Series
City life
Federation Square at 21
The Age explores Melbourne’s controversial quest for a monument of its own, the future of the square and the century-old dream to build a deck over the Jolimont rail yards.
Latest
State shelves dream to fix eyesore dubbed the ‘black hole of Melbourne’
The government has quietly abandoned the idea of decking the Jolimont rail yards next to Federation Square, after successive state leaders have struggled with costly plans for a century.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar
Loved, hated, soon to be updated: The next chapter for Federation Square
Jeff Kennett was no fan of Fed Square, but like many Melburnians, has grown to love it. But challenges with Melbourne’s civic space remain.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar
‘We were seeking an opera house’: Melbourne’s quest for a monument of its own
Two decades before Melbourne finally got Federation Square, a major competition gripped the imagination of the city - and the world - for the space. This is what they came up with.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar
Graphic content
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Hamas-Israel conflict as it happened: Gaza hospital explosion kills hundreds; Joe Biden arrives in Israel
Hundreds of people have been killed in an explosion at a hospital in Gaza City.
- by Jewel Topsfield, Caitlin Fitzsimmons and Latika Bourke
Yes advocates devastated as Victoria votes to refuse Voice
Although the proposal for an Indigenous Voice to parliament was defeated nationwide, Victoria was far closer than polling suggested.
- by Jewel Topsfield, Jack Latimore and Lachlan Abbott
Analysis
Disability royal commission
The old institutions are gone, but the segregation debate has a long way to go
The lack of unity over how to end segregation – and even what it means – shows there is much work to be done over how to include people with disabilities.
- by Jewel Topsfield
Exclusive
Disability royal commission
Disability royal commission split over future of special schools
The disability royal commission is divided over the future of special schools, with some commissioners to recommend they be phased out completely over the long term.
- by Jewel Topsfield
‘Just be kind’: The three-word message from one boy to the royal commission
A 2020 video of Quaden Bayles weeping about school bullies touched hearts across the world. Now his experiences have informed the findings of Australia’s long-awaited royal commission into disability.
- by Jewel Topsfield
Exclusive
Domestic violence
Family violence roles axed in public service purge
The purge of 77 roles at Family Safety Victoria has alarmed staff who say violence against women remains stubbornly high.
- by Jewel Topsfield
Cool running: To tackle an ultramarathon in Antarctica, start by training in a freezer
Pain scientist Donna Urquhart has been shutting herself in a Truganina shipping container as she seeks to set a world record for the longest polar ultramarathon.
- by Jewel Topsfield