Latest articles by Sean Car
Seven-storey revival breathes new life into CBD’s western gateway
One of the CBD’s most prominent corners has been given a major boost, with the historic Waterside Hotel reopening after a multi-year transformation into a seven-level dining and drinking destination at Flinders and King streets.
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Council slams congestion levy hike as “wrong tax at the wrong time”
A divided City of Melbourne council has condemned the state government’s sharp increase to the congestion levy, warning it will deter city visitors and stall the CBD’s fragile recovery, even as the legislation cleared Parliament on November 18.
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Controversial Exhibition St tower returns with major changes, as residents demand answers
Contentious plans for a tower rising above Melbourne’s heritage-listed Comedy Theatre are back before the City of Melbourne, with councillors set to consider the revised proposal at their December 2 Future Melbourne Committee meeting.
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“A new era of Treaty”: Sheena Watt reflects on 2025 and looks ahead to a pivotal 2026
For Victorian Northern Metropolitan MP Sheena Watt, 2025 will forever be defined by a single word: Treaty.
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“Man on a mission”: Nick Reece reflects on his first year as Lord Mayor
If Sally Capp’s lord mayoralty was defined by megaphone energy and crisis management, her successor Nick Reece is settling into a different groove: quietly trying to reshape the city around a big agenda that’s only just getting started.
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Hoppy Dumpling becomes a CBD favourite as founders blend tradition, beer culture and community
A little over a year since opening on Russell St, Hoppy Dumpling has quietly grown into one of the CBD’s most-loved newcomers – a bustling spot where handmade dumplings, craft beer and a warm, neighbourhood feel have struck a chord with city workers, residents and families.
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Inner Owners’ Corporation sets a new industry benchmark with major SCA award win
Inner Owners’ Corporation has long been known among its clients as a quiet achiever: diligent, ethical, transparent and consistently delivering results without shouting about it.
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Hills Hoist: A meditation on memory, migration and the quiet poetry of daily life
At City Library Gallery on Flinders Lane, a humble suburban icon has been transformed into a profound meditation on home, belonging and the emotional complexity of migration.
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Melbourne prepares to step into a new era as Metro Tunnel opens early
After years of construction, detours and disruption, Melbourne’s long-awaited Metro Tunnel will finally open its doors on Sunday, November 30 – a full year ahead of schedule.
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Melbourne Town Hall and council offices set to go smoke-free
The entrances and footpaths outside Melbourne Town Hall and the City of Melbourne’s main administration buildings will become smoke-free after councillors voted unanimously to extend the city’s smoking and vaping bans at the November 11 Future Melbourne Committee meeting.
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Melbourne honours its brightest changemakers at 2025 Melbourne Awards
Melbourne celebrated the people and organisations shaping the city’s future at the 2025 Melbourne Awards on November 15, recognising outstanding contributions across leadership, creativity, community impact and innovation.
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Cr Le Liu moves to overturn council’s past support for CBD injecting room
The debate over a medically supervised injecting service (MSIS) in Melbourne’s CBD will return to Town Hall on November 25, with Cr Phil Le Liu bringing forward a motion to formally overturn the City of Melbourne’s previous support for such a facility.
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Golden Age completes boutique office tower on Little Collins St
Developer Golden Age Group has announced the completion of 130 Little Collins St – a 28-storey designer office tower that brings new energy, craftsmanship and confidence to the city’s Paris End.
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Melbourne CBD retail surges as Lacoste joins wave of flagship openings
Melbourne’s CBD retail market is continuing its strong post-pandemic resurgence, with global fashion brand Lacoste the latest to secure a major flagship store in the heart of the city.
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Kids kick off the Big Summer Read at Queen Victoria Market’s new library
Victorian children are being encouraged to swap screens for stories these holidays, with this year’s Big Summer Read officially launched at the City of Melbourne’s newest library at Queen Victoria Market.
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Rest in Power: QVWC exhibition honours Isla Bell and a student-led movement against gendered violence
A powerful new exhibition at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (QVWC) is inviting Melburnians to reflect, remember and act in the face of rising gendered violence.
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Continued public appeal after police assaulted at Melbourne protest
Detectives from the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad have released images and footage of seven people they are seeking to identify after police were allegedly assaulted at a protest in Melbourne’s CBD last month.
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Fed Square turns into a sky-high skills showcase for VCE Vocational Major students
Fed Square was transformed into an open-air classroom of the future on November 6 and 7, as thousands of visitors flocked to Look Up to the Future — a free two-day installation celebrating the hands-on learning offered through the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) and VET programs.
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Melbourne unwrapped: City sparkles with Christmas magic for 2025
Melbourne is set to dazzle once again as Christmas returns to the city, transforming streets, squares and laneways into a festive playground from November 28 to Christmas Day.
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City of Melbourne pushes back on State’s plan to mandate work-from-home rights
The City of Melbourne has formally come out against the Victorian Government’s plan to legislate a right for employees to work from home two days a week, warning that the move could hurt the city’s fragile post-pandemic recovery.
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