A new play space for Nicholson Mall

Pedestrianised in the 1970s, Nicholson Mall in Footscray was the first of its kind in Australia and represented an innovative approach in its creation of a car-free civic space.

Home to a variety of cafes, restaurants, bars, and retail outlets, today it serves as a social hub for the community, hosting a range of community activities, cultural events, markets, and gatherings for residents, providing a space to congregate, converse, perform, eat and shop.

In 2006, the area was revamped to facilitate a stronger sense of community and cater to a diverse range of cultural activities, with further improvements in 2008 and refurbishment works in 2017.

We are now planning to use a recent State Government grant to further enhance this important civic space and to encourage more visitors to enjoy the area.

We'll be installing a temporary play space, for a two-year trial period. At the end of the trial, we will re-engage with the community to understand how they feel about retaining the installation on a more permanent basis.

Businesses in Nicholson Mall have already said yes to the idea and we've used their feedback to develop a concept design to illustrate how this could further enhance and activate the mall area and how this temporary play space could look.

Engagement update

The latest community conversation has now closed. We will review what you told us and will provide a report back to Council shortly.

Here's what we're thinking

Concept Image 1
Concept Image 2

Share your thoughts on the initial concept here - including anything that might be missing

31 July, 2022

BP says:

More trees & shrubs planted in mall rather than structures. Fake facade is not my favourite. Pls work with street artist who did Donald St

30 July, 2022

Jo says:

Great idea placing an activation in this location. Taking up space that would otherwise be used for music events?. Graffiti prone.

29 July, 2022

Matthew says:

The Nicholson street mall should be made into a linear park with a long lawn and trees either side! Concrete wasteland currently.

29 July, 2022

Marge says:

I don’t like dolphins AT ALL but I think the mall needed them, The playground should be blue and dolphin themed. Add a dolphin fountain. RIP

29 July, 2022

Jason says:

It looks cheap and tacky. A beautiful designed avenue with ornamental trees perfectly aligned either side with restaurants would be better.

29 July, 2022

Kathryn Elizabeth says:

Love it. One question: how will it work with festivals on the mall? Is it in a spot where festivals and the space can happen side by side?

28 July, 2022

Eliza says:

I support park there but not this design. Where can a parent stand or sit and watch over the whole park? Add monkeybars. Remove tall bits.

28 July, 2022

Eden says:

Instead of a playground, add heaps more vegetation and natural landscaping: attractive for kids and adults alike. Structures get trashed.

28 July, 2022

Kate says:

Needs more interactive elements that adults might also use like musical instruments. Consider artwork that reflects cultural diversity. Seat

28 July, 2022

Benjamin Horne says:

Playgrounds do not fix plazas… trees, garden beds, raised lawns, picnic tables, ping pong tables and carefully programmed events fix plazas

28 July, 2022

LL says:

I like all of it! It will be like the 90s again when there was a dolphin ride for the kids and always something fun happening in the mall.

28 July, 2022

Lana says:

As a parent of a young child I would not use this area as a play space. It’s unsafe for kids and I would be very worried about needles.