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Your business location

Learn about the 12 retail precincts in Yarra that are commercial activity centres.

Our precincts

In Yarra, we have 12 retail precincts that are zoned as commercial activity centres:

Bridge Road
One of Melbourne's most iconic streets, with diverse retail shopping, food and beverage offerings, and heritage architecture.
Brunswick Street
Popular destination for fashion, food and nightlife... with a signature Fitzroy twist.
Church Street
More than its fair share of pubs in Richmond and Abbotsford, and high-end homewares in Cremorne.
Gertrude Street
Smith and Brunswick streets' younger sibling, hosting a tight-knit community of fashion, food and arts.
Johnston Street
Underground arts scene, street art, live music venues and secondhand boutiques.
Nicholson Village
A great mix of bars, cafes, delis and grocers. A community atmosphere easily accessible by public transport.
Fitzroy North Village
Buzzing day and night with award-winning restaurants and cafes and a variety of retail offerings.
Queens Parade
Allow yourself plenty of time to explore the mix of retail, jewellers and eateries in this picturesque precinct.
Rathdowne Village
Leafy and beautiful inner-city sanctuary to enjoy a coffee and browse gift stores.
Smith Street
An eclectic mix of shopping including trendy bars, restaurants and many cultural attractions.
Swan Street
One of Richmond's busy food and nightlife destination.
Victoria Street
The place for fresh produce, cheap eats, and emerging foodie and creative businesses.

Some precincts are located on roads managed by VicRoads. You may need additional business permits for external works on the building or signage, or when there will be an impact on roads.

What zone are you in?

Use the VicPlan website to find out the zone of your property.

If you choose to operate your business in a residential zone or zone other than commercial, some commercial activities may be restricted.

Find out more about our Planning Scheme.

Researching your area

Our economic research page can help with your business plan by providing information about:

  • your local customer demographics
  • the retail mix
  • emerging trends in our retail precincts.

Challenges with your location

Before you lease or secure a space for your business, please consider the following:

  • Some buildings may need structural change to meet approved regulations.
  • It may be more complicated if the building was used for another purpose previously.
  • Business locations outside commercial areas can result in long approvals processes.

Yarra is a diverse and densely populated region. This means there are obligations for businesses to consider residents and your business approvals may be subject to public notification.

If you are planning to lease or buy, contact our Statutory Planning team for general advice.