Southbank’s urban history began as part of an extensive government reserve on the fl oodplain separating Melbourne’s original Hoddle grid from Emerald Hill (South Melbourne). With the exception of City Road and a strip of wharves and related facilities along the river front, the area north of Victoria Barracks remained an open paddock well into the 1870s.
Following reclamation of the marshy land, Southbank developed rapidly into an industrial precinct. Although port facilities were gradually relocated downstream, lighter industries, warehousing and wholesale trading continued in the area. The high ground along St Kilda Road was retained for a variety of government institutions including the Victoria Barracks, Prince Henry’s Hospital and an extensive police complex.
At the turn of the 20th century, the Yarra was widened to control fl ooding and the St Kilda Road approach to Princes Bridge was straightened and laid out as a broad boulevard. At the river bank, the Snowden Gardens formed a pair with Alexandra Gardens. A fairground just south of this area was used regularly by Wirth’s Circus, and adjoined by an amusement complex and later the Trocadero dance hall. The 1954 Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works Planning Scheme promoted redevelopment of these sites. The eventual construction of the National Gallery of Victoria (1959-68) and the Victorian Arts Centre (1969-84) founded an arts precinct that extended the pattern of civic institutions facing onto St Kilda Road. While this had little impact on industrial Southbank, it provided an anchor for later urban renewal initiated by the Victorian Government in the late 1980s with construction of Southbank Promenade, the Yarra footbridge and Southbank Boulevard in parallel with the sale of major public sites including the former Prince Henry’s Hospital.
Rapid redevelopment of the area followed, starting with Southgate, which opened in 1991. Southbank now accommodates a mixture of land uses dominated by commercial and entertainment activities along the river, with high-density housing to the south. A number of cultural institutions have also relocated to the area including the VCA, which now occupies most of the former police complex.
Following reclamation of the marshy land, Southbank developed rapidly into an industrial precinct. Although port facilities were gradually relocated downstream, lighter industries, warehousing and wholesale trading continued in the area. The high ground along St Kilda Road was retained for a variety of government institutions including the Victoria Barracks, Prince Henry’s Hospital and an extensive police complex.
At the turn of the 20th century, the Yarra was widened to control fl ooding and the St Kilda Road approach to Princes Bridge was straightened and laid out as a broad boulevard. At the river bank, the Snowden Gardens formed a pair with Alexandra Gardens. A fairground just south of this area was used regularly by Wirth’s Circus, and adjoined by an amusement complex and later the Trocadero dance hall. The 1954 Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works Planning Scheme promoted redevelopment of these sites. The eventual construction of the National Gallery of Victoria (1959-68) and the Victorian Arts Centre (1969-84) founded an arts precinct that extended the pattern of civic institutions facing onto St Kilda Road. While this had little impact on industrial Southbank, it provided an anchor for later urban renewal initiated by the Victorian Government in the late 1980s with construction of Southbank Promenade, the Yarra footbridge and Southbank Boulevard in parallel with the sale of major public sites including the former Prince Henry’s Hospital.
Rapid redevelopment of the area followed, starting with Southgate, which opened in 1991. Southbank now accommodates a mixture of land uses dominated by commercial and entertainment activities along the river, with high-density housing to the south. A number of cultural institutions have also relocated to the area including the VCA, which now occupies most of the former police complex.
A view of South Melbourne's industrial area in 1938 looking south from Melbourne
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The need for the Southbank Plan The Southbank Plan has been prepared jointly by the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the City of Melbourne to:
• Define the individual and collective roles of the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne in relation to Southbank
• To coordinate and guide private and public sector projects in Southbank
• To develop Southbank as a integrated, high quality central city area
• Define the individual and collective roles of the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne in relation to Southbank
• To coordinate and guide private and public sector projects in Southbank
• To develop Southbank as a integrated, high quality central city area
Timeline
Community engagement for the Southbank Structure Plan and preliminary Southbank Boulevard open space plan
2005 to 2000
Open Space Strategy and budget planning
2012 to 2014
Traffic and site analysis
October 2014 to September 2015
Phase 1 community engagement
18 November to 20 December 2015
Development of ideas plan
Early 2016
Phase 2 ideas plan community
March to April 2016
Development of draft Master plan
Mid 2016
Phase 3 draft Master plan community engagement
August to September 2016
Final Southbank Boulevard Master plan
November 2016
Community engagement for the Southbank Structure Plan and preliminary Southbank Boulevard open space plan
2005 to 2000
Open Space Strategy and budget planning
2012 to 2014
Traffic and site analysis
October 2014 to September 2015
Phase 1 community engagement
18 November to 20 December 2015
Development of ideas plan
Early 2016
Phase 2 ideas plan community
March to April 2016
Development of draft Master plan
Mid 2016
Phase 3 draft Master plan community engagement
August to September 2016
Final Southbank Boulevard Master plan
November 2016
Reference
Barker, Fiona, Robert Faggian, and Andrew J. Hamilton. "A history of wastewater irrigation in Melbourne, Australia." Journal of Water Sustainability1, no. 2 (2011): 31-50.
Barker, Fiona, Robert Faggian, and Andrew J. Hamilton. "A history of wastewater irrigation in Melbourne, Australia." Journal of Water Sustainability1, no. 2 (2011): 31-50.