Access Information

Accessibility Statement

Trans Book Festival is committed to access and inclusion for everyone, including people with disability. We designed this website to be as accessible as possible for all people.

How we make sure we are accessible

  • We make sure our internal processes are accessible

  • We ask anyone who engages with us about their access needs and do our best to meet them

  • We select venues based on their accessibility, and communicate access information

  • We regularly meet and talk about how we can be more accessible.

Website accessibility features

  • High colour contrast, tested with a contrast checker

  • Alternative (embedded) text for all images

  • Descriptive hyperlinks

  • Keyboard navigation

  • PDFs tagged for screen reader access.

You can tell us what you think

If you have feedback about how we can be more accessible, we want to hear it! You can:

Workshop Venue

Studio Take Care

1 Pitt Street
Brunswick VIC 3056

 

How do I get there?

  • You can drive to Studio Take Care, but parking can be tricky on Pitt Street. 

    We recommend allowing at least 15 minutes to park. 

    Pitt Street has one accessible parking bay, one 30 minute parking bay, six 5 hour parking bays, three loading zones, seventeen unlimited parking bays, and one 1 hour parking bay.  

    Despite all the options, the street is often full. Alternative streets for parking which are an easy walk to Studio Take Care are Loyola Avenue or Evans Street. 

    Parking inspectors do patrol the area.

  • Trams:

    Pitt Street is located on the Lygon Street Tram line, serviced by the number 1 and 6 trams. 

    Lygon Street tram stops are not ramp accessed stops/wheelchair accessible. 

    The closest ramp accessed tram stop to Studio Take Care is Nicholson Street, stop 21 on the 96 tram line which is 950 meters away and requires crossing 4 streets, 3 of which have pedestrian lights.

    Bus:

    Coming soon

    Train:

    Coming soon

    Other:

    Studio Take Care has two permanently fixed bicycle lock-up bars at the front of the building.

Once I get there

  • Signs:

    There is no signage at the front of the building that tells you it is Studio Take Care.

    However, the big metal gate/doors leading down the side entrance path are painted with an Aboriginal flag and a Progress Pride flag, and the building has “No. 1 Pitt St” in white lettering above the front entrance door.  

    Front Door:

    There is a cobblestoned footpath leading to the front door. 

    There are several concrete steps to get to the front door and no handrails.

    The front door can be pushed open.

    Side Door:

    The side door/entrance is wheelchair accessible. There is a ramp to get in (pictured below).

  • Front lobby/entryway:

    There will be at least one TBF team member/volunteer at the front entrance to greet you. They can accompany you to the side entrance for an accessible/step-free entry into the building.

    TBF team members/volunteers will be wearing lanyards.

  • Coming soon

  • Smoking:

    Smoking is not allowed inside the studio/building.

    There is a smoking area in the shaded courtyard at the back of the building.

  • The front entrance of Studio Take Care, visible from Pitt Street

    Studio Take Care front entrance

  • Accessible parking on the street, directly opposite Studio Take Care

    Studio Take Care accessible parking

  • Two bike racks on a footpath outside Studio Take Care

    Studio Take Care bike racks

  • A footpath down a laneway to the step-free side entrance of Studio Take Care

    Studio Take Care path to accessible side entrance

  • The side entrance of Studio Take Care, which has double doors accessible by a ramp

    Studio Take Care side entrance

  • A person stands behind a podium in the front entryway of Studio Take Care

    Studio Take Care front lobby/entryway

The Wheeler Centre

176 Little Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Festival Weekend Venue

 

How do I get there?

  • Personal Vehicle

    Parking is available at QV and Melbourne Central shopping centres, both nearby, for a fee. There are two metered street-side disability parking spaces available on the left-hand side of Little Lonsdale Street – accessible from the Swanston Street end – roughly 25 metres from The Wheeler Centre’s wheelchair access ramp. These spaces have a maximum parking limit of 2 hours between 7.30am-8.30pm, and unlimited outside of these hours.

    There are two disabled parking spaces on Little Lonsdale Street (just east of the Swanston Street corner), and three disabled parking spaces on Latrobe Street between Swanston and Russell Streets – all with two-hour limits during weekday business hours.

    Taxi/Ride Share

    The nearest taxi rank is on Elizabeth Street, outside Melbourne Central. Several private tricycle taxi companies also operate in Melbourne’s CBD.

  • Tram

    You can get a tram from the superstop outside State Library Victoria on Swanston Street, between Little Lonsdale and LaTrobe Streets. Other nearby stops include ones a block away, at the corners of Elizabeth and LaTrobe Streets.

