On the lookout for a function room near the water in Melbourne but not really feeling anything around Albert Park or St Kilda? Fair enough, there are other options out there. Have a look at the Docklands, which feature some of the best function rooms that the Melbourne private hire scene has to offer. The places that offer their spaces for hire are as diverse as the Docklands themselves, so let us help you take some of the legwork out of finding the right space for your event. Have a look through our listings and use our array of search options to see what jumps out at you around the Docklands.
Straddling the Yarra, the Docklands is Melbourne’s premier modern harbour area, and it is filled with brand new high-rises and popular areas for shopping and getting a meal and some drinks along the water. The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel stands as a colourful sentinel in an area defined by pedestrian plazas filled with public urban art pieces, light displays, family-friendly sports and activity venues in Marvel Stadium and Harbour Town (anyone for mini-golf?). Visitors can catch the sunset at the Central Pier, take a stroll over the nearly adjacent Webb Bridge and Jim Stynes Bridge or even catch a cruise on the Yarra with the Melbourne Tramboat or Melbourne Showboat.
The Docklands isn’t huge, but they manage to fit a lot into a relatively small space. What this means for you is that you’re relatively spoilt for choice when it comes to function room hire in the area, regardless of whether you want to book something by the water, in a high-rise, or anything in between. Here are a few good areas to start looking:
Function rooms in the Docklands can be priced in a few different ways, usually depending on the venue type. Versatile event spaces, meeting rooms, and studios often have hire fees, which start at around $33 per hour or $300 per session. These prices usually include the use of space and some of the facilities, so you might face many additional costs when organising the event. Minimum spend is a model often used at bars and restaurants in the Docklands. The prices for these can range anywhere from $1,300 up to over $8,000, as they are calculated based on many different factors such as the size and time of the event. You should be able to find convenient package deals at many types of function rooms, averaging between $30 and $90 per person. (All data from Tagvenue.)
If you want to book the perfect function room easily and without much hassle, use our free venue finder! Our smart search features will help you find the optimal venue for your event, but first you need to make some decisions. Start by determining your budget and guest list, the price and capacity are primarily what you need to take into account. Make a list of facilities you will need to run the event as planned, but keep in mind that finding the perfectly equipped space in the Docklands is not always possible - a great way to overcome this is to check if you can rent out some of the equipment and bring it by yourself! However, there might be some requirements that can’t be overlooked, such as wheelchair accessibility or catering that can satisfy your guests’ dietary restrictions.
After you know what you’re looking for, adjust the search filters and easily narrow down the results. At this stage, you can start reading reviews, looking at photos, and checking pricing details of the function rooms available. Make a shortlist of your favourite spaces and fill out the enquiry forms - you’ll be in touch with a venue manager before you know it! Just remember to keep more than one function room and, if possible, a few alternative dates in mind.
There are! If you’re organising a large conference, party, or even a wedding reception, these function spaces in the Docklands will fit a lengthy guest list: