Federation Square, Melbourne

Federation Square, Melbourne

Fed Square, as it is called, opened in 2001 after many years of planning and development. Melbourne had been without a public square since its founding in the mid-1800s. The most obvious place to build one was atop the city's large railway yards, a location convenient to the city center and near the Yarra River.

The square has become the hub of cultural events for the city. It hosts over 8 million visitors and 2,000 events every year. Live performances, food festivals, or cinema screenings are all hosted here, plus many other types of entertainment.

The square's top attractions include the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and the Ian Potter Centre. The Ian Potter Centre is a historical and modern art gallery, a part of the National Gallery of Vicotria (NGV).

One of the most striking things about Fed Square is the architecture of the numerous abstract buildings you'll see. The buildings are of the deconstructivist style. They have angular, cranked geometries. Larger parts of the buildings are separated by glazed gaps representing the traditional and historic laneways found in Melbourne. The vertical "shards" usually hide things like stairs or elevators (lifts). Keep an eye out for the distinctive pinwheel tiling. Numerous laneways hold stairs that go through the square and connect Flinders Street to the Yarra River.

The riverfront area of the square has lots of trees. The area adjacent to the Princes Bridge is Federation Wharf, where you'll find cafes and a marina.

Why You Should Visit:
It is dead center in Melbourne, you can't miss it! Lots of cultural and group activities going on nearly every day.

Tip:
Grab yourself some takeaway food and sit here to soak up the Melbourne atmosphere.
The Fed Square website has a detailed calendar for you to keep an eye on.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Melbourne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Federation Square on Map

Sight Name: Federation Square
Sight Location: Melbourne, Australia (See walking tours in Melbourne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Melbourne, Australia

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