Melbourne CBD’s Green Refresh Wins City Support

The City of Melbourne has endorsed the concept design for the second stage of its University Square project at Carlton.

University Square, a park surrounded by property owned and used by the University of Melbourne, neighbours Lincoln Square and Argyle Square, and is between Barry and Leicester streets, on the corner of Pelham Street. 

The council's Future Melbourne Committee on April 23 voted unanimously to endorse the design and move the project along. 

Classified as an open space, it allows space in the inner north for residents to meet and gather, an important consideration in a neighbourhood where more than 80 per cent of homes are apartments.

In 2022, the University Square Masterplan initiated in 2016 reached the end of its implementation phase.

The city decided that with site context changes that the concept design for the second stage of University Square should be refreshed.

Stage 1 created 3900sq m of open public space that included development and planting of part of Barry Plaza but the remaining part of the square had to be set aside for temporary use during the construction of the Metro Tunnel’s Parkville Station.

That stage also included 85 trees being planted, The Green and Leicester Street through the park created, and an underground water storage tank installed for irrigation use.

Public art, a biodiversity corridor and living laboratory, and the Pelham Street parkfront were also part of the first stage.

▲ The City of Melbourne's map of the proposed redesign for University Square.

The installation of the 2019 MPavilion, which will be remain at the square until January, 2032 before the area is converted back to lawn, is also a factor, as are some buildings and rail infrastructure associated with the Parkville Station being introduced into the square. 

When the Metro Tunnel opens, the square will also face increased demands as a transport hub and as the closest open space to the university and health precinct.

“This is an important space in Carlton that DTP (the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning) will hand back to us as their works wrap up,” City of Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp said.

Stage 2 includes the creation of an urban forest created, a redesign of the plaza to include a multi-purpose informal sports court, the closure of Barry Street to vehicle traffic to create more space for the square, public art and water installations, and management that will acknowledge the historical creeks of the area.