Cobden Street Pocket Park

The Cobden Street Pocket Park project in South Melbourne is identified as an action in the Places for People: Public Space Strategy 2022-32 and the Council Plan.

​The Cobden Street Pocket Park project also forms part of the broader Kings Place Plaza project which was identified in the Domain Precinct Public Realm Masterplan, which was endorsed on 18 September 2019.

​By creating a new public park, the Cobden Street Pocket Park project aims to address gaps in the public space network and respond to increasing demand in the Domain Precinct area.​ 

The project will revitalise a section of roadway by increasing greening with improved pedestrian connections to public transport, including the new ANZAC Station.

The vision for the Cobden Street Pocket Park project is outlined in Public Space Strategy as providing a new gathering place for pedestrians through a shared zone on Kings Place and Millers Lane as well as the new plaza created through partial road closure of Cobden Street which may include landscaping, tree planting, bike parking, seating and a drink fountain. This new pocket park will:

• Create streetscape improvements and greening within the Domain Precinct to address gaps in the public space network
• Respond to increasing demand in the area
• Improve connections to public transport, including the new ANZAC Station
• Improve greening and extend public space.

A design capturing this vision was originally presented to the community for feedback in 2022. However, at an Ordinary Council meeting on 02 November 2022 the project was put on hold due to large-scale developments on surrounding properties that could have damaged the streetscape works.

The developments immediately surrounding the site have now been completed.

As such, the project has funding allocated to it this financial year (25/26) to progress the concept design, which is currently underway.

An updated concept design is currently being prepared to reflect the current streetscape conditions with the surrounding developments now completed. The design also aims to address previous feedback, particularly relating to vehicle movement and it will re-evaluate the extent of road closures.

The updated concept design is scheduled to be presented to the community for comment in May/June 2026.

Currently construction is planned to occur in 2027/28, pending external approvals and Council’s annual capital works portfolio build process.