Reimagining Boyd Village: A new heart for Southbank

The current consultation on the future of Boyd Village presents more than just a chance to rethink a library. It opens a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a true Southbank Community Campus – a vibrant centre that connects recreation, learning, and community life in one cohesive precinct.

With proposed upgrades to the King Way undercroft and improvements to the surrounding Boyd Community Hub spaces, this is the moment for bold thinking.

In Victoria, models of libraries, family services, and maternal and child welfare services are wedded in the suburbs with families spread out over wide areas, but that is not what we need in Southbank.

The City of Melbourne has a chance to break down internal silos and reimagine how services are delivered – not just for now, but for generations to come.

Rather than simply repurposing the existing Boyd Community Hub and building a new library, its proximity to nearby high-density residential developments make it possible to design something visionary.

Imagine a location as a Southbank Community Campus that links active and passive recreation, green spaces, community rooms, and vital services – all managed locally under one umbrella.

A revitalised Boyd could serve as a dynamic resource centre for all of Southbank; a place that not only lends books but welcomes new residents, supports families, and connects people living in high-rise towers to council services, local groups, and each other.

This kind of transformation will require us to reimagine and repurpose:

The open space behind Boyd – not just a shortcut to City Rd, but a landscaped green space, like the MAPCo garden plan behind the Arts Centre or the forecourt of the new FOX: NGV Contemporary.

Bluestone areas – turning them into a child-friendly play space like the one on Southbank Boulevard.

Food and drink options – designed to reflect the neighbourhood’s incredible cultural diversity and better integrated into the community.

Celebration of local art and design – through spaces that showcase creativity and tell our shared story.

Community connection areas – for everything from book clubs to table tennis and casual meetups.

Expanded library services – including reading and writing workshops, especially tailored for families from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Clear signage and branding – to link all elements of the campus and help newcomers navigate and feel at home.

This campus can become the heart of outreach for council-run family services, including maternal health, counselling, and wellness programs – all accessible in one place but at the same time these services could come to you where you live.

Southbank3006 encourages every local resident to have their say in this important consultation. Head to the Participate Melbourne website and complete the survey before it closes on August 15.

Let’s not just rebuild Boyd – let’s reimagine what our community can be. Join us at southbank3006.com and become part of your community. •