Precinct Partnerships in Action: Montague’s Transformation Takes Shape
Photos by Linda Catalano
FB IDEAs recently joined forces with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to facilitate a precinct division tour of the Montague Precinct in Fishermans Bend — one of Melbourne’s most dynamic and evolving urban neighbourhoods.
The morning kicked off at the Circular Design Collective, a creative hub tucked behind Normanby Road. There, the FB IDEAs team shared their approach to activating underutilised spaces, highlighting how grassroots creativity is not only enlivening the area but helping to shape the precinct’s future. The site now supports a thriving cluster of circular economy practitioners and like-minded creatives.
The tour continued to the intersection of Johnson Street, between Normandy Road and Munro Street, where DTP are working in partnership with City of Port Philip and Gamuda Land Australia to transform the street into a public park as part of Gamuda’s residential development, The Canopy.
Both DTP and Gamuda offered insights into their partnership to deliver public green space through developer works-in-kind. This model blending strategic planning, design rigour and community benefit will transform the road into much needed open space for residents and visitors alike.
The final stop took guests to the rooftop of The Gladstone build-to-rent development by Greystar, where a sweeping view revealed the scale of Montague’s transformation. Attendees heard how early delivery of community infrastructure including Kirrip Park and South Melbourne Primary school are being delivered by the Victorian Government through a range of partnerships. This includes the nearby ground-floor retail activation by Angelina Moribito of Romulus Foilo, which is a key project supported by FBIdeas, and demonstrates the role of grassroots activations that are central to the precinct’s long-term liveability and vibrancy.
The tour underscored the power of partnership in urban renewal, with government, developers, local councils, schools, and creative and small business practitioners all working together to shape a precinct with people at its heart.
Special thanks to Angelina and Romulus Folio for hosting the DTP Forum group, and to our partners at Gamuda Land and Greystar for their generous support. It was a pleasure to open doors and rooftops to those helping drive the next chapter of Fishermans Bend.
