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History "I’m pleased to announce that the Government has approved the development of a world class, 1000 seat Recital Hall." The Hon Steve Bracks MP Former Premier of Victoria, February 2002 For over three decades, Melbourne’s music industry and its dedicated supporters lobbied for a purpose built recital hall. In February 2002, the Bracks Government made a commitment to build two new venues side by side in the heart of Melbourne’s famous Arts Precinct – a world class recital hall in honour of Victoria’s most generous and longest serving philanthropist, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and a 500-seat theatre for the Melbourne Theatre Company. The site for the new development is a block of land owned by the University of Melbourne, situated on the corner of Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street, Southbank. The block is adjacent to the Victorian College of the Arts, across the road from the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and a short stroll from The Arts Centre, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and Malthouse Theatre. Melbourne Recital Centre is a project of the Victorian Government. Arts Victoria, a branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, is the Client and Major Projects Victoria is the Project Manager. In late 2003, a reference group of over 70 representatives of the music industry was established to inform the Recital Hall Brief; the Design Team assembled; an Interim Board established to advise Government, and by March 2004, the project was well under way. In November 2005, Mary Delahunty MP, Minister for the Arts announced the establishment of Melbourne Recital Centre Limited as the operating company and the appointment of its Board of Directors with Jim Cousins AO as Chairman. Bovis Lend Lease was awarded the construction contract and building commenced in July 2006. The budget for Melbourne Recital Centre is AUD74.5m |
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