North Melbourne locals push for The Roundtable to become permanent

Local authorities and designers continue to discuss the future of The Roundtable installation, which has become a much-loved public feature of Errol Street Reserve.

The temporary seven-metre-diameter public table filled with edible plants has proven a success among locals since its installation in January 2023 as part of the City of Melbourne's city activation program.

The initiative, a collaboration between local architecture practice Common and landscape architects Enlocus, has sought to encourage North Melbourne residents to return to public spaces after long lockdowns during the pandemic.

North & West Melbourne Precinct Association (NWMPA) president Sylvia Hungria told North West City News about the positive outcomes “The Roundtable” has provided for residents and community members.

“We would love to have it as a permanent feature of our suburb,” Ms Hungria said. “This vibrant hub has successfully brought people together for meaningful social interactions.”

Ms Hungria also attributed part of the project's success to its eco-friendly design.

“Serving as a diverse urban green space, it has made a significant impact, offering not only a communal gathering place but also enriching sensorial experiences through its edible garden,” she said.

"We, as a community, have benefited so much from this amazing initiative.”

Despite the positive reception, the decision on whether The Roundtable will stay permanently is still under discussion between local authorities and the designers in charge.

Due to its temporary design, Common director Ben Milbourne said that further steps towards the maintenance of the project would be required to ensure its longevity.

“We have been having conversations with the City of Melbourne about what to do with it,” Mr Milbourne said. “It needs either to be renewed or replaced with something permanent. We don't know what's happening yet.”

“We'd like to do a permanent version of it because it's kind of getting towards the end of its life because of the materials that we use.”

The public table was originally envisioned to remain in Errol St Reserve for only three months, but it still remains a year-and-a-half since its installation.

Mr Milbourne said that if it dismantled, its organic and sustainable materials could be used in other projects or donated to members of the community.

“All of the other materials are recyclable or reusable,” he said. “All of the seats are big concrete plant pots that we will give to whoever wants them.”

“If it gets to the end of life, we move the materials on to the next project, and then it reverts back to being a grassed area in the Errol Street Reserve.”

The installation was originally short-listed for the 2021 NGV Architecture Commission and has been adapted to suit the Errol Street Reserve.

The Roundtable has been supported through the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund – a partnership of the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne.