Daytime Hire

Not your average meeting room.

Not so nocturnal? Fringe Common Rooms looks just as beautiful in the daytime. If you need a space for a conference, a daytime corporate event or anything else while the sun's up, we're here to help.

Fringe Common Rooms is a fully-restored heritage ballroom inside the Victorian Trades Hall, one of Melbourne's most iconic buildings. 

Whether you're running a workshop, shooting content, hosting a breakfast briefing, holding auditions, or running a wellness session, you'll be doing it in a space with genuine character, not a beige hotel conference room with a projector that doesn't work.

We offer flexible daytime hire for The Ballroom, The Lounge, or both, with pricing tailored to your specific needs.

What people hire us for

We don't do one-size-fits-all. Here's what works well in our spaces during the day:

Meetings & workshops

Off-site doesn't have to mean uninspiring. Bring your team somewhere worth being, with proper AV, flexible layouts, and a bar you can open if the occasion calls for it.

Away-days & team events

Full Ballroom and Lounge hire gives you room to move, space to break out, and an outdoor balcony for fresh air between sessions. Corporate, but make it interesting.

Content creation & shoots

Vaulted timber ceilings, hardwood floors, heritage detail, and 164 years of character that no studio can replicate. Fringe Common Rooms is increasingly popular with photographers, videographers, podcasters, and content creators who need a backdrop with a genuine point of view.

Yoga, wellness & fitness sessions

The Ballroom's generous floor space, hardwood floors, and high ceilings make it a natural fit for yoga, pilates, movement practice, and wellness workshops. If you're a practitioner looking for a regular weekly slot, get in touch, we love building ongoing relationships.

Auditions & casting

A real stage, proper lighting, and professional sound, available without the evening price tag. Ideal for theatre companies, film and TV productions, and independent directors holding open calls.

Training days & conferences

Theatre-style seating for up to 114, a professional PA, projection, and a flexible layout you can adapt through the day. Bring your own catering or work with Fun House Food Group, Common Rooms' preferred caterer. 

Production meetings & creative workshops

The Lounge works beautifully as a smaller room for script development, creative brainstorming, production planning, or any session where you need a space that doesn't feel like a corporate boardroom.

The Ballroom

Our main space is a fully-renovated heritage event space with vaulted timber ceilings, hardwood floors, and a professional stage. During the day it's available in a range of configurations — from theatre-style seating to open floor plans to workshop rounds.

•        Capacity: up to 174 standing · 114 theatre-seated

•        Stage: 5m deep × 4m wide, raised platform with wheelchair lift

•        Hardwood floors

•        Outdoor balcony for breaks

•        Vaulted heritage timber ceilings

•        Step-free, wheelchair accessible

 

Tech & equipment

Professional sound, lighting, and AV equipment is included in your hire, the same touring-grade setup used for our evening events. No hunting down a separate AV supplier, no hidden extras on top of your venue fee. 

What you actually need from the tech will depend on what you're doing. A workshop or meeting might need nothing more than a screen and a microphone. A casting session or shoot might want the full lighting rig. A content day might need something in between.

For anything more hands-on, like operating the lighting rig, running live sound, or managing AV on the day, you'll need a technician, either one of our in-house team or your own. When you enquire, tell us what you're planning and our team will work out what setup makes sense for your hire.

The Lounge

An intimate, salon-style room with soft furnishings and vintage character. Perfect for smaller groups, breakout sessions, production meetings, workshops, and script readings. Can be hired alongside the Ballroom or independently.

•        Capacity: 76 standing · 48 seated

•        Flexible soft furnishings, can be arranged or cleared

•        Step-free, wheelchair accessible

 

When both spaces are hired together, The Lounge makes an excellent breakout room, green room, or warm-up space.

Availability & Pricing

Daytime hire is available Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. If you're planning something that will continue or cross over into the evening, get in touch and we'll help work out what makes sense.

We don't publish fixed rates, because every hire is different and we'd rather give you a real number than a ballpark that doesn't mean anything. Tell us what you need and we'll come back to you with a clear, custom quote.

We work with everyone from independent practitioners to corporate teams. If you're not sure what you need, a conversation is the best place to start.

Why Fringe Common Rooms?

Because the space you work in shapes the work you do. Fringe Common Rooms isn't a serviced office, a function centre, or a blank canvas waiting for you to make it interesting. It already is interesting, with 164 years of history, a community of artists and makers, and a building that means something to this city.

•        Heritage Victorian Trades Hall building, Carlton, 5 minutes from Melbourne CBD.

•        Fully accessible, with step-free entry, lift access, accessible bathrooms, stage wheelchair lift.

•        Professional sound, lighting, and AV included. Tell us what you need and we'll work out the right setup

•        Two flexible spaces. Hire one or both.

•        Outdoor balcony.

•        Close to Lygon Street cafés and restaurants.

•        Easy to reach by tram, train, and bus.

•        Free, obligation-free venue tours available Monday–Friday.

Getting Here

Fringe Common Rooms is centrally located in Carlton, just 5 minutes from Melbourne CBD, in the heart of the city's vibrant arts and culture precinct. The venue is housed in the historic Victorian Trades Hall, situated near RMIT University, a short walk from Lygon Street cafés, restaurants, and shops, and close to Carlton Gardens and the Melbourne Museum. Fringe Common Rooms is easy to reach by tram, train, and bus, with multiple stops within a short walking distance. See how simple it is to get to Fringe Common Rooms.

Address

Fringe Common Rooms
Trades Hall
Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts
Carlton VIC 3053

How to book

Step 1  Fill out our enquiry form. Tell us what you're using the space for, which space(s) you need, your proposed date and times, and how many people will be in the room.

Step 2  We'll come back to you within 2–3 business days with availability and a custom quote.

Step 3  Book a free venue tour (optional but recommended). We offer obligation-free tours Monday–Friday. See both spaces in person, meet the team, and get a feel for the room before you commit.

Step 4  We'll send a booking agreement. Pay a deposit to lock in your date.