    The nearest tram stops are:

    • Swanston Street, stop 8 outside Melbourne Central/State Library Victoria (routes 1-6, 16, 64, 67, and 72) (110 metres from The Wheeler Centre entrance)

    • La Trobe Street, stop 7 (routes 30 and 35) (220 metres from The Wheeler Centre).

    Bus

    The nearest bus stops are on Lonsdale, Russell, and Exhibition Streets. The bus routes are:

    200 302-305 905-908 955

    207 309 941 and 942 961

    250 and 251 318 944 and 945 966

    350 951 and 952 969

    Bicycle

    There are several bike racks close to The Wheeler Centre where you can lock up your bike. There’s also a Melbourne Bike Share station at the corner of Swanston and Little Lonsdale Streets, where you can hire or return a shared bike.

Once I get there

  • The Wheeler Centre entrance has nine concrete steps from the road to the front door platform. The stairs are five metres across, bookended by glass panel balustrades under long metal grab rails, one on either side. There is also a wheelchair accessible ramp, with metal grab rails that run the length of the ramp on either side.

    A six-metre high contemporary rectangular arch frames the whole structure. The sidewalls have thick pale green glass. Please note that you cannot access The Wheeler Centre via State Library Victoria.

    Front door and foyer

    The building entrance is on Little Lonsdale Street. You can use the stairs or the ramp. The front doors of The Wheeler Centre are automatic sliding doors. The doors are 1.41 metres wide.

    There will be a TBF team member at the front door or in the foyer to greet you as you arrive. 

  • There is an accessible, private, and gender-neutral toilet in the foyer. This space is designated as aerosol and fragrance free.

  • Physical accessibility

    The Performance Space doors are 1.84 metres wide. The space is a long narrow space and chairs will be set out in rows, in a single block, with no centre aisle. The chairs are non-fixed plastic molded seats, without arms, with two curved metal frames supporting the sides.

    The aisles on either side will be at least 1 meter wide. The floor is flat and suitable for most wheelchairs and other mobility aids. There are no internal stairs in the foyer area or in the main space.

    In addition to four stairs, there is a lift to get up to the stage.

    Sensory accessibility

    Please note that The Wheeler Centre's Performance Space is located in Melbourne's CBD. There may be occasional noises that are audible in the space including traffic sounds, sirens, trucks, etc. The venue is also directly above a café, and across the road from an industrial loading bay. Sounds of people talking or bottle-bins being emptied are often audible in the Performance Space.

    What if I am D/deaf or hard of hearing?

    If you are hard of hearing, we can reserve a seat for you a few rows back from the stage as this is where the sound is most audible. You can also sit in the front few rows in order to lip-read or for any other reason. If you would like us to reserve you a seat, please email contact@transbookfestival.org with the name on your ticket and your preferred seating location.

    The Wheeler Centre has a hearing loop in the Performance Space, which allows patrons who are wearing a hearing aid to tune in to the frequency of the venue. Those who use a hearing aid can tune into the 'T' channel to access the hearing loop.

    What if I have an assistance animal?

    We can provide drinking water for assistance animals if you let us know you’ll be bringing them.

    • The Performance Space has two large air purifiers that help to eliminate viruses, allergens, and pollutants. Trans Book Festival will provide N95 masks and hand sanitiser in the foyer for you to use.

    • You are welcome to bring in, and use, stimming devices.

    • There is no dress code for this event.

    • The Wheeler Centre’s maximum capacity is 210. That means there will not be more than 210 audience members at Trans Book Festival.

    • The Wheeler Centre’s audience seats have a maximum weight capacity of 160kg, and stage chairs have a maximum weight capacity of 150kg.

    • The Wheeler Centre is a non-smoking venue. You can smoke on the footpath outside.

  • Front door of the wheeler centre

    The Wheeler Centre front entrance

  • A costumer service desk in the lobby of The Wheeler Centre

    The Wheeler Centre reception

  • The door to a gender neutral and accessible toilet in The Wheeler Centre

    The Wheeler Centre gender neutral and accessible toilet

  • Motorised lift to the wheeler centre stage

    The Wheeler Centre lift to stage

The Moat (underneath The Wheeler Centre)

176 Little Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Storytelling Event Venue

 

How do I get there?

  • Personal Vehicle

    Parking is available at QV and Melbourne Central shopping centres, both nearby, for a fee.

    There are two metered street-side disability parking spaces available on the left-hand side of Little Lonsdale Street – accessible from the Swanston Street end – roughly 25 metres from The Wheeler Centre’s wheelchair access ramp. These spaces have a maximum parking limit of 2 hours between 7.30am-8.30pm, and unlimited outside of these hours.

    There are two disabled parking spaces on Little Lonsdale Street (just east of the Swanston Street corner), and three disabled parking spaces on Latrobe Street between Swanston and Russell Streets – all with two-hour limits during weekday business hours.

