Gertrude and Brunswick Street Corner
A new public space at the corner of Gertrude and Brunswick Streets has delivered real benefits for locals - a greener, safer and more culturally significant place to gather, relax and connect.
Backed by strong community support, the project strengthens the character and identity of this much‑loved precinct.
More than 80% of participants in the Brunswick Street Streetscape Masterplan consultation supported creating a new public space at this location.
In July 2024, Council approved the Concept Design for transforming the northeast corner of Gertrude and Brunswick Streets.
The upgraded corner now includes:
- New trees and plantings, improved lighting, and seating
- Decorative rock elements, paired with bespoke furniture, create a distinctive place for gathering, resting and connecting
- Targeted engagement with First Peoples shaped the final design, ensuring cultural perspectives were embedded
The space also enhances the setting of the Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter statue at Atherton Gardens, strengthening the cultural identity of the precinct.
Frequently asked questions
During consultation for the Brunswick Street Streetscape Masterplan there was strong community support for a new public space at this location (over 80%). This area has an important history and continuing connection for First Peoples and we want to reflect the significance of the place by creating a vibrant new public gathering space.
We're proposing to create new garden beds with low native shrubs and grasses that support improved biodiversity. In addition, sixteen new trees will be planted in the space to provide improved shade and amenity at this busy corner. The existing dense shrubs at this corner that limit visibility will be removed as well as a number of trees that rate low arboricultural value.
Please note that the conceptual integrated artwork element of this project is no longer included in this scope of works. This may be revisited as an additional element in the future, should there be strong community appetite. The final design outcomes were however influenced through targeted engagement with First Peoples.
The design will include gathering nooks to support a variety of stone seating, a diversity of materials from across Victoria will be brought together on site. Seating will be orientated toward sites of significance; creating a gathering of significant neighbourhood places.
Visual connectivity and passive surveillance will be enhanced further by the removal of existing shrubbery and tree planting. The enlarged softscape garden bed (including native plantings) and new accessible ramp, extend Atherton Gardens Estate out onto the street; breaking down physical barriers and improving site access.