Regenerative Fitz: A Community Vision from Present to Future

Facilitated and recorded by Regen Melbourne

The Fitzroy We Love Today
Fitzroy is a neighborhood of vibrant contrasts and rich community connections. What residents treasure most about their suburb is its authentic character, formed through layers of history, culture, and human connection.

At its heart, Fitzroy is defined by its walkability and accessibility. Residents celebrate being “close to everything” with excellent public transport including the beloved Number 11 tram, comprehensive cycling infrastructure, and the 30km speed limit that makes streets safer for all. The proximity to the CBD, coupled with the neighborhood’s self-contained nature, creates what many describe as “a 15-minute neighborhood” where daily needs are met within walking distance.

The suburb’s physical character is deeply cherished. Residents value the heritage buildings and streetscapes, the old bricks and stone laneways, and the architectural diversity that tells the story of Fitzroy’s evolution. The variety of buildings creates visual interest and preserves the area’s historical significance while allowing for new expressions of community identity through street art and community gardens.

Fitzroy’s social fabric stands out as particularly special. The community celebrates its remarkable diversity – “all types” are included, from various cultural backgrounds, ages, and socioeconomic circumstances. The public housing is viewed as an essential part of this inclusive character. There’s a strong emphasis on Fitzroy being “real – no pretense” where “people talk to strangers” and “neighbors know each other.” The community is described as caring, progressive, and filled with “colorful characters” who make everyday life interesting. Cultural elements bring Fitzroy to life. Residents love their local institutions – from the Fitzroy Pool (proudly “saved by the community”) to the Builders Arms, the Union Club, the Gertrude Hotel, the Black Cat, and the library. Live music venues and the rich history of performance spaces like the Punters Club and “The Fitz” create a sense of cultural continuity. Street festivals, particularly the Gertrude Street Projection Festival and the Spanish Festival, bring people together in celebration.

The Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter sculpture stands as a proud acknowledgment of the area’s significant Indigenous history and cultural importance. This connection to First Nations heritage is highly valued, as evidenced by the “high support for voice to parliament” noted in the community feedback.

Small businesses, particularly independent shops, cafes, markets and restaurants, contribute to Fitzroy’s special character. The “eclectic mix” of establishments serves practical needs while fostering community gathering spaces where “curbside chats” and “snippets of overheard conversations” create the soundtrack of neighborhood life.

Our Vision for Fitzroy 2050
Looking toward 2050, the Fitzroy community envisions a future that preserves and enhances what they love today while evolving to meet new challenges and opportunities.

Environmental sustainability emerges as a central priority. Residents imagine “more trees” and “green streets,” with “vegetation suitable for a changing climate.” They envision community gardens “alive and well,” with “street-grown food” and “herb and fruit growing on footpaths.”

Solar power would be widespread, and “neighborhood batteries” would store renewable energy. The community aspires to excellent recycling and reusing practices, creating a model of urban sustainability.

Transportation transformation features prominently in the 2050 vision. Many residents imagine “fewer cars” or even “no cars,” with improved infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. They hope for “silent trams” and streets designed for “living outside,” creating a more European-style urban experience similar to “Las Ramblas.” The community wants to maintain and enhance the walkability that defines Fitzroy today.

Housing and development concerns reflect desires for balance and preservation. Residents emphasize “no high-rise development” but support “mid-rise 4-storey developments” that maintain human scale. They want “housing not provided by developers” and “no investment properties, only lived in” homes to ensure genuine community connection. Affordability is key, particularly to “entice younger residents” and maintain the multi-generational character of the area. Social housing remains an essential part of this diverse vision.

The community aspires to enhanced inclusivity with “stronger First Nations roles in Yarra Council,” “Aboriginal-owned businesses,” and greater celebration of the diverse cultures that make up Fitzroy, particularly Ethiopian and Somalian communities. They envision “support for new arrivals” and programs to “help people out of poverty,” creating a neighborhood where “everyone has somewhere to live” in “safe, affordable housing.”

Civic and cultural life would thrive with “more festivals and celebrations,” “street theatre,” and community spaces accessible to all age groups. Business support would ensure that “small shops thrive” alongside supermarkets that “stock locally produced food.” The vision includes “more prominent street art” and creative spaces that nurture the artistic spirit that has long defined Fitzroy.

The community emphasizes “retained heritage buildings” and development that “maintains what we love about Fitzroy” while allowing for thoughtful evolution. They want developers who “prioritize a connection to place and emotion” rather than purely profit-driven development.

Bridging Today and Tomorrow
What emerges clearly from these community perspectives is a vision of continuity and enhancement rather than radical transformation. The Fitzroy of 2050 would remain recognizable to today’s residents – still diverse, still walkable, still characterized by its heritage architecture and vibrant street life – but with improvements that address environmental concerns, housing affordability, and inclusive representation.

The community’s vision reflects a deeply held belief that Fitzroy’s greatest strength is its diversity of people and experiences. From the elderly residents who provide historical continuity to the children whose presence signals investment in the future, from public housing to privately owned homes, from Indigenous heritage to newly arrived communities – this tapestry of human experience creates the “Fitzroy vibe” that residents want to protect and nurture for generations to come.

Through thoughtful preservation and progressive enhancement, guided by community values rather than commercial interests, Fitzroy can evolve while maintaining its unique character as a place where, as one resident simply put it “Fitzroy is home.”