Public notice: Melbourne Central Business District and surrounds - Saturday 13 September 2025

Declaration of the Designated Area under section 10D (1) of the Control of Weapons Act 1990

The public place area depicted on the map below has been declared to be a Designated Area under section 10D (1) of the Control of Weapons Act 1990 (the Act).

Boundary of the Designated Area

All public places within the area, bounded by:

• the intersection of Peel Street and Victoria Street
• east to the intersection of Victoria Parade and Clarendon Street
• south to the intersection of Clarendon Street and Wellington Parade
• west to the intersection of Flinders Street and Batman Avenue
• south-east to the intersection of Batman Avenue and Olympic Boulevard
• west to the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Alexandra Avenue
• south-east to the intersection of Alexandra Avenue and Anderson Street
• south to the intersection of Anderson Street and Domain Road
• west to the intersection of Domain Road and Birdwood Avenue
• north-west to the intersection of Birdwood Avenue and Anzac Drive
• west to the intersection of Anzac Drive and St Kilda Road
• north to the intersection of St Kilda Road and Southbank Boulevard
• west to the intersection of Southbank Boulevard and Yarra Bank Highway / City Road
• south-west to the intersection of Yarra Bank Highway / City Road and Power Street
• north-west to the intersection of Power Street and Queens Bridge Street
• south-west to the intersection of Whiteman Street and Spencer Street / Clarendon Street
• north along Spencer Street / Clarendon Street over the Yarra River to the intersection of Spencer Street and Collins Street
• west to the intersection of Collins Street and Wurundjeri Way
• north to the intersection of Wurundjeri Way and La Trobe Street
• north-east to the intersection of La Trobe Street and Spencer Street
• north to the intersection of Spencer Street and Dudley Street
• east to the roundabout intersection of Dudley Street and Peel Street, and
• north to the intersection of Peel Street and Victoria Street.

The designated area includes all roadways and footpaths associated with the stated road and road related areas. Road has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Road Safety Act 1986.

If you are detained for a person or vehicle search under the Act you will be given a designated area search notice.

This notice contains a map of the area which has been designated and the time period of the declaration.

Excluded areas

The following areas are excluded due to a declaration of a designated area already being in place from 1 September to 11 October 2025 (published in the Gazette on 29 August, 2025).

Flinders Street railway station and surrounds, the area bound by and including:

• the intersection of Swanston Street and Yarra Walk
• north to the intersection of Swanston Street and Little Collins Street
• west to the intersection of Little Collins and Queen Street
• south to the intersection of Queen Street and Flinders Street
• west to the intersection of Flinders Street and Banana Alley
• east along Banana Alley along Yarra Walk, and
• east to the intersection of Yarra Walk and Swanston Street.

Melbourne Central railway station and surrounds, the area bound by and including:

• Elizabeth Street
• Little Bourke Street
• Russell Street
• Victoria Street
• Swanston Street, and
• Franklin Street.

Southern Cross railway station and surrounds, the area bound by and including:

• Collins Street
• Spencer Street including Bourke Street Pedestrian Bridge
• Lonsdale Street West of Spencer Street
• La Trobe Street, and
• Wurundjeri Way.

Victoria Police powers in designated areas

Police officers and protective service officers (PSOs) are empowered to search a person and anything in the possession or control of the person, or a vehicle, for weapons under the Act.

You, your vehicle or things in your possession are in a public place within a designated area.

A police officer or PSO intends to conduct a limited search of you or your vehicle/things:

• You are requested to co-operate with that search.
• You may be requested to remove items of outer clothing such as headwear, scarves, jackets, etc.
• You may be searched using an electronic wand.
• You may be requested to remove items from any bags or pockets.
• You may be given a “pat down” search.

A police officer may also exercise their power under the Act to direct you to leave the designated area if you refuse to remove a face covering.

A police officer may direct you to leave the designated area if they reasonably believe that you intend to engage in conduct that would constitute an affray or violent disorder under s.195H and s.195I of the Crimes Act 1958 respectively.

It is an offence under the Act to obstruct or hinder a police officer or PSO in the exercise of a power to stop and search a person or vehicle or to fail to comply with a direction to leave the designated area.