Frequently Asked Questions
General information:
Why does Hamer Hall need to be redeveloped?
After almost 30 years in operation, Hamer Hall is now lagging behind contemporary international standards in terms of accessibility, visitor amenity, acoustics, staging and back of house functionality.
The redevelopment will address these and other issues and bring the venue back up to world-class standards. It will also ensure that the hall complies with current accessibility standards.
As well as these internal improvements to the Hall, the redevelopment will better connect the building with its surrounds, which have also changed dramatically over the past three decades.
When Hamer Hall opened, what we now know as Southbank was an industrial wasteland, more focused on car parks and sheds than today's cafes, shops and residential buildings. The redevelopment will open up Hamer Hall to the riverside, creating a promenade, and an inviting interior space, that will allow visitors to travel seamlessly from Southgate to St Kilda Road.
Find out more on the Project Overview page.
Back to top
How long will Hamer Hall be closed?
Hamer Hall closed on 5 July 2010, and is expected to reopen in mid 2012.
Back to top
How will audiences benefit from the redevelopment?
The redevelopment will transform Hamer Hall into a more open, welcoming and accessible venue.
Visitors will enjoy better access from Southbank and St Kilda Road, as well as throughout the building, a greater choice of food and beverage options, improved acoustics, lighting, staging and seating in the hall itself, and improved visitor amenities, including doubling the number of women’s restrooms.
New and improved escalators (two wide escalators on each floor), along with the new riverfront entrance, will make it significantly easier to get in, around and out of the venue. These improvements also aim to reduce the 30 minutes it currently takes to leave after a performance, down to closer to ten minutes.
Improvements to the back of house and staging will also mean that Hamer Hall will be able to accommodate a wider range of world class performances, giving audiences even more options for a great night out.
Back to top
What is the cost of this project?
The total project budget is $128.5 million.
Back to top
Who is responsible for the redevelopment?
The Hamer Hall redevelopment is a Victorian Government Alliance Project, between Arts Victoria, Major Projects Victoria, the Victorian Arts Centre Trust, architects Ashton, Raggatt, McDougall (ARM) and builders Baulderstone.
The Alliance method, is a construction delivery method where including the builder, architect and project manager/s work together, sharing risk and reward equally. The alliance has an agreed set of goals, including budget and delivering projects on time.
See The Team for further information about the organisations and specialists involved in the redevelopment.
Back to top
This is Stage One of the Southbank Precinct Redevelopment, when will the other stages be implemented?
The Southbank Cultural Precinct Redevelopment is the Victorian Government’s long term vision to re-invigorate Melbourne’s ‘cultural spine’ from Hamer Hall to Sturt Street.
The redevelopment of Hamer Hall marks the first stage of this plan with future stages yet to be costed and planned in consultation with resident organisations and stakeholders.
Back to top
How do I find out more information and be kept up to date?
Sign up to the Hamer Hall Redevelopment enewsletter using the form on the top right of this page or Contact Us with any questions.
Back to top
Designs and heritage features
What will the new Hamer Hall look like?
The Redevelopment aims to bring the Hall into the 21st Century while maintaining and respecting the existing design and its unique character. The most significant change to the building as a whole is the addition of new space on the river edge, providing a new entry for Hamer Hall right on the river. You can see some preliminary images of the designs in the Hamer Hall Concept Design section of this website. This includes an animated flythrough of the building.
Back to top
How will the heritage interiors be affected by this redevelopment?
The important contribution made to the interiors by interior designer John Truscott has been a key consideration in planning the redevelopment of Hamer Hall. The proposed changes to the interiors, both in the foyers and the auditorium, have been arrived at following considerable thought and care to ensure that the existing interiors are retained as much as possible.
The redevelopment has been approved by Heritage Victoria and involves a rigorous documentation and management process to ensure its heritage features are treated sensitively.
Any interior features that will be retained will be protected during the construction phase, or, if this is not possible, removed from site by qualified practitioners and stored in the appropriate manner to ensure its protection. Some material is being removed and will be reused it where possible.
Back to top
Why is there a need for some of the interiors to be removed?
The intention of the redevelopment is to significantly improve access into and throughout the building, addressing its current limitations and helping people to easily move through the building and better connect the building to the outside at both St Kilda Rd and River level.
Some intervention into existing foyers is required to allow for installation of new escalators – which currently don’t travel between all levels – and improve the public amenities such as cloaking facilities, ticketing desks, toilets and bars.
Back to top
What is happening to Arcturus – the Hamer Hall ‘chandelier’?
