Shaped by your ideas, stories and priorities from Stage 1 community engagement (see 'Stage 1 engagement' tab below), the Bell Street Mall draft Masterplan builds on this input and proposes exciting new changes across four key themes.

1. Vibrant Mall, with more shops, events and community gathering places.
2. Connected Mall, with safer and easier walking, cycling, and parking.
3. Inclusive Mall, with green spaces and accessible, welcoming areas.
4. Transformative Mall, with new housing, services, and quality design.

You are now invited to review the draft Masterplan and share your thoughts.

Community engagement

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during Stage 1 engagement.

Stage 1 took place from March to April 2025 and gathered community and stakeholder views on three possible outcomes for Bell Street Mall, each featuring green space, housing, retail, parking, and a new community hub.

During this period we received over 300 contributions through an online survey and various engagement activities.

• 97 online survey responses through Shaping Banyule.
• Over 150 attendees at three community pop-up sessions.
• 16 participants in dedicated drop-in sessions with local traders and non-profit services.
• 37 local primary school students from St Pius X Primary School through a painting activity.
• 9 visitors to Shop 48 (ongoing conversations).
• 6 written submissions through email directly to the Strategic Planning Team.

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 is 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 in Heidelberg West over the decades. This is reflected in the rich multicultural dining, retail offerings and events. While appreciating the Mall’s history 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 surrounding area. It will also set a strategic vision, key directions and a staged funding approach to achieve the best outcomes related to land use, urban design, public realm, pedestrian and public transport connections and community infrastructure.

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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.

The project will also build on feedback Council has received about the Bell St Mall through:

• Banyule Futures
• the Public Realm Framework
• the Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategies.

This new Masterplan will build on what we know to ensure that the Bell Street Mall evolves into a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhood hub for the growing Heidelberg West community.