Federation Square
Federation Square
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
The cultural heart of Melbourne, pulsing and beating every day with colourful, vibrant, intriguing events, festivals, screenings and more. There’s a reason Fed Square (as the locals call it) hosts over 2000 events and 8 million visitors a year – whether it’s a hectic and bustling cultural food festival, a relaxing cinematic screening, a vibrant and inspirational art installation or a thrilling live performance, Fed Square constantly proves and proves again why Melburnians call it the heart of their city. Major popular attractions include the exhilarating and fascinating art at the Ian Potter Centre, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Melbourne's limited edition reproduction of the famous "Fearless Girl" and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). Whatever your interests, there’s something for you at Fed Square. Swing by at any time, or check out fedsquare.com/events to plan ahead.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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See what travellers are saying
- HermanArmidale, Australia498 contributionsA totally cool place to be!Just wandered around with two of my teenage sons just soaking up the atmosphere - very arty and with people sprawled out watching the Aussie tennis open on the big screen it did give it some extra buzz. Beautiful modern architecture, and just a totally cool place to be, surrounded with 1800s historic architecture as well. The gallery had an ongoing exhibition and all the walkways are air-conditioned! So much to see if you want.Thanks Paul for your great review. Summer is a great time to come to Fed Square to catch the action from the Australian Open on the Big Screen, as well as visit ACMI, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and the Koorie Heritage Trust, with their daily free exhibitions. Glad you and your son had a fantastic time soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying all that's on at Fed Square.Written 31 January 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited January 2023Written 21 January 2023
- Stewarts Vacation996 contributionsIntriguing architectureWorth a walk through, or a longer linger, if you wish to visit a museum, gallery, cafe or bar. The architecture is intriguing and modern. The large, fixed public television screen, digital facade, which livestreams sports and broadcasts news and major sporting events, is apparently the biggest broadcasting screen in Australia. There are areas and seats to sit and relax.Visited March 2023Written 31 March 2023
- JohnstannoSingapore, Singapore363 contributionsRelax and take a breather hereInteresting and spacious square to chill, relax and watch movie. We just spent around 10mins exploring and taking some photos. If you are nearby, good to take a break from the bustling melbourne city.Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 July 2023
- Jeffry bEssendon, Australia13,813 contributionsSquare is a good place to hang outFed Square, as the locals call it, is the crossroads of Melbourne. There are many eateries and features that appeal to visitors such as the NGV Potter Gallery, which has one of the best collections of modern Australian art, and the Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI), which is devoted to screen culture. Fed Sqaure is a great place to be when the city is in celebratory mode, such as New Year's Eve. By the way, Fed Square is not exactly square, which adds interest.Visited August 2023Written 26 August 2023
- CraigH0901Adelaide, Australia1,194 contributionsUnderwhelmingThere are places to go in Federation Square that makes the visit. It is otherwise uninteresting and uninspiring. Designed as a gathering place for people or a town square, it is a good spot to meet to go somewhere else. It has no soul, no energy and no compelling reason to exist. Go to the Koori Trust, eat at Time Out and go.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 September 2023
- Borntraveller55Ahmedabad, India164 contributionsGreat place to spend time in Downtown MelbourneThe square has a lot of space and museums and restaurants around. Neat and clean toilets and change rooms are also available. Melbourne Tourist Guides are also there to guide you. Ample space to sit and take a bite and look around..Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.0
2,880 reviews
Excellent
1,181
Very good
1,200
Average
389
Poor
70
Terrible
40
Larysa K
1 contribution
Dec. 2022 • Couples
Our Christmas lunch was great! Grill salmon was nice and service is fantastic! Correct size portions better off booking for special days will come again for sure
Written 24 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
That's great to hear! Which restaurant at Fed Square did you go to for your Christmas lunch – we'd love to pass on your fantastic feedback.
Written 2 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kimberley H
Adelaide, Australia99 contributions
Nov. 2022
Bit average honestly. There was people setting up for a new festival, but other than that I couldn’t see much else happening. I could see restaurants around the place but couldn’t see much signage about the other buildings especially as I wanted to go to the Ian Potter centre but it seems that needed to be accessed from the other side but no signage for it.
Unless there is something happening, bit average.
Unless there is something happening, bit average.
Written 17 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorry to hear you had a less than optimal experience at Fed Square.
The event you saw being set up on Thursday 17 November was the African Music and Cultural Festival, which was a big event that went over three days.
You can always check out what's on via our website to plan your trip to Fed Square, and also the online map and wayfinding maps around the square can help you navigate the space.
