The Urban Studies Centre is at the heart of South Melbourne’s renowned heritage precinct.  Located in the Old South Melbourne Post Office, the Centre would be a place in which to explore the culture and heritage of the City of Port Phillip and the region. Visitor’s to the centre would experience the best in research facilities, library resources, learning programs, exhibitions and research assistance and local knowledge.
The Urban History Centre was to include new offices, a research area, active archive and storage area, multi-purpose room for up to 20 people, permanent and temporary exhibition space and staff amenities.  Currently this former Post Office houses the Emerald Hill branch of the City of Port Phillip Library Service. Local community groups also use the existing building. The Library was to remain as part of the new Centre. The circa 1960’s additions to the existing building was to be removed and the heritage building restored. The courtyard space on the corner of Bank and Perrins Streets was to be retained and re-landscaped as will the pedestrian link between Bank street and the laneway at the south of the site.A new single story addition to the existing heritage building is proposed on the eastern side of the site. This addition would house publicly accessible local heritage and research facilities.Annexed to this addition is an extension of the existing heritage building. This extension will match the scale and roof form of the heritage building and house the UHC offices and public archive. Within the heritage building itself a new multi-purpose room and staff and public amenities were to be housed. The linking corridor between the addition and existing building doubles as a permanent exhibition space and the lobby to the multi-purpose room provides temporary exhibition space. The library, to be be fully refurbished, remains in its current location and library staff will share amenities with UHC staff.