The Melbourne That Almost Was: Scrapped Plans That Would’ve Changed the City Forever

Melbourne is often celebrated for its iconic laneways, grand Victorian architecture, and the Hoddle Grid — that famously neat layout first drawn up in 1837. But what if we told you the city could have looked very different?

History is full of near-misses and ambitious visions. From underground cities to cable car networks, Melbourne has flirted with some wild urban ideas. Here are some of the most fascinating plans that were proposed — but never built — and how they would’ve reshaped the city you walk through today.

🚝 1. The Underground Inner Circle Railway (1910s–1950s)

Before the City Loop opened in the 1980s, there were multiple failed proposals to build an underground train line connecting key inner-city stations. One early version of the Inner Circle Railway would have had tunnels running directly under the CBD — decades before it finally happened.

What could have changed?
Swanston Street might not be the people-powered boulevard it is today. If the rail tunnel had been built earlier, major streets might have been reshaped to accommodate station entrances or elevated walkways. The street life and tram culture that define Melbourne might have felt more like New York.

🛫 2. The Flinders Street Demolition Plan (1960s)

In the 1960s, there was a serious push to demolish Flinders Street Station and replace it with a modern office tower. Yes, the dome, the clocks, the ballroom — all of it nearly got the axe.

Why didn’t it happen?
Public backlash was fierce. The station had become a cultural symbol — “I’ll meet you under the clocks” was already part of local identity. Thankfully, the plan was scrapped, and Flinders Street remains one of the most photographed buildings in the city.

🏙️ 3. The Vertical City of the 1970s

Melbourne flirted with radical skyscraper plans in the 1970s, including ideas to fill the entire Hoddle Grid with high-rises and raise pedestrian platforms above street level. Imagine walking from Collins to Lonsdale without ever touching the ground.

What stopped it?
Melbourne's planning regulations were altered to preserve “skyline views” and limit overshadowing of key landmarks like the Yarra and the Royal Botanic Gardens. A bit of old-school restraint saved the city’s human scale.

🌉 4. A Bridge Where There’s Now a Square

Before Federation Square was developed in the early 2000s, there was talk of building a giant bridge structure over the railyards, including offices, shops, and a hotel. The idea? Maximise space and commercial use. But it lacked public appeal and never progressed.

Instead, the controversial but ultimately iconic Federation Square emerged. Love it or hate it, it's one of the most recognisable spaces in modern Melbourne — and definitely better for pedestrian life than a traffic-heavy bridge.

🌆 Melbourne Could Have Been… Less Melbourne

It’s easy to think of cities as static — but Melbourne is full of "what if" moments that could have altered its character entirely. From losing its most beloved buildings to becoming a sterile skyscraper canyon, the Melbourne we know today was shaped as much by what didn’t happen as by what did.

👣 Want to Explore the Melbourne That Did Happen?

Join us for a pay-as-you-feel walking tour and explore the stories behind the streets, buildings, and quirky corners of Melbourne. We’ll show you the hidden details, the surprising past, and the vibrant present that make this city so unique.

Tours depart daily at 11am from Federation Square — no booking fees, just bring your curiosity!
👉 Book your spot now and see the Melbourne that almost was... and the one that truly is.