Construction now complete on Balam Balam Place

We’re thrilled to announce that Balam Balam Place opened to the public on Monday 3 March 2025.

The significant $30 million redevelopment to create a state-of-the-art cultural, creative, and accessible hub, features welcoming and affordable spaces for creatives, artists, and the Brunswick community.

For bookings, please visit the Balam Balam Place website.

Project updates

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 the site.

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 starting after demolition in June 2023. Completion is expected by the end of 2024.

Find out more about background of the site and redevelopment on our website.

Artists impression of the new hub

Naming the new hub

Last year we asked you to share your name ideas for the new community hub. As a result of this community engagement process, we received many name suggestions - thank you for your ideas!

We reviewed 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.

We then asked the community to vote on their preferred name from a shortlist made by Council.

Shortlisted names are listed below in alphabetical order.

  • Balam Balam Arts Centre

    Balam Balam means 'butterfly' in Woi-wurrung language. This name was suggested by a community member and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation has approved its use.

  • Brunswick Arts Hub

    Having long been associated with creative communities and artists, the geographical location of the new cultural and community space is recognised in this name.

  • Brunswick Arts Precinct

    Having long been associated with creative communities and artists, the geographical location of the new cultural and community space is recognised in this name.

  • Doleen Arts Hub

    Doleen means 'pride' in the Woi-wurrung language. This name was provided by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

  • Dorrong Arts Precinct

    Dorrong means 'heart' in Woi-wurrung language. This name was suggested by a community member and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation has approved its use.

  • Leonard French Arts Hub

    Leonard French (1928-2017) was a highly regarded Australian artist and is perhaps best known for his stained-glass ceiling at the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria. He grew up in Brunswick, attended East Brunswick Primary School and Brunswick Technical School.