1.
Are traditional Woi-wurrung or other Aboriginal language names.
The hub construction is underway!
We’re redeveloping the site at 33 Saxon St, Brunswick to create a community hub that will draw visitors in to experience a range of community activities and events.
The upgrade will create approximately 3,500sqm of floorspace and will deliver an accessible and functional building with welcoming and affordable spaces for creatives, artists and the Brunswick community.
Project history
We purchased the site in 2010 when it was home to an old school with large buildings, a heritage house and public open space. In 2016 we appointed These Are The Projects We Do Together, to manage the site as ‘Siteworks’, and with First Nations contemporary art gallery, Blak Dot, created a thriving arts and community hub. This activation provided the vision for the future of 33 Saxon Street.
The 2017 Strategic Framework set the principles and priorities for the facility, including redevelopment for future use:
- Creating more affordable arts space
- Increasing public open space
- Including a variety of community uses
- Creating a place to come together and build community.
After an extensive community engagement process to gather community ideas for the design, a revised design concept for the site was approved in November 2021 with consideration of the strategic framework.
Planning was lodged in March 2022 and a permit issued in January 2023 (ref MPS/2022/194). Council endorsed the construction tender in December 2022 with construction due to start after demolition in June 2023. Completion is expected by the end of 2024.
Find out more about background of the site and redevelopment of 33 Saxon Street on our website.
Naming the site
The call for naming suggestions has now closed - thank you for your submissions!
We are currently reviewing the suggested names against the State Government’s Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2022 and the Naming Merri-bek's Places Policy.
A shortlist will be made and presented to Council for endorsement. The community will then be asked to select their preference before Council makes the final decision in mid 2024.
Preference will be given to submissions that:
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Acknowledge the role of groups or communities within Merri-bek.
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Acknowledge the contributions of Merri-bek's multi-cultural communities.
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Acknowledge important social and historical events that happened on or near the site.
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Are names of women who have contributed to Merri-bek's development.
Names must meet principles A- M of the State Government’s Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2022.
Traditional Aboriginal language names are subject to the involvement and agreement of the relevant Aboriginal communities. It is not appropriate that the names of living persons be considered for place naming. More information can be found in the Naming Merri-bek's Places Policy.
