary Patikkis said Melbourne was an obvious choice as a location.

“Ingrained in Melbourne’s cultural fibres is a passion for quality food and a boldness to try something new, which, combined with the significance of the McPherson building, made Melbourne the obvious home for the first Il Mercato Centrale outside Italy,” Patikkis said.

It plans to open the 3500sq m Melbourne location with 23 food and beverage artisans that will produce not just food but also base ingredients onsite.

These will include crafts and processes such as cheese-making, flour milling, baking, pastry-making, pasta-making on the ground floor in open kitchens for the public to witness.

The first floor will have both casual and formal dining options while the second floor will have spaces for classes, events and community cultural hub.

It will have a standing capacity of 3000 people.   

“Our venue will not only bring a cultural experience never-before seen in Melbourne—it will celebrate the rich tradition of Italian cuisine and hospitality through our dedicated food and beverage artisans,” Patikkis said.