City Square, Melbourne facts for kids
The City Square was a public space in the heart of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was located in the city's main business area, known as the CBD. The square was surrounded by important streets like Swanston Street and Collins Street. Famous buildings like Melbourne Town Hall and St Paul's Cathedral were also nearby. Over the years, the square changed a lot and was part of many discussions. It closed on April 3, 2017, to make way for a new train station.
Contents
The Story of Melbourne's City Square
Melbourne was first planned in 1837 by Robert Hoddle. He designed the city as a grid of blocks. However, his plan didn't include any large public squares inside the main city area. People started suggesting ideas for a city square as early as the 1850s. They felt the city needed a central open space.
How the Square Began
In 1961, Lord Mayor Sir Bernard Evans strongly believed Melbourne needed a city square. He thought the best spot was between the Town Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. In 1966, some old buildings were torn down in that area. The City Council decided this was a good spot for the long-debated City Square. They bought more land around it. The Regent Theatre was also meant to be demolished, but it was saved.
By 1968, a temporary square was set up with grass and paving. It grew bigger over the next few years. In February 1976, the famous band AC/DC filmed a video clip for their song It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) there. This was filmed on the same day as their well-known video on the back of a truck driving down Swanston Street.
Designing a Permanent Square
In 1976, the Melbourne City Council held a competition to design a permanent square. The winning design was by Denton Corker Marshall architects. Their plan included a giant video screen, shops, cafes, and a sunken amphitheatre. It also had a reflecting pool and water features. The square was mostly paved with a dark stone called bluestone. A statue of Burke and Wills was placed near the water.
When the new square opened in 1980, some people didn't like it. They thought it looked too plain. A large yellow sculpture called “Vault” was meant to be a centerpiece. But it was nicknamed the "Yellow Peril" and moved to another park in 1981 after much public discussion.
Changes in the 1990s
In the late 1990s, more than half of the square was sold to build the Westin Hotel. The remaining part of the square was redesigned between 1997 and 2000. It became much simpler. New features included a long water display by artist Denise Sullivan. There was also a water wall called the John Mockridge Fountain.
A bronze statue of a small dog, called Larry La Trobe, was placed in the square in 1992. It was created by Melbourne artist Pamela Irving. This statue became very famous after it was stolen in 1995. After a big public effort, a new version of the statue was made and put back in 1996. In 2003, grassy areas were added to make the space softer and provide places to sit.
With less space and the opening of the nearby Federation Square in 2002, the City Square became less important as a main public gathering place. In 2011, a group of protestors gathered at the City Square. The Mayor ordered them to leave, and police helped enforce the order.
The Square Today
In early 2016, it was announced that the City Square would be taken down. This was to build a new train station called CBD South station (now known as Town Hall Station). The square officially closed on April 3, 2017. Demolition began later that year. Future plans show the square being rebuilt in a similar way, but with an entrance to the new train station at its northern end.
