Federation Square

Welcome to Federation Square, or Fed Square as the locals call it! This modern square is Melbourne’s cultural hub! It roared to life in 2002, opposite the iconic Flinders street station, right on the doorstep of the city’s artistic districts, and quickly became Melbourne’s go-to spot, whether as a tourist attraction, a venue for varied cultural events or a popular meeting place! This is where Melburnians gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve and Diwali, the dazzling Indian Festival of Lights! Take a look around. There’s always something buzzing around here! The giant screen on the Plaza is Australia’s largest public TV screen. It broadcasts major sporting events such as the Australian Open. Eyes up, then down! Don’t miss the masterpiece under your feet! The paving is but a gigantic work of art. While the city center is paved with Victorian Bluestone, aka basalt, Fed Square is paved with 470,000 blocks of ochre sandstone from Western Australia, giving it a real outback vibe. But the real stars of the show are the world-class art galleries, installations and numerous restaurants scattered around the square! It’s the perfect place to discover the region’s major cultural attractions. You’ve got the ACMI, Australia’s National Museum of Screen Culture and the Koorie Heritage Trust, a non-profit cultural organization committed to promoting and celebrating the Aboriginal culture of south-east Australia. Then there’s the Ian Potter Centre, housing the Australian part of the art collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s biggest and oldest museum. Since its grand opening, Fed Square has welcomed over 100 million visitors, and has been voted the 6th best public square in the world and Melbourne’s top tourist destination. In 2019, it was listed as a Victorian heritage site, becoming the youngest building to receive this honor.