Melbourne’s skyline is turning green with the completion of a groundbreaking green rooftop retrofit at 1 Treasury Place. Delivered through the Green Our Rooftop project—a partnership between the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government—this elevated oasis showcases how underutilised rooftops can be transformed into thriving green spaces.
Featuring low-maintenance, climate-resilient plants like succulents, herbs, and native grasses, the rooftop not only provides a habitat for bees, birds, and urban wildlife but also cools the building, reduces energy costs, and mitigates stormwater runoff.
This demonstration project is a tangible example of how existing buildings can be retrofitted to support urban greening and combat climate change.
“Victoria was once known as the Garden State—now, we’re working to make Melbourne the Garden City,” said Lord Mayor Nick Reece.
“Unused rooftops across Melbourne are a massively underutilised resource that have the potential to create new green space in the central city.”
“With massive greening and cooling potential, we hope the Green Our Rooftop project will lay the groundwork for retrofitting existing buildings and integrating green roofs into new developments – following the success seen in cities like New York, Singapore and Munich,” he said.
Supported by Melbourne Water and monitored by University of Melbourne researchers, the initiative aims to identify the most effective, low-cost designs for green rooftops. It also serves as a blueprint for businesses and developers, encouraging wider adoption of green rooftops across Melbourne.
“Green rooftops have the potential to provide enormous environmental benefits while reducing energy costs for businesses,” said Environment Portfolio Head Councillor Davydd Griffiths. “Our Urban Forest Fund offers financial incentives for property owners to green their spaces.”
Visit Green Our Rooftop to learn more and find out how to join the city’s green revolution.
