Federation Square

Federation Square is a major public square and cultural precinct in central Melbourne, Victoria, at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets opposite Flinders Street Station and the Yarra River. Opened in 2002, it is known for its distinctive deconstructivist architecture and as home to cultural institutions including ACMI and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and the Koorie Heritage Trust.

Visitors can expect a large open paved plaza surrounded by modern fragmented buildings housing museums, galleries, cinemas, restaurants and bars. The square hosts outdoor events, festivals and screenings on a big screen, with views of the Yarra River, Flinders Street Station and St Paul's Cathedral. Inside, visitors can explore ACMI, the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and the Koorie Heritage Trust, plus shops and eateries.

Constructed between 1997 and 2002 on the former Jolimont railyards and Princes Bridge railway yards, Federation Square was designed by Lab Architecture Studio with Bates Smart and opened on 26 October 2002. The project was initiated to mark the centenary of Federation in 2001 and to create a new civic and cultural heart for Melbourne, transforming a former railway site into a public precinct.

Federation Square is Melbourne's principal civic and cultural precinct, housing major cultural institutions including ACMI, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and the Koorie Heritage Trust. It serves as a venue for festivals, public celebrations, cultural events, markets and live screenings, and is a central meeting place and tourist hub for the city.