Riverfront park underway on Melbourne

Construction has begun on a new public waterfront park on the north bank of Birrarung/Yarra river, designed by Oculus.

The park is located between the Mission to Seafarers heritage building and Seafarers bridge, which connects to South Wharf. When complete, it will form part of the Maritime precinct of the City of Melbourne's Greenline project.

"We cannot underestimate the value of access to high-quality public space to connect people to each other and their environment, particularly in dense urban areas," said Oculus associate director Claire Martin. "Birrarung is a place of great importance and connection and it carries a lifetime of maritime stories too. We are thrilled to see this brought to life through this truly considered park design."

The design acknowledges both the Indigenous cultural heritage and maritime history of the area. It will include expansive lawn areas that will connect the river promenade to new pathways, with dog-friendly access, an events deck, seating for various activities, as well as rope swings, and a curated collection of local maritime artefacts.

The design also prioritises biodiversity, habitat, urban resilience with intelligent landscaping, green infrastructure and water management.

The park is a collaboration between developer Riverlee, City of Melbourne, 1 Hotel and Oculus.

It is part of Riverlee's Seafarers precinct redevelopment which transforms the heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5 into a mixed-use precinct with a hotel and hotel-branded residences, designed by Fender Katsalidis.

The waterfront park, to be known as Seafarers Rest, is due to be complete in late 2024 and upon completion, it will be transferred back to the City of Melbourne.

"Seafarers Rest and the broader precinct marks a transformative milestone in the rejuvenation of Melbourne's Northbank," said Riverlee development director David Lee. "Together with the City of Melbourne, we're revitalising this underutilised and forgotten urban space, reclaiming it as a safe and vibrant green haven for all Melbournians and visitors to enjoy."