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The Grace Street Project is a community-driven endeavour to establish a mixed-use, all-weather venue in South Invercargill creating a place of pride and belonging. We've acquired a large, abandoned building at the heart of the community, with Stage One building consent approved and Stage Two consent expected in August 2025.

Our goals

  • Create flexible spaces adaptable for various purposes including, workshops, meetings, exhibitions, and physical activity

  • Provide a safe, welcoming environment for youth activities

  • Offer resources and connections for career and business development

  • Establish a technology hub accessible to all

  • Promote intergenerational connections

  • Enhance community resilience and well-being

Our collaboration with McCulloch Architects ensures a vibrant, multi-purpose community hub that meets South Invercargill's diverse needs.

Be part of this transformative journey.

Community empowerment and sustainability

A group of five adults smiling looking at the baby one of the adults is holding

A hosted community lounge, helping to build social connections, friendships and a sense of belonging

Our goals.

People milling around a long table with big bowls and plates of food

Flexible spaces that are fit for many different purposes

A group of three young women looking intently at professional cameras

A safe and welcoming environment for young people with opportunities for activities like dance, gaming, art & fitness

Young Pasifika women sitting down at what looks like a conference or talk

Access to resources, advice and connections for pathway planning into work or new business development including co-working and office spaces

A group of people sat at a long white desk all working on laptops

A youth technology hub that also provides everyone in the community with access to, and training in, technology

An older Asian man and young child playing chess

Promote intergenerational connection

A group of young adults smiling at the camera standing in front of a modern building

Improve the community’s resilience and wellbeing

Use green energy initiatives to design a space in an innovative and sustainable way

A rooftop with a large sola panel on top
A group of people milling around inside a room with paintings on the walls at an art gallery

Create a space for artists and art lovers to gather, learn, exhibit and network

The Grace Street Project Building Designs

An artist impression of people milling inside of the Grace Street Project with a purple filter on top

The team at McCulloch Architects have been hard at work creating plans that will transform the former Grace Street Chapel into a vibrant, multi-purpose community hub that meets the needs of South Invercargill. Explore the designs to get a glimpse of what we’re trying to achieve.

An artist impression of the Grace Street Project building in Invercargill

Artist Impression Images and Floorplans

Project Costs

The project has already secured over half of its total funding, raising $3.6 million by July 2025. 

We are now seeking to raise the balance of the funds required.

Once established and operational, it’s our objective that the facility will be financially self-sufficient. The IC2 Trust will manage it on behalf of the community.

FAQs

  • We have completed all the engineering investigations including structural, mechanical, fire and geotechnical, finalised detailed working drawings and obtained building consent for Stage 1. The building consent application for the remainder of the build has been submitted.

  • 800 m2 over two floors

  • As part of the feasibility study for the project, we consulted with 92 youth and 47 organisations and individuals covering sectors such as education, business, arts, health and fitness, Māori, government and many community organisations, all  of whom identified a strong need for the project.  We have subsequently held stakeholder update sessions and send regular e-newsletters.

  • • Janette Malcolm

    • Lyndal Ludlow

    • Kim Forsythe

    • Terry Nicholas

    • Chami Abeysinghe

    • Joanne O’Connor

    • Sharon Reece

    • Craig Taylor

    • Susan Burke

    Find out more about us.

  • The Hub will be self sufficient once its operational through a mix of:

    • Regular income will come from foundation tenants including  Southland Institute of Technology (signed a 5 year commercial lease) and the Youth Technology Hub

    • Rental from offices, recording lab and co-working spaces

    • Income from the use of the four other spaces that will be available to groups, individuals and corporates on a booking basis.  The use of the community lounge and conservatory would be free.

    • Endowments or grants. For example we have been gifted the assets of another Trust to assist with the hosted community lounge.

  • “We would use the Centre to meet with people to support their pathway planning and provide seminars and training related to successfully transitioning to different opportunities.”

    Murihiku Regenerate

  • “Our whānau are very engaged in making things as great for their tamariki as they can, but there are some challenges unique to them, and to South Invercargill, and I can see this project alleviating many of those.” “This project feels like something that could encourage amazing community pride and that the possibilities would only grow more and more.”

    Te Kura o Whare Pā – Fernworth Primary School

  • “The Grace Street Project offers the opportunity to partner with a highly credible community partner (the IC2 Trust) to establish connections, engagement and ultimately pathways with people in our community who we will otherwise struggle to reach

    Southern Institute of Technology - Te Pūkenga

  • "We see huge value in the work that IC2 are progressing, as part of the creation of a broad range of safe and inclusive spaces for young people in the Invercargill area."

    Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation - One NZ

  • "A purpose-built venue would enable more technologically sophisticated events and opportunities for the South Invercargill community."

    Your Corps

  • "As an organization, we work closely with rangatahi and youth, so we can attest to the need for a space such as this that provides these services, particularly in South Invercargill where a large portion of our Maori/Pasifika community reside."

    MIHARO, Māori and Pasifika cultural arts trust based in Invercargill

  • "65% of Grey Power members live in South Invercargill and most can’t drive or get into town so they can’t participate in most of our activities. The opportunity to be active, included and belong in a space which spans all age groups is really important. There isn’t anywhere now for them and intergenerational is so important."

    Grey Power

  • "This project aligns to our purpose: ‘Empowering working people and our communities for a better life.' It would be invaluable to have a community based facility such as this in South Invercargill where many of our members and workplaces are located or reside."

    E tū Union

  • “We have been trying to find ways to be more active within the Southland community to raise awareness that people with disabilities can make valuable and positive contributions to our communities. This project creates a great opportunity for us.”

    CCS Disability Services

  • "A multipurpose facility so close to much of our community will allow greater inclusion and opportunities to mix with wider groups if and when our members are ready. A facilitated community lounge would be a fantastic asset for our already vulnerable groups as it would help provide an element of security and careful management of people movement if necessary."

    Chroma the LGBTQI+ initiative for Southland

  • "We would welcome the opportunity to have access to exhibition space for our members. We often need a venue for a range of activities, such as workshops and it would be good to be close to the centre of South City. Your proposal would be a boost to the South Invercargill area."

    Southland Art Society