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Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Melbourne’s pulsating city life offers an array of enjoyable recreational activities for guests of all ages. Choices range from theatres to cinemas, outdoor performances to live music shows.

If your idea of entertainment is to watch a live music performance, then pay a visit to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Sidney Myer Music Bowl Events, Seating Map & Parking

This outdoor performance venue in Melbourne is truly one-of-a-kind; located next to the famous gardens of Kings Domain. Other popular landmarks nearby include the famous Arts Centre, which adjoins the Southbank entertainment precinct of Melbourne.

The Sidney Myer Music Bowl was officially opened in 1959, with the inauguration ceremony having a record audience of over 30,000 people. After so many years, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl is still in perfect condition and the Victorian Heritage Register has included it on its heritage list.

A number of popular music events and performances are held here each year. During its golden jubilee celebration, the Arts Centre had celebrated a four-day event and program offering free events for visitors.

One of the premier events held at the bowl each year is the Carols by Candlelight. This is a concert which raises funds for needy charities, with many of the most well-known and loved performers donating their time. Thousands of people attend with their families and sing along to Christmas carols, with the show televised to millions of people all across Australia.

The venue’s unique architecture is worth exploring. The Bowl features a canopy-like structure with a thin membrane and weather-proof plywood that serves best – even during extreme weather conditions.

The entire arena also features a seating capacity of people 10,000. With the main seating area on grass, attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or low lying chairs, so they can relax and enjoy.

If you are interested in attending one of the shows at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, get in early, as tickets sell out fast.

Seating plans will vary based on the type and size of each event, but here is an example of a past event held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne.

About the author

Michael Jones

Michael created and runs the Melbourne Point website, as well as the Holiday Point travel brand that incorporates a network of 16 location based travel information and attraction websites around Australia, Asia, and around the world.

With 25+ years of online experience and a passion for travel (having lived in Melbourne most of his life), Michael not only researches and writes content for the website, he also tinkers behind the scenes with the website functionality & design.

Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.

34 Comments

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  • I bought tickets for Childish Gambino on November 10 in 2 sets of purchases (I forgot to buy one of them accidentally) and three of the tickets are in LAWN15 GA4 and one is in LAWN01 GA9. Will all four of us still be able to stay together? I assumed that because the tickets were for the lawn it wouldn’t be a problem but now I’m a little concerned!

    • Hi Chloe,

      Best to check directly with the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. In previous events held at the venue, the lawn area is open and no barriers are in place to separate different GA ticket types. But I would still check, as you may have to simply enter at different gates and then meet up in the middle.

      Best regards,
      Jess

      • Hi Karen,

        Reviewing the conditions of entry on the Arts Centre Melbourne website, “You must not: consume food or drink (including alcohol) purchased outside the Premises”.

        As for smoking, it’s also mentioned that you can’t “smoke outside the designated smoking zone at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl”, so you aren’t allowed to smoke in the reserved seating area or on the lawn.

        Hope this helps and have a great concert!

        Thanks
        Michael

  • Hello! I’ll be attending Lana Del Rey on the 31st with a GA lawn ticket. I was just wondering if low rise chairs are permitted and are we allowed to bring in our own food? Thankyou :)

    • Hi Marilyn,

      Street parking around the Sidney Myer Music Bowl (Linlithgow Avenue and St Kilda Road) is extremely limited with a couple of disabled spots. You can also use the Arts Centre car park which is located at the rear of the Arts Centre (off Sturt and Kavanagh Streets).

      Best regards,
      Jess

  • Hello, I have tickets for Lorde tomorrow . We’re super excited but concerned about the weather as severe thunderstorms are predicted . As the Myer Music Bowl is obviously outdoors I’m just wondering if there is any possibility of the concert being cancelled and if so where this would be broadcast ? I will be bringing my two children from Ballarat (and it’s for my daughter’s birthday ) so obviously want to avoid disappointment.

    Thanks

  • Hi,

    We’re attending Paul Kelly on the 16/12! So excited. My questions are: Where are the closet parking facilities? Are we allowed to bring food, snacks, drinks, etc? (I know we’ll need low ground chairs or a picnic rug) Also what time will the venue open?

    Thanks and kind regards,
    Leah

    • Hi Leah,

      The performance schedule is as follows:
      Gates Open: 4pm
      Gretta Ray: 5pm
      Meg Mac: 6pm
      Gang of Youths: 7:15pm
      Paul Kelly: 8:45pm

      You are permitted to take in food, but no alcohol. Best parking is Fed Square, it is just a short walk from there. There is also some parking along St. Kilda Road which I believe is free of charge after 6pm.

      Have a wonderful time!
      Jess

  • Hi, am going to the Midnight Oil concert on Wednesday night and our tickets are for the lawn.
    Can anyone recommend how early we should go to get a good spot to sit down and also, any recommendations on where exactly a good spot is to sit on the grassed area and the not so good spot to avoid . I have never sat in the grassed area before.
    Thanks :)

    • Hi Jackie,

      I would get there as soon as gates open and make your way down as close as you can to the seated area. The grassed area is sloped, so there is no “perfect” spot. It is a small venue, so you will be close no matter where you sit and there are no structures to get in your way. Make sure to only take low to the ground chairs or a picnic blanket, as I understand high backed chairs are not permitted in the venue.

      Have a great time!
      Jess

    • Hi Peter,

      The Pop Up Globe has several accessible spaces. These cannot be reserved so, although they have plenty of spaces, it’s best to arrive early.

      To obtain further information about how to access these spaces, call the Globe organisers on (03) 9281 8000.

      Kind regards,
      Jess

        • Hi Robyn,

          I was advised that no chairs are permitted at all. I agree it seems strange for an open air forum like the Myer Music Bowl to not allow seats, given events like the Carols by Candlelight allows low backed chairs. If you want to push the issue, I got in touch with the organisers via their Facebook page:

          Kind regards,
          Jess

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