8 Melbourne Blank Canvas Venues for Corporate Events

Warehouses remain as popular as ever as a venue choice for private and corporate events alike but if you need less of the grit, and somewhat prettier light-filled blank canvas space venues, read on.

If you've already read our earlier blog post on 9 Melbourne industrial warehouse venues, here's another eight to consider.

Studio 66, The Fitzroy Art Collective, 66 Cecil Street, Fitzroy

This venue space is in the heart of groovy Fitzroy and offers your event a wholesome, community-spirited vibe as it's run as a social enterprise.

While it has more of a school hall/university common room feel to it than a gritty industrial warehouse, the open space, suitable for up to 50 people cocktail style makes it perfect for decorating a smaller event and Fitzroy is, of course, Cool Central.

Perfect for workshops, film shoots, and lentil product launches (only kidding), Studio 66 does cater for vegans and vegetarians but also allows you to bring your own external catering and bar service for food and drinks. 

Little Ginger, 4/10 Akuna Drive, Williamstown

Melbourne's first port settlement, Williamstown, was saved from zealous modernisation and much of its maritime history remains.

Why not hire Little Ginger for a cocktail party of 100 people or less if your clientele or company is based on the western side of Melbourne and/or if your products have a shipping connection.

The interior is blessed with both polished concrete flooring and Astroturf (which adds instant greenery for a garden theme event and is kind to those who wear heels), and exposed beams and high ceilings (perfect for suspending fairy lights or festoon lights) while the outdoors grassed area is ideal for anything from food trucks and jumping castles to mini pet expos.

Sartoria, 115 Plenty Road, Preston [update: temporarily closed]

Sartoria is designed primarily for cocktail parties, not for sit-down dinners. It has a capacity of 90 comfortably but at a squeeze can fit in 110 and advises it will look empty for functions of less than 40 attendees.

There is a minimum $4,000 food and beverage spend but no room hire fee.

You can access it from 5pm to decorate but it is licensed to run only until 11.30pm. Note: it cannot host a DJ or live music due to license restrictions.

XO Studios, 10 Lincoln Street, Brunswick East

XO Studios is a light-filled, blank canvas space photography studio in Brunswick East offering you plenty of decor flexibility.

The entire venue has capacity for up to 150 guests, cocktail-style with its own kitchen facilities but you can bring in external catering.

There is plenty of free, all-day car parking one minute's walk away on Donald Street (free parking is a huge drawcard for guests).

Because it is a working studio, take note that you may not get access until after 5pm to provide decor and props for your event and because it is on a residential street, it cannot be booked past 10pm.

MicDrop Hawthorn, 10 Oxley Road, Hawthorn

You might be surprised to know even leafy, well-heeled Hawthorn has industrial-style venue spaces to hire for your event.

MicDrop Hawthorn (its other location is in Richmond) is a 145 square metre space, designed for up to 120 people cocktail-style, features exposed brick walls and black metal hardware for that industrial theme look.

The name of the venue obviously lends itself to a staff party with a professional comedian or perhaps you have a karaoke night or even a team event day to encourage employee engagement.

You can book it daily from 8am-midnight and it allows external catering. Parking is around the corner as is Glenferrie station.

Noisy Ritual, 249 Lygon Street, Brunswick East

Who would have guessed Melbourne has its own urban winery?

Noisy Ritual makes premium wine in the heart of the city with grapes sourced from Victorian vineyards.

Lined with oak wine barrels, and set on brick tiles Noisy Ritual looks just like a winery you'd expect to travel to the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula or any of Victoria's 20 other wine regions.

It's obviously perfect for a wine-related product launch with capacity of either 100 for a cocktail party or 100 seated at long communal tables.

It also allows external catering.

Plus 5, 37 South Wharf Promenade, South Wharf

If you don't want your staff and/or guests to travel outside the CBD, you may want to book Plus 5 on South Wharf.

One of the original cargo halls on the wharves, this venue space has been revamped just enough with a groovy white-tiled wall (complete with funky number 5) to keep its rustic origins while avoiding that draughty, even (let's be honest) sometimes dirty warehouse look.

Hire out the restaurant space inside (please note: external catering does not apply) for up to 100 cocktail-style or up 60 on round banquet tables, the Duke's Walk Terrace for up to 45 people enjoying cocktails and/or the Riverside Terrace for up to 80 cocktail-style. 



 


The Facility, Level 1, 12 Elizabeth Street, Kensington

Could this be Melbourne's most enormous warehouse option near Flemington Racecourse which just opened in November 2019?

Covering two city blocks, this vast blank space establishment features saw-toothed roof, exposed steel beams and red brick walls.

You're guaranteed to have enough space for your event whether intimate or enormous.

The Facility gives you incredible flexibility with its four venue spaces: The Annex (90 guests for a banquet event, 120 people cocktail-style), Purnell's Loft (256 banquet, 450 cocktail), Tallows (350 banquet, 750 cocktail) and Greenhouse (730 banquet, 1,500 cocktail).

Enjoyed this? Discover how to choose the best venue for your themed event.