Dookie Campus Public Realm Upgrade

Overview

The core of the University’s Dookie Campus is being transformed into a vibrant ‘Learning Village,’ designed to enhance connectivity, accessibility, and community life. The upgrades will create welcoming spaces for study, socialising, and relaxation, while improving safety, sustainability, and the overall public realm across campus.

What’s coming?
Work will take place across the Northern Carpark, Dining Hall entry, Admin Building, Gavin Gibson Lawn & Study Pod, and College Crescent South, and will include:

  • Enhanced Campus Connections: College Crescent will become the main hub, with refreshed courtyards, pathways, and social spaces.
  • Improved Accessibility and Safety: New ramps, resurfaced roads, and upgraded lighting will make the campus safer and more inclusive.
  • Sustainable and Flexible Spaces: The repurposed Study Pod from Parkville and new native plantings will support adaptable, sustainable spaces.
  • Student-Focused Amenities: More communal areas will provide better support for students in accommodation.
  • Car Park Improvements: The Northern Carpark will include modern upgrades and EV charging stations, improving convenience for staff, students and visitors.
  • Native and Indigenous Plants: A focused planting strategy will celebrate local ecology and create inviting outdoor spaces for study and connection.

Timing:

Construction commences: Monday 22 September 2025

Construction expected to complete: January 2026

Contact:

If you wish to speak to a member of the University’s project team, please contact Emily Dixon on edixon@unimelb.edu.au or 0435 057 756.

Upgrades will take place across the ‘campus core’, including the Northern Carpark, Dining Hall entry, Admin Building, Gavin Gibson Lawn & Study Pod, and College Crescent South. Please view the map above.

The main carpark east of the Dining Hall will be closed from Monday 15 September. Temporary parking is available in the locations marked in green on the map here. Following construction, new EV charging facilities will be added in the Northern Carpark.

Some areas may have temporary access changes. Clear signage will be in place, and alternative routes will be provided where necessary.

New ramps, accessible entries, and pedestrian pathways will ensure the campus is safer and more inclusive for everyone.

Upgrades will create better connections, more communal and study spaces, improved public areas, and a more welcoming environment for students, staff, and visitors.

Yes — the project includes several environmentally sustainable improvements. This includes repurposing the Study Pod from Alice Hoy in Parkville, as well as new plantings of indigenous and native trees, and other measures designed to reduce environmental impact and enhance the campus landscape.

If you wish to speak to a member of the University’s project team, please contact Emily Dixon on edixon@unimelb.edu.au or 0435 057 756.