As a primary step toward revitalising Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station and surrounds, the Victorian Coalition Government has launched a $1 million design competition, calling for ideas to improve the 4.7 hectare site.

Flinders Street Station was completed in 1910 and is deteriorating due to neglect. Its administration building is derelict in some places and unsuitable for occupation in others. The immediate surrounds also need to be addressed in order to reactivate the precinct and maximise its use.

“We are looking for the world’s best ideas to restore and reinvigorate the Flinders Street Station precinct, including the station concourse, platforms and historic administration building and through to the Banana Alley Vaults and Queensbridge,” Premier Ted Baillieu announced last week.

“This precinct calls for creative brilliance from across the globe so a Melbourne landmark site can be restored to its full potential. This competition will harness the very best ideas and help bring the precinct back to life.

“After years of neglect, the administration building has been left derelict while access and facilities are well below an acceptable standard.

“While the Coalition Government acknowledges that delivering a project of this scale and ambition will be costly and complex, this competition will give Victorians a winning design to guide future development.

“We see a rejuvenated Flinders Street Station as a partner to Federation Square, forming a new gateway public space for Melbourne and embracing potential major improvements to the Yarra’s northern bank and the CBD-river pedestrian routes.”

A panel, consisting of Victorial Government Architect Geoffrey London, a Melbourne architect, a planning representative from the City of Melbourne, an architect with heritage experience, a representative from the Victorian Department of Transport and 3 other members yet to be determined, will decide on the competition winner.

Visit the Major Projects Victoria website for more information on the competition, including a site map and guidelines.