The Metro Tunnel project began in 2015, with early works commencing on the two central business district (CBD) station sites in 2017.[2][3] In April 2017, City Square on Swanston Street was fenced off for the commencement of construction and staging works.[4] Major station works at Town Hall began in 2018.[5]
Cross Yarra Partnership, led by Lendlease, was named as the preferred bidder for the construction contract in July 2017 and designs for the project's five stations were presented by the consortium were released publicly, as well as details of connections to existing stations and streetscapes.[6] In November 2017, after a naming competition, it was announced the CBD South station would be named Town Hall, after the nearby Melbourne Town Hall.[7] Updated designs were revealed by the government in 2018 that showed Town Hall and State Library stations would feature large platform caverns with archways, and that there would be multiple entrances.[8][9]
City Square, Port Philip Arcade on Flinders Street and several small shops along Swanston Street were demolished to allow construction of the station.[10][11][12]
In May 2020, major traffic changes were put in place near Flinders Street in order to improve safety around large trucks entering acoustic sheds as a part of the project. Left turns from St Kilda Road to Flinders Street were removed, and the pedestrian crossing between St Paul's Cathedral and Federation Square was temporarily closed.[13]
Two tunnel boring machines arrived at Town Hall station in April 2021 and were dismantled and extracted, signalling an end to tunnelling on the project.[14] Road-headers broke through at the platform tunnels of Town Hall station in August 2021 as the major excavation phase on the two CBD stations neared completion.[15] Town Hall was excavated to a depth of 33 m (108 ft) below street level, with the station platforms to sit 27 m (89 ft) below street level.[15] This followed the completion of road-header excavation of the platform caverns at State Library in 2020.[16]
In late 2022, acoustic sheds began to be dismantled at the Town Hall and Anzac station locations in order to allow construction of above-ground station structures.[17][18]
Design
The station will feature four entrances, the main entrance being located in City Square opposite Melbourne Town Hall, the second being located off Flinders Street, connected to Cocker Alley and Scott Alley.[19] The third entrance is located within Federation Square, with the Square's information centre demolished in 2018 to construct the new entrance.[20]
The final entrance is an underground connection to nearby Flinders Street station through the already existing Campbell Arcade connection.[19] A number of changes were made to the design of the Campbell Arcade walkway to preserve the site's heritage character.[21]
Initially it was planned to build the station using the cut-and-cover method, however this was changed so that the tunnels would run deeper underneath the ground in order to not disturb services, utilities and businesses on Swanston Street.[22][23]
Like State Library station, Town Hall used a unique "trinocular" construction method involved the mining of three large, overlapping tunnels with vaulted ceilings.[24] Large arches will define the 230 metre long platforms.[25] Underneath City Square, the station's main entrance features a 14-metre high concourse space.[26] Eight columns hold up a vaulted ceiling nicknamed "the crypt", an architectural reference to the nearby St Paul's Cathedral.[26]
Excavation for Town Hall station at the site of City Square, February 2019
In December 2022, the developer Lendlease secured planning approval for the over-site development above the Flinders Street entrance to Town Hall.[28] The nine-story office and retail development will feature station entrances opening to Swanston Street, Flinders Street and rebuilt arcades connecting to Cocker Alley and Scott Alley.[29] The site is owned by the Victorian government and sits around the famous Young and Jackson Hotel and adjoins the Nicholas Building.[30]
Art and sculpture
Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer was commissioned to create a permanent artwork for Town Hall as part of the Metro Tunnel's legacy artwork program.[31] In 2024, Rail Projects Victoria stated that this commission had been cancelled due to difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic, and unlike the other stations Town Hall would not have its own artwork.[32]
A number of artworks and sculptures will be returned to the Town Hall sites once construction has finished, including the King Neptune sculpture by Melbourne artist Charles Bush.[19] The King Neptune sculpture sat above the entrance to Port Phillip Arcade on Flinders Street, which was demolished for the station.[33][19] The famous statue of ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills was removed from City Square in 2017 and is planned to return to the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets after the completion of the station.[34] The John Mockridge Fountain water wall will also be returned and relocated to the northern edge of City Square along Collins Street.[35]
Town Hall station precinct
As part of the construction of Town Hall Station, the City Square precinct is set to be rebuilt as a public gathering and events space.[26] There will be 70 new bike parking spaces built to cope with increasing demand, as well as improved tram interchanges on Flinders, Collins, and Swanston streets.[19] A new tram connection is planned to be built as part of the Metro Tunnel, allowing trams to turn onto Flinders Street from the current tram terminus on Elizabeth Street.[36]
Station layout
G
Street level
Entrances/Exits
B1M
City Square Concourse
Walkway
B1
City Square Concourse
Retail, walkway
Federation Square Concourse
Walkway
Flinders and Swanston Streets Concourse
Retail, toilets, walkway
B2
City Square Concourse
Retail, toilets, walkway
Federation Square Concourse
Walkway
Flinders and Swanston Streets Concourse
Concourse, passageway to Flinders Street station, Campbell Arcade
^Build, Victoria’s Big (21 July 2022). "Federation Square". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
^Build, Victoria’s Big (5 February 2024). "Station artworks FAQ". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
^"CBD South Precinct Development Plan"(PDF). Metro Tunnel Authority: Cross Yarra Partnership. 3 August 2022. Archived(PDF) from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
