Footscray Creative West Precinct Plans Revealed with 500-Seat Theatre

The City of Maribyrnong has unveiled concept designs for Creative West, a new creative precinct in Footscray, Melbourne. The proposal includes a 500-seat theatre, a three-level library, and a landscaped town park. The theatre is designed as an automated, adaptable space for professional and community performances, with an additional studio for rehearsals and intimate shows. The library will feature a light-filled reading room, maker spaces, and a children's level. Planning began in 2015, and the designs were shaped by extensive community consultation since early 2026, involving Wurundjeri Elders, over 1,100 community responses, and 19 focus groups. A community co-design group of 27 members advised on the project. The design team includes Architectus, Public Realm Lab, and GLAS Landscape Architects. Mayor Mohamed Semra emphasized the precinct's role in strengthening the daytime and night-time economy and addressing cultural infrastructure gaps in Melbourne's west. The design and planning phase received $5 million from the Australian Government's Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program, matched by the council. Funding is currently committed only for planning and design; the council is seeking further investment for construction.