MAPT 2024 - a year in review

January & February

• External scaffolding goes up at 77 Southbank Boulevard, the site of The Fox: NGV Contemporary, the largest gallery dedicated to contemporary art and design in Australia.
• The first Community Reference Group meeting for 2024 is held – one of several throughout the year.

March

• Deconstruction commences at 77 Southbank Boulevard.
• The State Theatre closes to the public to undergo its most significant refurbishments since it opened in 1984.
• As part of PHOTO festival, Chamber Dance by Zoë Croggon is installed on the Arts Centre Melbourne hoarding along St Kilda Rd between Hamer Hall and the Theatres Building (under the Spire) and around The Barre.

April

• Piling at the MAPT North site is completed, with 358 new piles installed.
• The Hon. Colin Brooks Minister for Development Victoria, Precincts and Creative Industries toured the new conservation hub at NGV International and met some of the apprentices and workers involved with the project - more than 11,000 new jobs are being created over the lifetime of hte project!

May

• The MAPT project team set up a pop-up marquee at the Korea Festival at Fed Square to chat to members of the public and share information on the project and its benefits for residents, local businesses, artists and creatives. One of many such events for the year.

June

• The first piece of the deck structure was installed at the Kavanagh Street / Sturt Street intersection, which will support the new urban garden.
• Seating inside the State Theatre is removed and materials from 2,000 chairs recycled.

July

• The project team hosts sold out tours of the MAPT project for Open House Melbourne.

August

• The MAPT South project team has reached a milestone with the deconstruction of the former CUB Building at 77 Southbank Boulevard reaching ground level.

September

• Laak Boorndap is announced as the name of the urban garden bestowed by Traditional Owner, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Language Elder, Aunty Gail Smith.
• MAP Co releases a public art EOI for the First People's and Water Commissions.
• Jet-grouting at MAPT North is completed and excavation for Arts Centre Melbourne's expanded basement structure begins.

October

• Arts Centre Melbourne's Theatres Building celebrates its 40th birthday. A mini-documentary series Building an Icon is released, on the architecture, art and design of the building, and highlighting the major updates to the Theatres Building through MAPT.
• Inside the State Theatre, designer John Truscott's brass and gold ceiling is carefully removed and stored in the auditorium. Works also commence to upgrade the air conditioning for the theatre.

November & December

• Internal works inside NGV International completed to ensure it can continue to operate during the construction of The Fox: NGV Contemporary.
• The capping beam for Arts Centre Melbourne's basement extension is poured, allowing deeper excavation to begin.
• The MAPT project team celebrate A Very Merry Friend-mas with Southbank 3006.

Open for business in the Melbourne Arts Precinct

If you’re visiting the arts precinct, there are plenty of local businesses and traders open for business this festive season. For a selection of food and beverage options, you can visit Saporito Café, Olmate’s, Broad Bean Grocer, Blondie Bar, Miss Pearl Bar + Dining, Act of Wine and more. 

For those wanting to stay fit and healthy during the celebratory season, there’s BodyFit Southbank gym on Fanning Street. 

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, Quest Southbank is a locally owned family business located just a short walk from many of the arts precinct venues.

Construction updates

Construction works for the project will pause from 20 December 2024 and resume on 13 January 2025.

For the latest information on construction, subscribe to the monthly Construction Updates at www.development.vic.gov.au/mapt