Long-awaited activation at the Guild

The developer of The Guild has entered into a lease agreement with the City of Melbourne for the entire ground floor retail space at 152 Sturt St.

In a deal that has taken more than two years to complete, the agreement will see the building’s retail space activated by the City of Melbourne’s Creative Spaces program.

Specialising in identifying, refurbishing and managing space for creative use, Creative Spaces will establish a cafe, independent producer’s hub, festival office, an arts education and training facility and a range of other ancillary activities.

The 1000sqm of retail space, which includes open space and a row of outdoor display cabinets, has been vacant since the building was completed in 2012.

Designed for the purpose of fostering creative activities, The Guild owner 152 Sturt St Pty Ltd, directed by developer Les Smith, rejected a number of offers in the pursuit of a deal that would realise the space’s vision.

The City of Melbourne has partnered with Creative Victoria and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to the fund the project.

In a letter addressed to The Guild Owners’ Corporation (OC) Mr Smith said the use and activation of the retail areas would keep with the building’s intention to provide a vibrant space as part of Southbank’s Arts Precinct.

“The transaction has come at a significant cost to the owner, who rejected a number of commercial offers for the space in favour of Creative Spaces in order to realise the design intent, which has always been at the heart of The Guild,” he wrote.

“We honestly believe that there can be no better tenant or use for this space.”

Construction works commenced in late July on the café and the unique artistic spaces at the site, which Creative Spaces will soon take possession of in order to complete individual fit-outs.