    Taxi

    The nearest taxi rank is on Elizabeth Street, outside Melbourne Central. Several private tricycle taxi companies also operate in Melbourne’s CBD.

  • Bus 

    The nearest bus stops are located on Lonsdale, Russell, and Exhibition Streets. The bus routes are:

    200 302-305 905-908 955

    207 309 941 and 942 961

    250 and 251 318 944 and 945 966

    350 951 and 952 969

    Train

    The nearest train station is Melbourne Central (170 metres from The Wheeler Centre entrance). Access out of the train station is via a lift and escalators. Melbourne Central Station is directly opposite State Library Victoria’s front entrance. Most metropolitan trains stop at this station. If you’re travelling from regional Victoria, you can transfer from your regional train to a metropolitan train at Southern Cross or North Melbourne stations.

    Tram

    You can get a tram to the tram stop outside State Library Victoria on Swanston Street, between Little Lonsdale and LaTrobe Streets. Other nearby stops include ones a block away, at the corners of Elizabeth and LaTrobe Streets.

    The nearest tram stops are:

    • Swanston Street, stop 8 outside Melbourne Central/State Library Victoria (routes 1-6, 16, 64, 67, and 72) (110 metres from The Moat/The Wheeler Centre entrance)

    • La Trobe Street, stop 7 (routes 30 and 35) (220 metres from The Moat/The Wheeler Centre entrance).

    Bicycle

    There are several bike racks close to The Wheeler Centre where you can lock up your bike. There’s also a Melbourne Bike Share station at the corner of Swanston and Little Lonsdale Streets, where you can hire or return a shared bike.

Once I get there

  • The Moat is on the ground floor of The Wheeler Centre building. There are two entrances - one from outside on the street, and one from inside The Wheeler Centre building.

    The outside street entrance (from Little Lonsdale Street) has stairs only, with grab rails on both sides.

    By walking straight through the outside courtyard, you will come to a doorway with a sliding glass door on the left which has one step down to the inside of The Moat.

    Alternatively, the inside entrance (from The Wheeler Centre) has stairs and lift access. To get inside The Wheeler Centre, you can use the ramp on Little Lonsdale Street. Which will bring you to The Wheeler Centre reception.

    If you need to use the lift, ask a team member from The Wheeler Centre or TBF to arrange lift access for you, or call The Moat on 9094 7820. The elevator is located on the right of the reception desk. The lift will bring you down to The Moat atrium.

  • The Moat is often crowded and noisy, however Trans Book Festival will be exclusively hiring the inside areas of The Moat for the evening storytelling event. We recommend bringing earplugs if too much noise might be overwhelming. The Moat tends to be quite dark inside.

    The hallway from the inside entrance door through to the main dining room is quite wide. During the evening storytelling event, there will be chairs with backs lined up facing one side of the main dining room to watch the performance. After the storytelling event concludes, the chairs will be repositioned and some tables will be brought out.

  • There are two all-gender bathrooms at The Moat, located in the atrium (where the stairs and elevator arrive). One of those bathrooms is wheelchair accessible. There is a hand dryer, paper towel, sanitary bins, and a baby change table in each bathroom, as well as bright overhead lights.

  • Food and drinks

    On your arrival at The Moat for the evening storytelling event, you will be provided with two drink tokens and a plate for the grazing table. Drinks include non-alcoholic and alcoholic options, and food includes gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options, as well as some gluten and omnivore options.

    The Moat also sells a variety of dishes, including several gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options. You can purchase additional food and drinks at any point during the event, or afterwards if you choose to stay after the event has finished. You can find the menu on the Moat website. 

    Other things to know

    • There is no dress code for this event.

    • Smoking is not allowed inside The Moat.

    • The area of The Moat that Trans Book Festival will be using has a maximum capacity of 55. That means there will not be more than 55 audience members at the event.

  • A gated entrance to stairs that lead down to the restaurant The Moat

    The street entrance to The Moat

  • The side entrance to the moat

    Side Entrance to The Moat (leads into The Wheeler Centre)

  • Elevator inside The Wheeler Centre

    Elevator inside The Wheeler Centre reception (access to The Moat)

  • Atrium of The Moat

    The atrium of The Moat

  • Interior of the restaurant/bar the moat

    Interior of The Moat

  • Bathroom in the moat

    The Moat gender neutral and accessible toilet

Need more info?

Download our access key for The Moat and The Moat social story

Go to The Wheeler Centre’s accessibility page (The Moat is directly underneath The Wheeler Centre)

Contact Us

TBF is committed to inclusivity and accessibility. If you have additional questions or specific access needs, please send us a message and we’ll be in touch shortly!