Federation Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federation Square |
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| Type | Public space |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Area | 3.2 ha (7.9 acres) |
| Created | 26 October 2002 |
| Designer | Lab Architecture Studio Bates Smart |
| Operated by | Fed Square Pty Ltd (State Trustees Ltd for State of Victoria) |
| Visitors | 8.5 million |
| Open | All year |
| Public transit access | Flinders Street station |
Federation Square is a super cool place in Melbourne, Australia. It's a big area for arts, culture, and public events. You can find it right next to the city center.
This amazing space covers about 3.2 hectares (that's like 8 acres!). It's built right over busy railway lines. It sits across the road from the famous Flinders Street railway station. Federation Square is home to important places like the Ian Potter Centre and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). There are also cafes and bars, all built around a large open square and a cool glass building called the Atrium.
Contents
History of Federation Square
Why Melbourne Needed a Square
Melbourne's city plan didn't originally have a big central public square. People thought this was missing for a long time. From the 1920s, there were ideas to build a square over the railway tracks. These tracks were near Flinders and Swanston Street.
Later, in the 1960s, the Melbourne City Council built a "City Square" somewhere else. But it wasn't very popular. Meanwhile, some railway lines were covered by buildings called the Princes Gate Towers. These buildings had a plaza, but it wasn't used much either. The area where Federation Square is now was mostly railway yards.
Building Federation Square
Building Federation Square was a big project! It cost a lot more than first thought. This was because it was very expensive to cover the railway lines. Also, the unique, angular design was tricky to build.
The square officially opened on October 26, 2002. It quickly became a popular spot for everyone in Melbourne.
New Additions and Changes
In 2006, the area by the Yarra River was improved. It's now called Federation Wharf. Old storage spaces under a walkway became a large bar. This area has great outdoor spots right on the riverbank.
There have been ideas for expanding the square even more. This would use the remaining railway yards to the east. Some ideas include new buildings or even another art gallery.
The Apple Store Plan
In 2017, there was a plan to build an Apple Store in Federation Square. It would have replaced one of the existing buildings. Many people didn't like this idea. They felt it would change the cultural feel of the square.
Groups worked to protect Federation Square. They asked for it to be listed as a heritage site. This means it would be protected for its historical importance. In 2019, the Apple Store plan was cancelled. Federation Square was officially listed as a heritage site.
Metro Tunnel Entrance
Melbourne is building a new underground train system called the Melbourne Metro Tunnel. A new entrance for the Town Hall station was planned for Federation Square. This entrance would replace the old Information Centre.
The Information Centre building was taken down in 2019. This was to make way for the new station entrance.
Location and Layout
Federation Square is like a whole city block. It's surrounded by Swanston, Flinders, and Russell Streets, and the Yarra River. The main open square is right across from Flinders Street railway station and St Paul's Cathedral.
The design of Federation Square helps connect the old city center with the Yarra River. It also links to a new park called Birrarung Marr.
Cool Design Features
The Main Square
The buildings around the main open square form a U-shape. The square itself is paved with 470,000 special sandstone blocks. These blocks are a warm, earthy color. They come from Western Australia. This paving is like a giant artwork called Nearamnew. It has words and patterns built into its wavy surface.
You'll also find some green areas with Eucalyptus trees in the square.
The Plaza and Giant Screen
A really cool part of the square is its huge public television screen. This screen is used to show big events like the AFL Grand Final and the Australian Open tennis tournament. It's one of the biggest screens in Australia!
Unique Buildings
The buildings at Federation Square have a unique, angular style. They look like they're made of slightly bent shapes. This is called "deconstructivist" architecture. The buildings are covered with different materials like zinc, glass, and sandstone. These materials are arranged in a cool, camouflage-like pattern. This pattern is made using something called "pinwheel tiling."
Some buildings have special names. The one along Flinders Street that holds ACMI is the Alfred Deakin Building. The building near the river is the Yarra Building. The art gallery is called the Ian Potter Centre.
