At less than 2m2, Melbourne’s eight iconic street trading cylinders might be the smallest shops in Melbourne, and they’re on the market for prospective tenants.
The City of Melbourne operates eight permanent stainless steel street cylinders that open up into small shops that offer a diverse mix of retail from fashion and wearable art to street food and pot plants.
Councillor Kevin Louey, Chair of Council’s Economic Development Portfolio, said the cylinders were an exciting addition to the vibrancy of Melbourne’s city streets.
“They may well be Melbourne’s smallest shops but our street cylinders bring buzz and activity to our streets. They have been part of Melbourne since 2011 and give budding business owners and anyone with a great business idea the opportunity to set up shop relatively cheaply,” Cr Louey said.
A tender process for the street cylinders commences on Saturday 8 August. The cylinders are offered on a three-year licence for a monthly fee of $300.
Applications will be assessed against specifications set out in Council’s Street Activity Policy 2011. Services and products will have to meet criteria such as being innovative, unique, of high quality distinctive, financially viable and environmentally sustainable.
The current licences for the cylinders expire on 30 September. Existing and new operators are encouraged to apply.
Cylinder Locations
1. Swanston Street, outside City Square (northern cylinder)
2. Swanston Street, outside City Square (southern cylinder)
3. South west corner of Swanston Street and Bourke Street
4. South west corner of Swanston Street and Little Collins Street
5. North west corner of Swanston Street and Collins Street
6. South east corner of Swanston Street and Bourke Street
7. West side of Spencer Street, West of Bourke Street
8. North East corner of Swanston Street and Little Bourke Street
Visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/tenders to apply. Tenders will be available to download on Saturday 8 August.