Queen Victoria Market Revamp and Heritage Listing 'Can Exist Side by Side’

Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market will be added to the National Heritage List.

Federal Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg announced on Sunday that the site would be recognised for its place in the city’s history.

The move follows the Heritage Victoria ruling in March that blocked council plans for a $250 million redevelopment.

The council spent more than $15 million planning its revamp.

The plans involved an overhaul of the market precinct, the restoration of the site's 140-year-old sheds and three levels of underground parking.

However, Heritage Victoria told the council it did not accept assurances the sheds could be returned in their original condition.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the new heritage protection, which the city council applied for in 2015, would not affect the market’s redevelopment.

“The heritage listing and renewal can exist side-by-side and both are incredibly important,” Capp said.

Related: Melbourne City Council Wins Approval for $450m Queen Victoria Project

“For almost 150 years, it has sustained Melbourne, first as a meat market and then as a food and produce market,” Federal Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said.

The markets are also the site of Melbourne's first cemetery and one of Australia's earliest colonial cemeteries, dating back to 1837, with about 6500 burial sites remaining.

“The Queen Victoria Market is the largest intact 19th century market in Australia and also the site of our city’s first cemetery,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

“The national listing is well deserved and recognises the significant role and value that both play in our national history.”

Chief executive of the Queen Victoria Market Stan Liacos said that he was delighted with the National Heritage List.

“All who work, shop and visit the market know how special it is,” Liacos said.

“This is welcomed recognition for our traders and market community of the important role that the market has had throughout Melbourne’s history and continues to play in our community.”

Queen Victoria Markets now becomes the 114th place to be added to the nation's list of important heritage sites.