CERES Venue Hire Information Pack For informal workshops and outdoor gatherings: Indoor Lower Merri, Learning Centre, Multicultural Classroom and Outdoor Namalata Willem, African Shelter & Amphitheatre, Village Green and Village Pavilion Essential information for booking. For weddings and special events please check out our website or contact Venue Hire. CERES Community Environment Park Corner Stewart and Roberts Streets, Brunswick East, VIC 3057 T: +613 9389 0188 F: +613 9389 0101 E: venuehire@ceres.org.au
Venue Hire Information About CERES Situated close to Melbourne s inner city, CERES is an award winning, not-for-profit, environment and education centre and urban farm. Located just 6 kilometres from Melbourne CBD our Community Environment Park is a destination venue filled with lush native and edible gardens, open green spaces, roaming chickens and a range of social enterprises contributing to a truly sustainable future. Built on a 4.5 hectare decommissioned municipal tip that was once a landfill and wasteland, today CERES is a thriving, vibrant community. Over 300,000 people visit CERES each year and many more connect with us through our innovative program taking sustainable education to Victorian schools. Why choose CERES for your workshop or gathering? CERES offers so much more than just a venue. CERES is bordered by the Merri Creek, crowned with beautiful gums, over run with native, medicinal and permaculture garden beds and provides the perfect connection to nature. CERES itself operates an organic farm, grocery, permaculture and bushfoods nursery on site - providing plenty of opportunities for participants, friends and family to grab a coffee, see the chooks, fine tune their bicycle at the bike shed or just connect with the natural world. Each of the spaces at CERES are unique and provide a different way to engage with nature and the people attending your event. Lower Merri Located beneath The Merri Table the Lower Merri is a highly accessible venue close to the main CERES entrance. Half carpeted and half concrete this multi purpose venue is great for creative workshops, birthday parties and community meetings. Learning Centre The spiritual education centre of CERES the Learning Centre is host to meditation workshops, yoga classes and spiritual meetings. Available most Friday evenings, weekend afternoons and throughout school holidays the Learning Centre is a self enclosed facility with small kitchen and toilet facilities making it ideal for private functions and informal events. Multicultural Classroom Ideally suited to art and music based workshops the Multicultural Classroom is available in the evening, weekends and during school holidays. Accommodating up to 20 people, this large open space is located in the centre of the CERES site, and is the ideal location for noise based activities. Located within the Indonesian Village the is a naturally lit wooden structure set by the CERES border and Merri Creek. Primarily an educational space the is a simple classroom style venue only a short distance from the nature play area and CERES public toilets. Namalata Willem The Aboriginal meeting space on site at CERES the Namalata Willem is an open leaf shaped shelter with bench seating and fire pit. Ideal for ceremonial, observant and respectful gatherings. This space is semi private, with a discrete entrance near the Cultural Village on site. African Shelter & Amphitheatre A purpose built amphitheatre and open walled shelter located within the Cultural Village these spaces are ideally suited to intimate gatherings or performances. Featuring unique design and a fire pit within the African Shelter these spaces are best suited to public gatherings and shared events.
