Latest articles by Brendan Rees
Horse-drawn carriage operators fight to keep their livelihoods
For the few horse-drawn carriage drivers left operating in the CBD, one of whom began his career as a teenager 55 years ago, the hope of keeping their livelihoods alive is quickly fading.
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Queen Vic Market tower gets green light
A 21-storey tower in the Queen Victoria Market precinct will go-ahead after plans were approved by the Minister for Planning.
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Former owners of famous cake shop bitter over exit, claiming they were “set-up” and “will not be silenced”
The former husband-and-wife operators of the much-loved Hopetoun Tea Rooms have broken their silence, claiming their exit from the Block Arcade was a “sham” despite a tribunal ruling otherwise.
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Autistic artist empowers community through mural
At first glance, autistic artist Prue Stevenson’s mural in the heart of the CBD may appear to be a collection of bright, wavy lines with hand-painted messages.
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Local heroes shine in Australia Day Honours list
Four CBD residents have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the community in this year’s Australia Day Honours List.
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Century-old building saved following community campaign
A historic building within the Hardware Lane precinct has been saved from the wrecking ball after an application proposing to redevelop it sparked a community fight.
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Businesses driven to wall as Omicron chaos fuels staff shortages and hesitant customers
The fast-spreading Omicron wave is causing headaches for hospitality owners in the CBD with some labelling the crisis as “bad as lockdown”.
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QVM People’s Panel members speak out after recommendations “broadly ignored” by council
Members of the City of Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market (QVM) People’s Panel, formed to give the community a greater voice in the market’s redevelopment, have called on the council to “cease misrepresenting” them.
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Plans to restore 109-year-old hotel to former its glory
A historic hotel dubbed an “eyesore” at a prominent CBD site could be restored to its former glory under an $48 million plan to be considered by the City of Melbourne.
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Council endorses major revamp of landmark David Jones building
The CBD’s iconic David Jones building is a step closer to being transformed into a retail and office tower after winning the City of Melbourne’s support.
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City Loop safety upgrade sits idle with no contractor in sight
Worksites near Parliament Station and Flagstaff Gardens continue to sit dormant as the state government desperately tries to find a new contractor to finish a safety upgrade of Melbourne’s City Loop.
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Historic mural celebrating the 1956 Olympics to be restored
A 64-year-old mural commemorating the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne will be restored to its former glory.
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Dining scheme set to return after injecting $40m into the city
The City of Melbourne’s popular Melbourne Money scheme – which pumped $40 million into the city’s economy – is set to return for “another round” once the sixth lockdown ends.
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From trash to treasure … light-up installation transforms CBD laneway
A colourful art installation featuring preloved dollhouses once destined for landfill has breathed new life into a narrow CBD laneway.
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QVM to host Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Pasta will go back to its street-food origins while the fried potato “in all its finest forms” will feature in this year’s jam-packed Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
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Bakery crumbles amid lockdown pressure
Melbourne’s fifth lockdown has been the final straw for a Melbourne CBD bakery, which will close within weeks.
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