FAQs
- New (and much larger) Library including spaces for digital opportunities
- Civic Square
- Community/Government Hub including Council offices, Customer Service and Allied Health services
- Only 15.4% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with a Victorian average of 29.2%.
- Median weekly income in Southern Grampians is $1,261, well below the Victorian average of $1,759.
- Reported family violence rates were 35% above the state average in 2023/24 and rising.
- 21.2% of households do not have an internet connection, limiting access to education, employment and services.
- 33.2% of residents are aged over 60, compared with 22.4% across Victoria.
- 34.1% of people live alone, compared with a Victorian average of 25.9%, increasing the risk of isolation and loneliness.
- Improve retention and attainment for young people in education and training.
- Support business growth through enhanced digital access and meeting facilities.
- Provide dedicated spaces to for lifelong learning, including supporting education providers such as Country Universities Centre (CUC)
- Establish a multi-agency centre, providing integrated access to government and community health services.
How much will the new building cost?
The Hub concept and detailed design package was included as part of the funding secured through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, with $5 million granted in October 2024.
Council is now seeking funding to support the construction phase of the build. Council has dedicated $17 million to the project with another $17 million needed in government support to deliver the Hub for the Southern Grampians community.
Where will the new Community Hub be built?
The new Community Hub will be built on the former Mitre 10 and former Toyworld site located at 90 - 92 Lonsdale Street, Hamilton.
What will the new build include?
Why is this build important?
Residents across the shire face deep and persistent economic and social challenges. These include youth disengagement from education and employment pathways, limited access to digital tools and skills, barriers to inclusion, and reduced access to essential regional services.
The community is working to strengthen social cohesion, support local business innovation, and grow cultural life — efforts that are constrained by current infrastructure and service gaps.
Our residents face a number of barriers:
Why a new Library?
The centrepiece of the Community Hub will be a purpose-built, state-of-the-art library and digital hub designed to serve the whole community. Built in the 1960s, Hamilton’s current library is significantly undersized for the community it serves. NSW library standards indicate that a town of Hamilton’s size should have a library of approximately 881 m² — nearly double the existing 482 m². As the library serving the whole of the Southern Grampians region, the recommended standard increases to 1,125 m².
The gap between what is needed and what currently exists places constant pressure on staff, spaces and services. The result is a library that is stretched beyond capacity and unable to meet growing community demand for programs, events and support.
Demand for activities far outweighs supply with programs being fully booked within hours, creating disappointment for residents and leaving many without access to vital learning and connection opportunities. This pressure particularly impacts families and children who rely on free, accessible programs.
The absence of a dedicated program space means staff must regularly pack away books and move shelving, to run even the most essential activities. On any given day, the library is crowded and constrained, limiting how people can read, study, connect and participate. This affects the quality of the experience for users of all ages and highlights the urgent need for a purpose-built, future-ready facility.
Why a Community Hub?
Council administration staff currently operate from two ageing office sites that no longer support contemporary work practices or the level of collaboration expected of a modern organisation. The Hub provides the opportunity to bring all Council staff together in a single, agile workplace designed for flexibility, teamwork and improved service delivery.
Co‑locating Council with other government services in the Hub will create a more connected, efficient and community‑focused environment. Shared workspaces, meeting rooms and customer‑facing areas will enable staff to collaborate more easily, streamline processes and respond to community needs in a more coordinated way. This integrated model also strengthens relationships between agencies, supports joint planning and problem‑solving, and creates a clear, accessible point of contact for residents seeking information or assistance.
By consolidating services provided by multiple agencies under one roof, the hub will enhance our communities overall experience, making it easier for people to access support, engage with and benefit from a more unified public service presence in the heart of Hamilton. The Hub will also enable Council to foster a more cohesive organisational culture, reduce duplication, and improve sustainability.
What about the Civic Square?
Beyond the building itself, the precinct improvements will deliver new parking areas, energy‑efficient lighting and pedestrian‑friendly footpaths. At the heart of the precinct is the civic square, a central public space that will connect key civic and cultural destinations including the New Hamilton Gallery, Hamilton Performing Arts Centre, CBD streets and laneways, and Melville Oval. Together, these elements will create a vibrant, walkable precinct that encourages people to explore, connect and participate in community life.
Hamilton’s CBD currently has no dedicated green space or welcoming public area for community gathering, informal use or civic events. The civic square directly addresses this gap and activates a currently neglected area. It will provide a welcoming, accessible and flexible space for events, celebrations, exhibitions and everyday activity, offering residents, visitors and local businesses a much‑needed focal point for community life and encourage private sector investment, right in the heart of the town.
As an architectural extension of the Hub, the civic square will express Hamilton’s history and evolving identity, incorporating interpretive design elements and public storytelling that honour both the town’s past and its future aspirations. The former Hamilton Uniting Church, integrated into the square’s layout through cohesive landscaping and intentional sightlines, will continue to serve as a valued community facility and enrich the precinct’s cultural narrative.
What will this project do for our community?
By delivering a new Community Hub with dedicated digital spaces and strong connectivity, Council will address gaps in broadband access, digital skills and the shortage of technology-enabled business and community places.
The facility will offer inclusive spaces where people can learn, connect, and build digital confidence, while also supporting local enterprise, workforce development, and innovation. Bringing Allied Health and Council services together in one centralised location will streamline service delivery for the community, foster lifelong learning, and strengthen regional partnerships.
Together, the Hub and the civic square will form Hamilton’s civic heart, supporting creativity, learning and innovation through flexible indoor and outdoor spaces. This development will foster local pride, strengthen social cohesion and establish a vibrant, inclusive destination for events, exhibitions and everyday community life.