“Champion for local business”: The Clarendon and Coventry Streets Business Association

The Clarendon and Coventry Streets Business Association is continuing its efforts to support local traders in South Melbourne and breathe life back into one of Melbourne’s most iconic precincts.

Established in December 2021, the association is a committee of dedicated volunteers who own and operate businesses in South Melbourne and are passionate about collectively building, strengthening, and activating the local business community

Despite the association being in its infancy, it has already had a tremendous impact on the South Melbourne community.

Last year alone, following a successful lobbying and advocacy campaign to restore heritage verandahs along Clarendon St’s historic Emerald Hill precinct, the project was completed. 

This was in addition to a range of other initiatives, including a signal box activation project and the orchestration of the widely successful Porsche and Coffee Festival.

The association’s president Anne Michaels is proud of what it has achieved to date, telling Southbank News that the business association existed to “advocate” and “champion” local businesses in the area.

“Whether it’s our members or the public sector, anyone can come and speak to us,” Ms Michaels said.

This year, the association is continuing its advocacy efforts to help “save” the South Melbourne Town Hall, which suffered a roof collapse in 2018.

The Town Hall has been home to the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) since 1996, and ANAM has been developing a plan to restore the building, providing a safe and secure home for its operations. 

However, with insufficient funding secured, the business association, alongside ANAM, is calling on the federal government to commit financial support to facilitate the project’s full restoration.

Under the current design by Peter Elliott Architecture, the Town Hall would be transformed into a landmark public performance and community venue. 

Due for completion in 2028, the redevelopment would deliver a 350-seat auditorium, a 150-seat performance space, two meeting rooms, and rehearsal studio facilities.

Once finished, Anne Michaels believes a revitalised Town Hall would be of tremendous value to the area.

“It would allow for performances most nights of the week and provide a compelling reason to visit the precinct in the evening, complementing the daytime drawcard of the South Melbourne Market,” Ms Michaels said.

Alongside its advocacy efforts, the business association is gearing up for another successful Porsche Festival in and along Clarendon and Coventry streets on Sunday, March 9. 

With the support of a $20,000 grant from the City of Port Phillip, this year’s festival is expected to further enhance local business activity and provide a strong economic boost to traders in the precinct.

Additionally, the City of Port Phillip and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation are collaborating in 2025 on a South Melbourne Live Music Walking Trail on March 15 and 16. 

Music will be programmed at South Melbourne’s famous heritage pubs, all walking distance from the racetrack and from each other, featuring local artists. •