Test Report
Executive Summary
Balam Balam Place, a vibrant new community hub and creative centre located in the heart of Brunswick, has had a dynamic and successful launch phase, following the formal handover of the precinct on 17th February 2025.
Over the subsequent months, Balam Balam Pace has rapidly grown into a key local destination for community, cultural, and commercial activity, reflecting the strength of the partnership between Merri-bek City Council, local organisations, and community stakeholders.
A soft opening of the community rooms in early March provided a gradual and thoughtful approach to activating available spaces. This allowed for a period of live testing and feedback gathering; with fine-tuning of systems, booking processes, and onsite logistics undertaken by the Balam Balam Place team. By the time of the official opening on April 2nd, the site was already humming with energy and enthusiasm from the community, setting the tone for ongoing activation and success.
The official launch event drew a diverse crowd of local residents, project partners, and artists and celebrated the inclusive spirit of Balam Balam Place. It marked the beginning of a new era for the precinct, acknowledging its cultural and historical significance while looking forward with a strong commitment to community-driven programming.
Operating from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week, Balam Balam Place has proven its capacity to host a wide variety of uses throughout the day. Evening slots are in strong demand, daytime bookings are steadily increasing, with growing interest from co-working groups, professional development workshops, and local service providers.
Since May, Balam Balam Place has successfully onboarded a range of commercial tenants, adding vibrancy and sustainability to the precinct. These tenants include creative studios in the fields of architecture, graphic design and arts consultancy, allied health practitioners, and not-for-profit organisations, all contributing to a well-balanced ecosystem of social enterprise, arts, and professional services. Their presence not only supports the financial model of the precinct but also contributes to a dynamic and collaborative environment that aligns with the vision for the place.
Challenges Overcome
While the launch phase has been broadly successful, the early stages were not without challenges. Several unexpected technical and infrastructure issues arose, including non-functioning lighting systems in key areas, delays in the commissioning of fibre and NBN connections, and discrepancies in contractor handover documentation. These issues impacted initial operations and required rapid coordination and additional investment to resolve. Addressing these hurdles added unplanned costs to the project and required both the site management team and Merri-bek City Council to remain agile and responsive. Despite these setbacks, many critical issues have been resolved without significant disruption to the opening timeline.
EDGE Delegation Visit – Singapore CLC
Balam Balam Place proudly hosted the EDGE Delegation from Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) for an afternoon exchange. This delegation included Kelvin Wong, CEO of CLC, who was joined by 35 delegates from a range of Singapore's leading development agencies.
Balam Balam Place was included in their five day Australian trip as an exemplar in longitudinal community engagement and urban transformation. The site and program, over the last 10 years has gathered a reputation both locally and internationally as a prime example of long range planning and investment and will continue to showcase Merri-bek City Council’s significant community and creative investment.
The visit included a warm welcome from Merri-bek CEO Cathy Henderson, a presentation on the strategic development of the site from Eamonn Fennessy, followed by a presentation by Millie Cattlin, showcasing the precinct’s unique design development, purpose, and community impact.
Conclusion
The first four months of operation have confirmed Balam Balam Place as a vital new fixture in Brunswick’s civic and cultural landscape. The success of the handover, early programming, tenant onboarding, and community uptake demonstrate strong foundations for future growth. As Balam Balam Place continues to evolve, we remain focused on accessibility, diversity, and long-term sustainability, ensuring that Balam Balam Place is a thriving, inclusive, and welcoming place for all.
1. Site Use and Programming
- Approved by MCC.
- Submitted list of tenants (type, no employees) (annual snapshot).
| Name | Industry | Employees |
|---|
| Tenant | Industry | Employees |
|---|
- Approved by MCC.
- 2 partnered events, 2 precinct partner events & 10 community events per year.
While still in the early stages of developing our Public Space Program Framework, our initial trials and observations of potential spaces and their uses demonstrates promising outcomes.
Since the official opening we have hosted a number of community based events including the Samoan Independence Day Celebrations, along with a range of activities and events developed by the community who have come to call Balam Balam Place as home.
These include a number of outdoor youth theatre events from House of Muchness and UnderArts, as well as improvised dance performances on The Steps from Tony Yap’s dance group and free outdoor cinema from Little Projector Company. These early tests of outdoor programing will actively inform the development of the framework with a draft vision being ready for approval as part of our first quarterly report in October.
