Monday, December 15, 2025

Moonee Valley council launches playground design contest

Moonee Valley City Council has launched a design competition to lead the redevelopment of the much-loved Queens Park in Moonee Ponds.

The design project builds upon community feedback gathered during consultation in May and June, when more than 150 people shared their aspirations for the future of the playground.

Competition advisors, CityLab, are currently welcoming expressions of interest from eligible artists and designers, who will need to draw inspiration from ideas gathered during the community consultation.

Two shortlisted entrants will then be asked to prepare preliminary concepts and have their designs evaluated.by a panel of experts:

  • Professor Mel Dodd, Dean of Monash Art Design and Architecture
  • Jocelyn Chiew, from Jocelyn Chiew Strategic & Urban Design
  • Georgia Chisholm, Adviser, Office of the Victorian Government Architect
  • Jade Niklai, Head of Visual and Public Art, Moonee Valley City Council

Mayor, Rose Iser said the competition would secure a new, exciting community space for the future.

“Queens Park is a place close to the hearts of many Moonee Valley residents, especially our children who frequent the playground,” she said.

“This competition is all about recreating Queens Park for our children.

“I think we can expect to attract some really imaginative, world-class designs that live up to our community expectations for our parks and playgrounds.”

It’s been a big year for playgrounds in Moonee Valley, with record-breaking exhibition The Playground Project Melbourne ushering in several new playground acquisitions, including the Lozziwurm Playground – which is now installed at Incinerator Gallery in Aberfeldie. It joins the Ringtales Playground and Edwina Green’s newly commissioned First Nations playable art sculpture in the gallery gardens.

A winner is due to be announced in June 2026. For more information, and to express interest, visit the CityLab website.

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