The Bell Street Mall was the first 'modern' drive-in shopping centre in Victoria. It was built in 1956 and is located next to Melbourne's 1956 Olympic Village, which housed athletes from all over the world.
The Mall retains much of its 1950s character, and a central place for the local community to shop, gather and socialise. It's also a significant hub for people from many diverse backgrounds who have settled over the decades in Heidelberg West. This is reflected in its rich multicultural dining, retail offerings and events. Whilst appreciating the Mall’s history, diversity and character there are also opportunities to renew the centre so it can better meet the needs of the community now and into the future.
Creating a Masterplan
To unlock the potential of the Bell Street Mall and surrounding areas, a coordinated and integrated approach is needed.
We are developing a Bell Street Mall Neighbourhood Activity Centre (NAC) Masterplan and Design Guide that will enhance the Bell Street Mall by including well-designed high density housing and open community spaces that meet the needs of the local community. This will explore opportunities for both the Bell Street mall and the local area. It will also set a strategic vision, key directions and a staged funding approach to achieve preferred land use, urban design, public realm, improved pedestrian and public transport connections and community infrastructure outcomes.
Get involved
In 2025, we'll be asking you to provide your insights to help create a plan for the Bell Street Mall.
The project will build on feedback Council has already received about the Bell St Mall through:
Your feedback will help us shape the future of this amazing area!
There will be a few opportunities to get involved:
- Community engagement on options for the Bell St Mall (March - April 2025)
- An online survey, which we can also send you in the mail (June-July 2025)
- In-person community engagement activities with Council staff - dates and time to be confirmed.
Click the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up-to-date on this project.
What we've done
Over the years, the Bell Street Mall has been the focus of various studies and proposals, highlighting its importance in Heidelberg West. The work has addressed specific needs and priorities and is helping to lay the groundwork for the current Bell Street Mall Neighbourhood Activity Centre Masterplan and Design Guide.
Earlier plans aimed to improve public spaces, making them more inclusive, safe and comfortable. They focused on creating an environment that was pleasant all year-round and fostering community connection. Recent efforts have built on this by addressing the area’s growing population and changing needs. Focus has been on integrating the Mall’s redevelopment with broader urban renewal initiatives, balancing higher-density housing, preserving the Mall’s historic character and promoting economic growth.
Urban design frameworks are providing guidance on building heights, setbacks and landscaping to maintain the tree canopy. They have also outlined principles for creating high-quality public spaces and strengthening community connection.
