Multicultural Hub marks one millionth visitor

Melbourne’s Multicultural Hub at 506 Elizabeth St has reached a major milestone, recording its one millionth visitor after 18 years of supporting migrants, refugees, international students and other diverse communities in the heart of the city.

The millionth participant is Nepali international student Samrika Bhattarai, who now volunteers as a facilitator at the facility opposite Queen Victoria Market. Ms Bhattarai, who came to Australia two years ago and is studying for a bachelor’s degree in Community Services, said the hub had become a place of connection and opportunity.

“I love volunteering at the Multicultural Hub. I enjoy meeting lots of diverse people from different communities, it’s a true melting pot,” she said.

“It was initially a place where I could meet other international students and now, I’m volunteering at the Hub. Soon, I’ll be facilitating my first Welcome to Melbourne event for international students and I’m really excited.”

Operated by AMES Australia in partnership with the City of Melbourne, the Multicultural Hub has become one of the city’s most important settlement and community facilities, despite often flying under the radar in broader debates about the future of the CBD. Each year it welcomes almost 60,000 visitors, hosts around 1600 events, meetings and gatherings, and is used by more than 80 migrant and refugee communities.

The 2026 Social Impact Report says the hub also welcomed 241 individual multicultural groups in 2025 and provided volunteering opportunities to almost 60 people through programs designed to help newly arrived migrants build English skills, local work experience and social connections.

Hub manager Maria Tsopanis said the facility provided a safe and welcoming space for people from diverse and sometimes marginalised backgrounds.

Patrons of the Hub say they find the space safe, convenient and welcoming. Many say they feel more comfortable at the Hub than in other mainstream community spaces, she said.

Beyond its day-to-day programs, the Hub has also played a key role during major crises. It served as a welcome point for evacuated Afghan refugees during the COVID-19 lockdowns, an information centre following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, a testing and vaccination site during the pandemic, and more recently a support point for people fleeing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

The report also highlights a wide range of other services offered through the site, including free classes, tax help, community consultations, a book exchange, a community garden and a gig worker hub.

The milestone comes at an interesting moment for the Elizabeth St site. As previously reported by CBD News, the long-term future of the Multicultural Hub remains somewhat uncertain, with its prime location opposite Queen Victoria Market prompting ongoing discussion about how the broader precinct should evolve.

For now, however, the one millionth visitor serves as a reminder of the site’s enduring civic value. In a part of the city often judged by redevelopment potential, the Multicultural Hub’s latest milestone underscores the importance of a place built around welcome, belonging and practical support.  •