The Bridge Market will return to the heart of the Bridge Mall this Saturday, marking the opening of the first stage of the Bridge Mall redevelopment.
The popular market, which has been held at the east end of the mall while the redevelopment is underway, will now be held at the mall’s new-look central event and gathering space on the first Saturday of each month, from 9am-1pm.
Fully-funded by the City of Ballarat Council, the $23.3 million redevelopment has already led to new investment in the Bridge Mall, with the redevelopment of Norwich Plaza underway and new businesses opening in the mall, including Timezone, the Darrell Lea Ballarat Chocolate Experience Store, Flying Chillies and C Store Asian Grocery.
Duffs Jewellers and JM Leech Jewellers will also open soon, adding to Bridge Mall’s growing number of national and independent stores and businesses.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson joined City of Ballarat Councillors, civil infrastructure and landscape contractor 2Construct, Bridge Mall Business Association traders and businesses at the site of the completed section of works.
“It is exciting that most of the redevelopment is now open to shoppers and pedestrians,” Cr Hudson said.
“We look forward to seeing the community enjoying the space and supporting traders with the return of their market on Saturday – just in time for Spring.
“The Bridge Mall redevelopment project is another example of the City of Ballarat’s commitment to delivering a better Ballarat.”
Bridge Mall Business Association President, Wendy McLachlan said it was exciting to see the first stage of the redevelopment opened and the market returning.
“The space is looking visually spectacular – very open, light and bright, and we can’t wait until the project is fully completed connecting our mall to Sturt Street. With Norwich Plaza fully renewed and vehicular access, the precinct will be transformed,” she said.
“The Association has received many positive endorsements about the new space from traders and the community, with the new investment the project has attracted. We are all embracing positive change.”
Ms McLachlan said traders are delighted to have the Bridge Market back in the space and are very grateful for the support from the stallholders throughout the construction period, and their market partner, Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast, and the City of Ballarat.
2Construct Director Peter Rahilly said the civil infrastructure and landscape contractor has a long history of redeveloping public space in regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne.
“We were thrilled to be awarded the redevelopment of Bridge Mall for the City of Ballarat and are equally thrilled to see this project approach its conclusion,” he said.
“Throughout the project we have strived to engage the local community and engage local subcontractors and suppliers.
“We look forward to seeing the revitalised Bridge Mall once again become a destination and focal point for the Ballarat community.”
The final touches, including construction of the new bridge structure, are being put in place ahead of the official re-opening of the Bridge Mall, scheduled for December 2024.
In the next few weeks, more of the Grenville Street end of the mall will open to pedestrians, with removal of most of the water-filled barriers and the full re-opening of all lanes of Little Bridge Street to vehicles.
Road works will move to the Grenville Street area, with Grenville Street temporarily closed from Sturt Street to Curtis Street from mid-September. These works are expected to be completed in October.
The redevelopment features a landscaped entry into the mall, a shared streetscape providing one-way, low speed vehicle access with bluestone salvaged from the former La Trobe Street saleyards and bollards to provide easy mall closure as needed for markets, festivals and events.
More trees and plants will create a landscaped entry and garden beds throughout the mall, and 20 new short stay car parking spaces will be available for pick-up and drop-off, providing better access for people of all abilities.
Other features include:
• A portal view to the Yarrowee, connecting people with the river beneath their feet.
• Reflections of our First Nation’s history and culture.
• Smart street lighting, such as facade projections, transforming the buildings into a canvas for colourful, creative night activations.
• Plenty of new seating, gathering spaces and plantings.
• Better connections to cycling paths, including the Sturt Street shared path, and
• Improved traffic flow through the Grenville and Sturt Street intersection.
