Melbourne Recital Centre Opens Sky-High Venue The Beacon
The Melbourne Recital Centre will launch the Peter and Ruth McMullin Beacon on September 17, marking a significant addition to the venue. This $2 million initiative repurposes an unused storage area, with funding contributions of $1 million each from the Victorian Government and Peter and Ruth McMullin. Designed by ARM Architecture, the new space features a reflective ceiling and artwork from First Nations artists, including Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin AO and Dr Lou Bennett AM. The opening will showcase performances by Meow Meow and other artists, with plans to reveal details about the 2027 season programming later this month.
Key facts
- The Beacon is a new venue at Melbourne Recital Centre, transforming a disused storage space on the uppermost level.
- The project cost $2 million, funded by $1 million from the Victorian Government and $1 million from Peter and Ruth McMullin.
- The venue officially opens on 17 September.
- ARM Architecture, the original designers of the building, redesigned the space.
- The venue features a reflective ceiling installation and a spectrogram artwork based on 'Look Above' by Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin AO and Dr Lou Bennett AM.
- Inaugural program includes Meow Meow, Dr Trevor Jones, Holly Hebe, Kee’ahn, and others.
- Director of Programming Iain Grandage says The Beacon builds on Melbourne's tradition of intimate music spaces.
- Further programs will be announced in late October with the 2027 season.
Entities
Artists
- Meow Meow
- Iain Grandage
- Dr Trevor Jones
- Holly Hebe
- Kee’ahn
- Michelle Nicolle
- Paul Grabowsky
- Ross Wilson
- Tamara Murphy
- Stephen Magnusson
- Andrea Keller
- Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin AO
- Dr Lou Bennett AM
- Eddie Perfect
- Mama Alto
Institutions
- Melbourne Recital Centre
- ARM Architecture
- Victorian Government
- McMullin Group
- ArtsHub
- ScreenHub
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Southbank