Prahran Square

Prahran Square is a 10,000-square-metre urban parkland in Prahran, Melbourne, built above a 500-bay underground car park. Located at the corner of Izett and Chatham streets, it offers an open public setting for events, live performances, community activities and everyday visits. Prahran Station is about a five-minute walk away, with nearby trams and bus routes making it accessible without a car. The underground car park is open 24 hours, with entry from Izett Street.

The square is designed as a collection of different spaces rather than a single lawn. Centre Square provides a generous open area for events and activities, while The Lawn is suited to sitting, reading or taking in the surroundings. Landscaped terraces offer views across the parkland, and The Forest provides a shaded, quieter place to pause. There is also a Sensory Garden featuring more than 7,000 types of plants and shrubs, along with free public Wi-Fi, drinking stations, public and accessible toilets, and a Changing Places facility.

Families have plenty to explore, including paved garden paths, a large lawn and an interactive water feature with splash pads and water jets, which operate daily from 10am to 8pm. Dogs are welcome, with drinking stations and waste-disposal facilities provided. Cafe-style tables and chairs in the Sensory Garden make the square suitable for a casual picnic, while umbrellas are available in several areas for visitors looking for shade. Its mix of open, landscaped and play spaces also makes it practical for solo visits, relaxed catch-ups and family outings.

Prahran Square’s cultural program includes markets, music, health and wellbeing activities, festivals and events available for community and commercial hire. Featured programming on the site includes the Prahran Square Record Fair and Stonnington Engaged Weekly Tai Chi. The square also presents public art by Bruce Ramus, Jamie North and Dr Fiona Foley, including works that explore the relationship between the built and natural environment and the importance of bees to global ecosystems.

The site was created by the City of Stonnington through the transformation of the former Cato Street car park. Its environmental features include lawn, trees and extensive planting, rainwater reuse for irrigation, solar-powered waste and recycling bins, bike racks, an electric vehicle charging station and energy-saving lighting systems. With its combination of green space, art, practical facilities and changing event programming, Prahran Square is a flexible place to visit whether you are attending an organised activity or simply looking for an open space in central Prahran.