Expression of Interest - lease 71A Acland Street, St Kilda
Location
Cost
Why are we doing this?
Council is offering 71A Acland Street, St Kilda for lease by Expression of Interest.
The current lease is set to expire in 2026 and a new lease of the property is required which will enable the reinvigoration and future use of this iconic location.
A redeveloped venue will allow this high-profile site to reach its full potential acting as a gateway for visitors to the southern end of the Acland Street precinct.
The impact
The renewal of 71A Acland Street aligns with Council’s commitment to champion live music and our declaration of St Kilda as Victoria’s first Live Music Precinct.
As part of a new lease, Council is offering a new seven-year agreement with the potential of a further 14-year term (giving a total potential term of up to 21 years) subject to the completion of a project to appropriately redevelop or comprehensively renew the existing building.
The Expression of Interest period will identify any future proposed design of works to the premises. Community members will have opportunities to provide feedback through the leasing and future development process.
Objectives
The successful bidder will be identified through a public Expression of Interest process.
Proposed key conditions for the lease include:
- Market rent
- Lease term – up to 21 years, dependent on completion of an agreed scope of works (to be determined).
Expression of Interest update
Monday 8 September 2025
At the 2 September Council Meeting it was decided to not award a long-term lease for this property, currently trading as The Vineyard, following a public Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
This is an iconic site and we want to get the best possible outcome for our community.
A new EOI will be undertaken after targeted community consultation is held to test priorities for this landmark site. At this stage, the consultation is planned to be held over the next six to 12 months.
The EOI respondents, who cannot be named for commercial privacy reasons, have been notified. We thank them for their participation and they are welcome to apply again when the new EOI opens.
The EOI was undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation and overseen by an independent probity advisor to ensure the utmost probity and integrity.
While the recommended respondents proposal did meet the criteria of the EOI, it required a significant financial contribution from Council. Councillors determined at the meeting that was not in our community’s interests.
The current lease expires in April 2026. We are working to secure short-term arrangements to maintain activation and ensure this much-loved site continues as a vibrant part of St Kilda during the new EOI process.