There are also three galleries and museums at Fed Square, which have free exhibitions on daily. Check out the information on the website.
https://fedsquare.com/whats-on
Written 20 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Skeney57
Sydney, Australia21,976 contributions
Oct. 2022
On a sleepy Sunday morning it was not a buzzing site but the potential is plain to see! It is open public space with bars, food options, galleries plus areas to sit, relax & watch the world go by. On my return later the place was full of families and my only negative was the lack of shade? But Melbourne needs shelter more then shade, right?? A good spot but not a VG rating I'm afraid.
Written 5 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the review. You're right: the Square is a big open space with not a lot of natural shade, so we have a number of umbrellas set up when it's sunny or rainy to combat this. But sometimes Melbourne weather does mean it's time to run inside – in that case we recommend taking refuge in The Atrium, or popping into one of our galleries or museums to wander around a free exhibition (during the day) or a restaurant or bar to take a load off and watch the weather pass.
Written 20 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
B T
London, UK1,194 contributions
Nov. 2022
It is very ugly, there is not much there and it isn't even in a square shape. Waste of time visiting.
Written 3 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
That's a shame you don't like visiting Fed Square or admire our award-winning architecture.
We like to think our architecture is unique and special – one of the reasons it was listed as a heritage site, despite being only 20 years old.
You can always check out what's on via our website, to time your visit to catch one of our many events on throughout the year, or you can always check out one of the free exhibitions at one of our three museums and galleries.
Written 20 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ben
Melbourne, Australia2 contributions
Sep. 2022
Not sure how this has got such a high there are so many issues with this space.
So it's a big huge grey eye sore, much like the city of Melbourne itself so in that sense it's met it's goals.
The architecture looks like someone cut out random shapes from a piece of cupboard and glued them all together haphazardly and voila Fed Square. There's no theme, there's no rhyme, there's no reason.
It's a poor attempt at abstract art in the flesh and we've been living with the embarrassing consequences ever since.
In a city with variable weather and lots of rain, the only undercover bits of walkways.
Wind tunnels.
No shade.
The design and look and colors are just horrendous full stop ok.
It's taken me 20 years to figure out that the NGV is there and not in Carlton gardens.
They were going for Paris vibes or something but it's just a literal aesthetic joke.
The TV screen, public facilities and ability to mobilize, meet, sit, enjoy views or even have a kick of the footy all below average or non-existent.
Like 10 people can gather there if the soccer is on.
FFS FIX THE BLOOD FLOORING.
A mixed used multiple space with a below average gallery, a 7-11, a crap TV screen and some toilets hidden somewhere - That's what we as Australians are communicating to the guests in this state when they first arrive here and see that. Just horrendous.
Likes:
I like the name, at least.
It's still a public space for public use, fully expecting Chairman Dan's posters and government messages to start echoing out of the speakers soon and driving the 10 people trying to chill there out via insanity.
Multiple access points everywhere front and back, so you can get in and out easily.
There are some chairs to sit down and wifi, can see a good view of Flinders and Southbank while sitting.
It's the meeting place we don't deserve but we get and have been struck with for 20 years plus, I mean it's better than the nothingness than was there before (just) but as someone that lives in the city the constant second hand embarrassment that this empty grey oddly shaped window tunnel is a thing and we actually think it's 'good' is truly humiliating.
We can do so much better, and we need to. #rebuildredsquare
So it's a big huge grey eye sore, much like the city of Melbourne itself so in that sense it's met it's goals.
The architecture looks like someone cut out random shapes from a piece of cupboard and glued them all together haphazardly and voila Fed Square. There's no theme, there's no rhyme, there's no reason.
It's a poor attempt at abstract art in the flesh and we've been living with the embarrassing consequences ever since.
In a city with variable weather and lots of rain, the only undercover bits of walkways.
Wind tunnels.
No shade.
The design and look and colors are just horrendous full stop ok.
It's taken me 20 years to figure out that the NGV is there and not in Carlton gardens.
They were going for Paris vibes or something but it's just a literal aesthetic joke.
The TV screen, public facilities and ability to mobilize, meet, sit, enjoy views or even have a kick of the footy all below average or non-existent.
Like 10 people can gather there if the soccer is on.
FFS FIX THE BLOOD FLOORING.
A mixed used multiple space with a below average gallery, a 7-11, a crap TV screen and some toilets hidden somewhere - That's what we as Australians are communicating to the guests in this state when they first arrive here and see that. Just horrendous.
Likes:
I like the name, at least.
It's still a public space for public use, fully expecting Chairman Dan's posters and government messages to start echoing out of the speakers soon and driving the 10 people trying to chill there out via insanity.
Multiple access points everywhere front and back, so you can get in and out easily.
