Lygon Street: can Melbourne’s Little Italy find its next chapter?

In this episode of Future Melbourne, we sit down with Sergio Alderuccio, president of Carlton Inc., to explore the past, present and future of one of Melbourne’s most iconic streets.

From its roots as the birthplace of Melbourne’s café culture to its golden era as a bustling hub of Italian life, food and celebration, Lygon Street has long held a special place in the city’s identity. Sergio shares his personal connection to the strip, the stories that have shaped it, and what it meant at its peak — from packed-out festas to unforgettable moments like World Cup celebrations spilling into the street.

But like many high streets, Lygon St is changing. We unpack the challenges facing traders today, from shifting consumer habits and foot traffic to vacancies, safety, cleanliness and the evolving mix of businesses along the strip. As new cultures and cuisines reshape the southern end, questions are being asked about what “Little Italy” means in 2026 — and whether the street can, or should, return to its roots.

We also explore the role of Carlton Inc. in supporting traders and activating the precinct, the push to revive the Lygon Street Festa, and the growing collaboration between businesses and residents around a shared vision for the street’s future.

This is a conversation about identity, evolution and what it takes to keep a great Melbourne street alive.

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How safe is Melbourne’s CBD — and how much of the concern is perception versus reality?

In this episode of Future Melbourne, we speak with Inspector Dale Huntington, Victoria Police’s Local Area Commander for Southbank and Melbourne East, about the evolving safety picture across central Melbourne.

With crime and amenity becoming defining issues in recent years, this conversation takes a calm and considered look at what’s really happening on the ground. We discuss crime trends in the CBD and surrounding precincts, the impact of COVID on the city’s rhythm, hotspot areas, retail theft, youth offending, knife crime, public order and the challenges of policing one of the busiest and most complex urban environments in the state.

We also explore how Victoria Police is responding through initiatives like Operation Harmony, the role of neighbourhood policing, the emergence of the City of Melbourne’s Community Safety Officers, and the importance of working with council, businesses, residents and support services when responding to issues around homelessness, mental health and visible drug use.

Inspector Huntington brings decades of operational policing experience to the conversation, including major events, public order, transport safety and executive leadership within Victoria Police. He offers a valuable perspective on what safety means in a modern global city — and what Melbourne needs to do to remain both safe and welcoming in the years ahead.

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Arden and Macaulay are two of Melbourne’s most important urban renewal precincts — but also two of its most contested.

In this episode of Future Melbourne, we sit down with former City of Melbourne councillor, long-time Kensington resident and urban planner Rohan Leppert to unpack what’s at stake in the future of these fast-changing inner-city neighbourhoods.

From the promise of Arden’s new Metro Tunnel station and the shifting vision for government-owned land, to Macaulay’s long-delayed planning controls, flood risks, affordable housing debates and the fight for open space along Moonee Ponds Creek, this is a conversation about how cities are shaped — and who gets to shape them.

We explore the history of both precincts, the political and planning tensions now playing out, and what must happen next to ensure growth is matched by liveability, infrastructure and community voice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.