The Shards
There are three tall, angular structures called "shards" around the square. Two of them are covered in metal. The third, on the west side, is made of glass. These shards help frame the open space of the square.
Laneways
Federation Square has several small paths or "laneways." These connect the square to Flinders Street and the Yarra River. They often have stairs leading down to the river.
Riverfront Area
The area along the Yarra River is a nice place to walk. It has tall trees and leads to Federation Wharf. Here, you can find cafes and places to rent boats.
The Atrium
The "Atrium" is a major indoor space at Federation Square. It's like a tall, narrow laneway with glass walls and a glass roof. The metal structure and glass patterns inside match the unique "pinwheel tiling" seen on the outside of the buildings.
The Labyrinth (Cooling System)
Underneath the main square, above the railway lines, is something called the "labyrinth." It's a clever system for keeping the Atrium cool in summer and warm in winter. It's made of 1.2 kilometers of concrete walls.
In summer, cool air is pumped through these walls at night. This cools the concrete. During the day, this cool air is then sent into the Atrium. This can make the Atrium up to 12°C cooler than outside! It uses much less energy than regular air conditioning.
In winter, the process is reversed. Warm air from the day is stored in the labyrinth. Then, it's pumped back into the Atrium during the day to keep it warm.
Flagpoles
You'll see many flagpoles at Federation Square, especially in front of Flinders Street Station. Usually, they fly Australian flags. But to celebrate Melbourne's diverse cultures, flags from many different countries are also raised. This happens on their national holidays.
Here are some of the countries whose flags have been flown:
Albania
Argentina
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Botswana
Canada
Chile
Croatia
El Salvador
Eritrea
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kosovo
Lithuania
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Morocco
Nepal
North Macedonia
Norway
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Rwanda
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United States of America
Venezuela
What Can You Do at Federation Square?
Federation Square has many shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants. It also has some amazing cultural places:
Melbourne Visitor Centre
The Melbourne Visitor Centre used to be underground at Federation Square. It was a place where you could get information about the city. Its entrance had cool LED screens showing news. In 2018, this center was moved back to the Town Hall. This made space for the new Melbourne metro station entrance.
The Edge Theatre
The Edge theatre is a space with 450 seats. It has great views of the Yarra River. It's used for performances and events. It was once called "The BMW Edge" but is now known as "The Deakin Edge."
Zinc Event Space
Zinc is a special event space located under one of the buildings. It opens up to the Yarra River bank. People use it for weddings, parties, and other big events.
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
The Ian Potter Centre is part of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). It's located on the eastern side of Federation Square. This gallery is home to over 20,000 Australian artworks. You can see paintings, sculptures, photos, and fashion. It has some of the oldest and most famous art in Australia.
Famous artworks here include Pioneers by Frederick McCubbin and Shearing the Rams by Tom Roberts. You can also see art by Indigenous artists like William Barak. The NGV at Federation Square also has a special "NGV Kids Corner" for younger visitors.
ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image)
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, or ACMI, is a fantastic place for movies and digital art. It has two cinemas that can play almost any film format. The "screen gallery" is a long underground space. It's used for showing video art, interactive displays, and sound art. ACMI also has areas for computer-based learning and other cool presentations.
Transport Hotel Bar
The Transport Hotel Bar is a three-level building next to the square. It has a public bar on the ground floor. There's also a restaurant and a cocktail lounge on the rooftop.
SBS Radio and Television Offices
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The Melbourne offices for the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) are in the Deakin Building. SBS is one of Australia's public broadcasters.
Melbourne Festival Headquarters
The main office for the Melbourne Festival is located in the Yarra Building. This festival is a big arts and culture event in Melbourne.
Beer Awards and Tastings
Federation Square has become a popular spot for beer award shows and tastings. Events like the Australian International Beer Awards are held here. You can try different beers from local and Australian breweries.