During the redevelopment, Arcturus (the light sculpture by Michael Santry) will need to be removed from its existing position to enable the re-design of the foyer spaces.
International Conservation Services (ICS) has been commissioned to assist with the planning and storage of the sculpture. A rigorous process will be undertaken to select a qualified contractor with the required experience and understanding of the art work.
Arcturus will be stored in controlled premises until a suitable location in another part of the Arts Centre is selected, most probably as part of future stages of redevelopment of the Arts Centre.
Back to top
What will happen to the other artworks in Hamer Hall?
All the art works from the building have been carefully removed and have been put into storage during the redevelopment period.
When the building is re-opened, the Arts Centre is planning to more extensively showcase its important collection of artworks and performing arts items throughout the foyer spaces. This will mean that the foyers will display some of the original artworks as well as other pieces which have not previously been featured in the venue.
Back to top
What is happening to the seats?
All seats will be replaced. The new seats will be wider and there will be no change to the current leg room. Any seats which currently have a donor plaque will be noted, and the plaques will be reallocated to the new seats.
Back to top
What is happening to the organ?
The organ will be removed from the auditorium during the redevelopment.
A rigorous process has been undertaken to choose a qualified contractor with the required experience and understanding of the instrument. Wakeley Pipe Organs has been awarded the contract to remove and store the instrument, working in conjunction with Casavant, the original designers, who are acting as their advisors during this process.
It is scheduled to return to the Hall, once funds to upgrade and reinstate it have been secured.
Back to top
Hamer Hall events and presenters:
What impact will the closure of Hamer Hall have on presenters such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra?
The Arts Centre is working closely with presenters to ensure that alternative arrangements are made for performances that occur during the redevelopment.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has made arrangements to perform at the Melbourne Town Hall and other presenters will use spaces throughout the city including the Arts Centre's State Theatre and the Melbourne Recital Centre.
Subscriptions and tickets will not be affected by these moves. Always check with the company prior to a performance to ensure you know which venue it will be at.
Back to top
What will happen to BlackBox?
BlackBox Theatre, the 150-seat flexible theatre space has closed. The Arts Centre is accommodating these sorts of performances in its other venues if a suitable space is available.
Back to top
Will the markets beneath the undercroft of Hamer Hall continue to operate during the redevelopment?
The Sunday Market has moved to the grassed area between Hamer Hall and the Theatres Building, and continues to operate along St Kilda Rd.
Back to top
What is happening to EQ Café+Bar?
EQ Café+Bar ceased trading on the day of the Hamer Hall closure. A new restaurant space will feature in the EQ location when the building re-opens.
Back to top
Hamer Hall – surrounding environment:
What will happen to the Arts Centre lawn and public open spaces?
The redevelopment is specific to Hamer Hall and its immediate surrounds. It will not affect the Arts Centre lawn or other public spaces.
Back to top
Will the Theatres Building venues and facilities remain open?
The Theatres Building will remain open throughout the Hamer Hall closure period.
Back to top
Will the car park remain open?
The Arts Centre car park will remain open throughout the Hamer Hall closure period.
Back to top
Will taxi access drop off points be changed?
It is unlikely that there will be any alteration to the existing taxi access/drop off points during construction.
Back to top
Access during construction
Will the redevelopment affect pedestrian access along St Kilda Road and Southgate?
The existing St Kilda Road level deck will need to be demolished in its entirety and re-built. To ensure the safety of the public during this time, access on the St Kilda Road level to Southgate will be temporarily diverted. See Access During Construction for detailed access maps.
While construction activity will affect regular access routes, the Alliance will ensure that alternative routes are clearly marked.
The project team has been working with Victoria Police and other key stakeholders to ensure that all temporary diversions provide a safe and practical route around the construction zone.
Alternative access routes and Works Alerts will also be posted in the Access During Construction section of this website and will be sent to local residents, businesses and will be available at the Arts Centre information desk located in the Theatres Building.
As accessibility is at the core of the redevelopment, once complete, pedestrian access on all levels will be greatly improved and visitors will be able to move freely from St Kilda Road to the river.
Back to top
Will there be any roads blocked or closed during construction?
The main access to the site for construction traffic will be off City Road and via Southgate Avenue. Construction traffic will be closely monitored by traffic controllers to ensure minimal disruption to the surrounding community.
It is not envisaged that any roads will be permanently blocked or closed during construction; however, there may be events that require a short term change to existing conditions to ensure the safety of public.
Any alterations will be clearly indicated on signage displayed well in advance of changes, in addition to the information that will be posted on the project website. The Alliance is working with the appropriate authorities to minimise any disruption.
Back to top