Experience the Bridge Street redevelopment

Want to see the final designs for the Bridge Street redevelopment up close and discover more?

The City of Ballarat is encouraging our community to view the vibrant final designs for the $15 million redevelopment at the City of Ballarat shop in the Bridge Mall, where you can also see examples of landscape plantings, view the precinct plan and ask questions.

The shop is designed to be an immersive experience where residents, traders, building owners and investors can learn more about the significant redevelopment of the oldest commercial retail area in Ballarat.

You can also visit our website – ballarat.vic.gov.au/bridge-mall – where you can view the final designs and find out more information about the project and the latest updates.

The final designs demonstrate how the magnificent Sturt Street gardens will extend into Grenville Street, creating a landscaped entry into Bridge Street – attracting shoppers, diners, residents and visitors – to meet and stay longer.

Key design features include:
•    A landscaped entry from Sturt Street into Bridge Street
•    A shared streetscape with one-way low-speed vehicle access
•    Smart street lighting and projections
•    A new play space inspired by a bridge-like structure
•    Limited parking and better access for people of all abilities
•    New street furniture and bluestone paving
•    Cultural elements reflected into the designs
•    Event friendly spaces for markets, festivities and special events
•    Outdoor dining opportunities for restaurants and cafes
•    Connections to the Yarrowee River, Canadian Creek trails and Sturt Street shared path – encouraging walkers and cyclists
•    Improved traffic flow through the Grenville and Sturt Street intersection

The redevelopment is based on the vision, concepts and aspirations of the Bakery Hill and Bridge Mall Urban Renewal Plan (2019). This plan included three stages of community consultation, hearing feedback from across the community over a two-year period. 

The Bakery Hill Urban Renewal Plan was adopted by Council in 2019 as a long-term aspirational vision for this significant part of the Ballarat CBD. Since that time, a co-design process has engaged hundreds of stakeholders, property and business owners and interested residents. This has informed the development of these final plans and will bring to life significant improvements to the Bridge Mall and Grenville Street.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said extensive community consultation over several years helped shape the final designs for Bridge Street. 

“The designs address the concerns of the community and traders around the need for change, a stronger historical presence, and to encourage movement to, through and within the Bakery Hill precinct,” he said.

“I encourage our community to visit the City of Ballarat shop in the Bridge Mall to discover the future of Bridge Street. We are really excited about getting on with the redevelopment works in 2023.”

The City of Ballarat’s $15 million budget covers upgrades to the mall between Grenville and Peel Streets, Grenville Street between Curtis and Little Bridge Street, with minor access and safety improvements to pockets of Little Bridge Street.

The City of Ballarat expects to manage the scope of the project to fit within the allocated budget. As with any project, the City of Ballarat will work to leverage funds from any external grant opportunities available.

Major civil works planned to commence in 2023. Construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

To make an appointment to see the final design at the City of Ballarat shop, located in Coliseum Walk, Bridge Mall, call 0409 104 275.