Village Green A lush green space, naturally enclosed by productive garden beds in the heart of CERES. Featuring a purpose built stage and open space for games, activities or a casual picnic, the Village Green is the perfect place for friends and family to gather. Village Pavilion A gorgeous open walled shelter in the centre of CERES this space is connected to the natural surrounds with gums towering overhead and vines intertwined among the balustrades. Ideally located next to the nature play area this space is ideal for children s birthday parties. Equipment and Facilities Limited equipment is available within each indoor venue as specified on the following page. CERES is able to hire limited equipment such as trestle tables, gas BBQ (gas not included) and PA system at outdoor staffed events only. Please note there is no vehicle access if bringing your own equipment. The Lower Merri is located beneath the Merri Table with close access from the car park. The Learning Centre is a self enclosed facility with indoor toilets and a small kitchen. All other indoor venues have access to running water. Outdoor venues have limited access to electricity and some access to running water. The closest toilet facilities to all other venues is the main public toilets located adjacent to the Village Pavilion and Village Green. Use of fire pits is subject to additional applications and prior approval. Free wifi is available across the park. Weather CERES is predominantly an outdoor venue and is subject to varying weather conditions. No refund will be issued on venue hire or associated costs for events cancelled or with reduced attendance due to inclement weather. Heating And Cooling A range of ceiling fans, pedestal fans and heaters are provided in indoor venues. Catering The Merri Table The Merri Table is the onsite caterer at CERES. The Merri provides delicious catering featuring fresh, local and organic produce to complement your CERES experience. With all day catering packages available for collection from The Merri or delivery to your venue, and function catering by request, the Merri is a delicious and sustainable way to energise your group through a unique local gastronomic experience. Contact merricatering@ceres.org.au or call 9389 0166 for menu options and a catering quote. Small groups (less than 15 people) are also welcome to book a table in the restaurant for weekday bookings. Approval by the venue hire team is required if you would like to use an external caterer at CERES. If approved we ask that all catering waste be removed from site and that you consider sustainable and ethical options in your selection. Location The CERES Community Environment Park main entrance is located at the corner of Roberts and Stewart Streets, East Brunswick, 3057. The Learning Centre is also accessible via Lee Street. Sustainable Transport Set in a unique and beautiful oasis just 6.2 kilometres from Melbourne s CBD, CERES is easy to reach by Tram 96, Northcote train station, Bus 503 or bicycle along the Merri Creek cycle path. We encourage the use of sustainable means of transport and CERES provides bicycle racks, transport maps & timetables. There is also parking available on site and close by.
Room capacity & equipment guidelines Please note that these guidelines are completely dependent on the type of activities to occur and the set up required., and not guaranteed. Learning Centre Trestle Tables x 10 Chairs x 40 Portable Whiteboard x 1 Workshop - 24 U-Shape - 18 Discussion - 40 Theatre - 40 Seated on floor - 80 Standing - 100 Learning Centre Lower Merri Trestle Tables x 6 Chairs x 24 In built 3 panel whiteboard Workshop - 24 U-Shape - 15 Discussion - 24 Theatre - 24 Lower Merri Multicultural Classroom Trestle Tables x 5 Chairs x 20 Portable Whiteboard x 1 Workshop - 16 U-shape - 12 Discussion - 20 Theatre - 20 Seated on floor - 30 Standing - 40 Multicultural Classroom Trestle Tables x 3 Chairs x 20 Easel Whiteboard x 1 Discussion - 20 Seated on floor - 30 Standing - 40 Namalata Willem Bench seats - 20 Seated Lower on ground - 40 Merri Standing - 80 African Shelter Fixed seating - 24 Amphitheatre Fixed seating - 60
Village Green Stage - 6m x 4m Seated on grass - 300 Standing - 400 Booking information Village Pavilion Tables - max 80 Standing - 120 Village Green or Village Pavilion Details Low impact daytime events Staffed daytime events Evening or high impact events Venue Hire Rates and Times Standard booking rates are per hour for outdoor venues or based on standard booking times as outlined below (Including GST): Indoor Room Rates and Times Standard booking times are 7 days per week as follows: Morning 8.30am 12.30pm (half day rate) Afternoon 1.00pm 5.00pm (half day rate) All Day 8.30am 5.00pm (full day rate) Evening 5.30pm 10.00pm (half day rate) Lower Merri Discounts, discretionary rates and rates for ongoing hire may be available on consultation with the Venue Hire Manager. Prices include GST and are correct at the time of printing. Please note that half day minimum bookings apply in our indoor venues. Please note a small increase will apply in 2019. How to book $80 per hour Exclusive use of venue for times booked. No vehicle access, equipment hire or live/ amplified entertainment permitted. $150 per hour (minimum 2 hours) From $200-$300 per hour Learning Centre Multicultural Classroom Size (sqm) 67 110 46 46 Half day $167.50 $200 $115 $100 Full day $310 $400 $230 $200 Exclusive use of venue for times booked. Vehicle access, equipment hire and live or amplified entertainment by permitted prior arrangement. Please contact Venue Hire for wedding, special event or festival enquiries. Namalata Willem or African Shelter $105 flat rate $105 flat rate Call 9389 0188 and speak with the venue hire team or email venuehire@ceres.org.au. Alternatively, visit ceres.org.au/venue-hire to view availability and complete an enquiry form.