Oculus designs new park at Docklands

The City of Melbourne has unveiled visions for a new park to be sited on the north bank of the Yarra River in Docklands, next to the iconic Mission to Seafarers building on Flinders Street. Seafarers Rest forms part of developer Riverlee’s $500 million mixed-use Seafarers project and has been designed by Oculus in collaboration with City of Melbourne. It will be developed by Riverlee with the assistance of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the City of Melbourne.

The proposed design for the park aims to pay homage to the site’s rich maritime history while offering flexible event, play and passive recreation spaces. The design features six key areas, including a series of open lawns and connecting paths, a play space, a collection of outdoor rooms for nature play and urban habitat, a flexible-use open space for gatherings and events, expansive timber seating, and an urban forest. The project was endorsed for Stage 2 community engagement by the Future Melbourne Committee on 2 June.

The proposed Seafarers Rest park in Docklands by Oculus in collaboration with the City of Melbourne.

The proposed Seafarers Rest park in Docklands by Oculus in collaboration with the City of Melbourne.

Image: Oculus

“Now, more than ever before, we are reminded of the value of access to high quality public space to connect people to each other and their environment,” said Claire Martin, associate director at Oculus and Seafarers Rest project leader.

“Melbourne’s latest 21st century park design protects and enhances Melbourne’s maritime heritage, reinforces our relationship to the Yarra River (Birrarung) and increases urban biodiversity to create a place that couldn’t occur in quite the same way anywhere [else in] the world.”

Following the completion of Stage 2 community engagement, the park will proceed to full design development, with an estimated timeline of late 2020 for design completion, with construction to commence in 2023. Once complete, the park will be gifted back to the City of Melbourne for use.

Feedback on the design is being sought until 15 July. For more information, go here.

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