Latest articles by Sean Car
Construction begins on Melbourne Recital Centre’s new rooftop venue The Beacon
Construction has begun on Melbourne Recital Centre’s new rooftop venue, The Peter and Ruth McMullin Beacon, marking the next stage in the Southbank institution’s expansion and adding another performance space to the fast-changing Melbourne Arts Precinct.
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Romulus Folio Gallery marks one year of contemporary art and design at Montague
Romulus Folio Gallery is celebrating one year of cultural programming at The Gladstone in South Melbourne, where the independent gallery has activated the Tower B lobby through a steady program of exhibitions, workshops and public events since April 2025.
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Police target car break-ins in Montague as new inner-city operation launched
A new Victoria Police operation targeting car break-ins across Melbourne’s inner south is shining a spotlight on South Melbourne’s Montague St area, which police say has been among the hardest hit by a sharp rise in offending over the past year.
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Melbourne Art Book Fair to return with city-wide program in May
The Melbourne Art Book Fair will return in May with an expanded city-wide program celebrating independent publishing, graphic design and creative experimentation, bringing together local and international publishers, artists and writers for 10 days of events across Melbourne.
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Southbank unites: we want a school at Victoria Barracks
Off the back of last month’s coverage looking into what could come next for the Victoria Barracks site, one key idea has emerged that Southbankers are now uniting behind: a school.
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Purchasers left waiting as questions grow over deposits tied to stalled STH BNK project
Concerns are mounting among apartment buyers at the stalled STH BNK by Beulah development in Southbank, with at least one purchaser questioning how long deposits can remain tied up while construction on the landmark project remains uncertain.
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Red Stairs saga ends with more consultation
After years of complaints, a shelved design competition and another round of promised consultation, the City of Melbourne has finally resolved to get on with renewing Southbank’s much-maligned Red Stairs.
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How Jac Semmler is reimagining the future of Melbourne’s gardens
In the middle of the city, beside concrete, traffic and a car park, a different vision for Melbourne is quietly taking root.
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NGV exhibition spotlights next generation of First Nations artists
A new exhibition opening this month at the NGV’s Ian Potter Centre at Fed Square will showcase the work of eight emerging First Nations artists from across Australia, each paired with an established mentor as part of a national program designed to support the next generation of creative talent.
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Mermaids make waves for ocean conservation in Port Phillip Bay
Families gathered along the sand at Port Melbourne’s Lagoon Pier recently for an unusual sight: two shimmering mermaids emerging from the waters of Port Phillip Bay, delivering a powerful message about protecting the ocean.
Read MoreCouncil to scrap design competition in favour of fast-tracked Red Stairs renewal
The City of Melbourne is set to abandon its much-publicised design competition for the Red Stairs at Queensbridge Square, opting instead for an internally delivered renewal aimed at addressing safety and maintenance concerns more quickly.
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Crown unveils $200m Riverwalk overhaul as council promenade plans stall
Crown Melbourne has announced a sweeping $200 million redevelopment of its Southbank precinct, including a major revitalisation of its Riverwalk, in what it describes as the biggest transformation of the complex in almost 30 years.
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A new build-to-rent community opens in Southbank, including affordable homes for eligible renters
As renting in Melbourne becomes increasingly competitive, Indi Southbank offers a fresh, resident-centred way to rent – combining long-term rental security, thoughtfully-designed apartments, resort-style amenity and an experience built entirely around residents from day one.
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Southgate set for management change as ESR exits precinct
The management of Southgate Melbourne will change hands at the end of February, with ESR Australia & New Zealand confirming it will conclude its role at the iconic Southbank precinct on February 28.
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Council scraps Red Stairs design competition as Southbank works shift again
A suite of long-anticipated public-realm upgrades across Southbank appears set for another reset in 2026, with the City of Melbourne quietly shelving its much-debated Red Stairs design competition and signalling renewed focus on unfinished sections of Southbank Promenade.
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“A real opportunity”: what the proposed sale of Victoria Barracks could mean for Southbank
The federal government’s release of its Defence Estate Audit has placed Melbourne’s Victoria Barracks firmly in the spotlight, identifying the historic Southbank site as part of a proposed divestment of more than 60 Defence properties nationwide.
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Questions linger over Fishermans Bend data centre approval
The state government’s recent approval of a major new data centre at Fishermans Bend has sharpened local debate about how rapidly expanding AI infrastructure is being assessed, and whether existing planning processes are equipped to deal with its long-term environmental and land-use implications.
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MSO revives beloved free concert tradition at Sidney Myer Music Bowl
For the first time in 13 years, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will present a full week of free concerts at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, marking a major return of one of Melbourne’s most popular summer traditions.
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Fire crews extinguish major bus blaze on Power St
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) has brought a dramatic bus fire under control in Southbank this evening after a diesel commuter bus erupted into flames on Power St, just up from the CityLink off-ramp and directly beside the Melbourne Square precinct.
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State approves nearly 500 new apartments across Southbank and Docklands
Two major apartment towers in Southbank and Docklands’ Yarra’s Edge precinct have been approved by the state government, paving the way for almost 500 new homes in two of Melbourne’s fastest-growing inner-city neighbourhoods.
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