60% of floorspace being used 12 months after venue opening. Following this establish 75% occupany rates.
| Average Days Utilised (%): | |
| Average Time-Based Utilisation (%): |
'Average Time-Based Utilisation (%)' measures how intensively a space is used based on time. Usage is calculated against a standard 8-hour work day, where 8 hours of bookings equals 100% utilisation for that day. Partial usage contributes proportionally (e.g., 4 hours = 50%). The final percentage represents total booked hours divided by total available hours across the reporting period.
| Room | Days Occupied % | Time Occupied % |
|---|
These numbers are heavily skewed by the earlier months where the site had only been soft opened and bookings were not yet being advertised as being available. The overall percentage of floorspace used for May and June is closer to 50%.
Min 30% of Net Lettable Area (NLA) provided at submarket/affordable rates. Min 30% at commercial rates.
| Room | m2 | Classification | Cost |
|---|
| Total | Affordable | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Net lettable area | m2 | m2 |
| % Net lettable area | % | % |
Estimated average no of people undertaking work or work-related actvity (including student activity) per day. Minimum 50 people per day.
| Community bookings | Commercial leases | |
|---|---|---|
| Average number of people per day |
Comments:
These numbers are heavily skewed by the earlier months, commercial bookings were not available until the start of May.
Qualitative description of diversity of users (with regards to accomodating priority groups from MCC Human Rights Policy, being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Migrant and refugee communities, People with disability, Women, LGBTIQ+ communities).
Minimum of three 'case studies'. Qualitative (images and text) highlights of programmed public space use to be published (eg on webpage).
Community Open Day – 2 April 2025
The Community Open Day on 2nd April was a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity, and connection. Over 300 people attended throughout the day, enjoying performances from the Jiri Jiri Dancers, Tony Yap and his improvising dance group, local choirs, and a powerful welcome Haka by members of Melbourne's Māori community. This event importantly marked the reopening of Blak Dot Gallery with a stunning new exhibition, drawing significant local interest. Delicious food was generously provided by members of Melbourne’s Samoan Community, creating a warm, festive atmosphere. The day firmly established Balam Balam Place as a welcoming and inclusive space for all.
Melbourne Design Week Exhibition – 16-18 May 2025
As part of Melbourne Design Week, Balam Balam Place hosted Listening, Observing and Making at The Quarry, a collaborative exhibition with Monash University’s MADA faculty. Over 150 people attended the opening night, with strong engagement across the weekend with artist talks and presentations. The exhibition showcased site-responsive works that explored landscape, memory, and material practice. This successful partnership with Monash University confirmed Balam Balam Place as a venue capable of supporting professional exhibitions and programming, and positioned the venue as a valuable resource for higher education institutions seeking creative, community-connected spaces.
2. User Experience
- Survey undertaken.
- Annual survey of tenants - 70% of tenants are satisfied with Precinct Manager Service.
The annual survey was not undertaken in the first 5 months of operation.
- Survey undertaken.
- 70% of tenants are satisfied with Precinct Manager Service (booking and use).
The annual survey was not undertaken in the first 5 months of operation.
- Survey undertaken.
- 60% of Committee members are satisfied with process and direction of Committee.
The annual survey was not undertaken in the first 5 months of operation.
- Complaints Register Sighted.
- 70% of complainants are satisfied with response to complaint.
3. Branding & Promotion
Endorsement by MCC staff.
Development of and/or participation in 2 industry networks or forums per year.
60% of survey respondents are aware of Council's role in the site.
The annual survey was not undertaken in the first 5 months of operation.
4. Financial & Carbon Budget Performance
Submitted to Council by 30 August each year
Annual contract payments to be paid from TPT to Council by 30 October of each year
Annual financial ratio should be within 10% of 1:1
Site Operations are within 10% of being carbon neutral
5. Governance
- Establishment of group with Terms of Ref.
- At least two meetings per year.
- Establishment of group with Terms of Ref.
- At least two meetings per year.
Approved by MCC
At least 10 hours use per month by Council
6. OHS & Compliance
- Incident report log up to date.
- Risk management plan up to date.
- Compliance with relevant legislation.
Attendance at 4 contract meetings per year.
Contract management meetings attended so far in the first 5 months of operations:
- March 19, 2025 on site at Balam Balam Place
- May 7, 2025 on site at Balam Balam Place
- Maintenance service records up to date.
- Submission of proposed building works for the year ahead by August each year.
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