There are some chairs to sit down and wifi, can see a good view of Flinders and Southbank while sitting.
It's the meeting place we don't deserve but we get and have been struck with for 20 years plus, I mean it's better than the nothingness than was there before (just) but as someone that lives in the city the constant second hand embarrassment that this empty grey oddly shaped window tunnel is a thing and we actually think it's 'good' is truly humiliating.
We can do so much better, and we need to. #rebuildredsquare
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your feedback – although we're sorry to hear that you are not a fan of Fed Square.
If you're interested in learning more about the design and history of Fed Square, you can watch a short documentary where one of our original architects, Don Bates, talks about the design and what the design set out to achieve. Check out YouTube for 'A Short Film with Don Bates | 20th Anniversary'. He mentions in the video that the Transport building was actually not part of the original design, but was specifically built to prevent the rushing winds up the Yarra, so the Square is somewhat protected.
In 2019, Fed Square was formally listed in the Victorian Heritage Register, in recognition of its important status as a public space and for its historical, cultural, aesthetic, technological and social significance to Victoria.
Recently, we hosted public screenings of the Socceroos FIFA World Cup matches, attracting thousands of fans to gather to support their team. As a public square, we often do hold public screenings of significant matches and game so the public can gather to watch and cheer – including the Australian Open, the AFL grand final, the Olympics and other important events.
We also usually set out deckchairs and umbrellas so people can relax under some shaded areas, in the main part of the square.
If you're interested in finding out what goes on at Fed Square, you can always check our What's On events page on our website.
Written 1 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,813 contributions
Sep. 2022
Federation Square comes alive on New Year's Eve and Moomba, Melbourne's very own festival of fun. Otherwise, it can sometimes seem a bit dead. It does, however, have a number of important cultural institutions, such as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and the National Gallery of Victoria's Potter Gallery, which specializes in Australian art. It has one of the world's best collections of Aboriginal art. There are also several eateries scattered around the Square.
Written 18 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the review!
We recommend people checking out our What's On section of our website before they plan their trip to Fed Square, if they're interested in timing their trip during a major event or festival. Fed Square has the capacity to have major events and host large crowds for big cultural moments and sporting matches, but these don't happen every day.
You can also sign up for our What's On e-news to keep up-to-date with what's happening in the Square, via our website.
Thanks!
Written 1 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
plpalani
Mumbai, India1,558 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Friends
A good land mark of Melbourne opposite to Flinders street railway station.
But nothing great about the square.
Young girls were dancing may be for an ad shoot. Can be skipped
But nothing great about the square.
Young girls were dancing may be for an ad shoot. Can be skipped
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review – although we're sorry to hear you think we can be skipped! There is a lot on at Fed Square throughout the year, and as the site of three of Melbourne's most important cultural institutions (ACMI – Australia's Museum of Screen Culture, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, and the Koorie Heritage Trust), you can easily spend a day at Fed Square visiting the many free exhibitions on show and exploring our distinctive heritage-listed architecture.
Visitors should check out our What's On page to see what's happening to plan their trip.
As a public square, we often have members of the public come and practice dancing or other art forms. It's a great opportunity for people-watching and visitors to experience the culture of Melbourne.
Written 1 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DipuKV
Pune, India2,186 contributions
Aug. 2022
A prominent landmark in the city ,and with a chequered history of having being voted the ugliest square in the world(!), Fed Sq offers you a holistic glimpse of all that the city has to offer - the trams and Flinders Station just opposite, the street art lanes nearby, the National Gallery of Victoria on its premises et al.
Written 12 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the review! This year, we were also voted one of the 10 greatest public squares in the world according to Traveller, so we like to think that we're covering all the best-of lists.
Written 1 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mercy
Cobh, Ireland10 contributions
Jun. 2022 • Solo
There are rough looking young adults and street dwellers that hang out at this place. A no go for me.
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you ever feel unsafe at Fed Square, we would recommend ringing Security on (03) 9655 1900. Fed Square is monitored 24/7 by an on-site Security team, and we take the security of the public seriously.
As a public square, we also welcome all types of people to Fed Square, as long as they are not exhibiting anti-social or unsafe behaviour.
Written 2 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Heng
Singapore, Singapore3,736 contributions
Jun. 2022 • Family
A group of unusually designed architecture which offers a lot of photo opportunities. There is a gallery, two museums, a restaurant. And in the middle of this, an open plaza where one can just hang out.
Written 8 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Those interested in the history of our unusually designed buildings can check out this documentary, where Don Bates (one of our original lead architects) talks about the design.
Check our YouTube for 'A Short Film with Don Bates | 20th Anniversary'.
Written 1 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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