Docklands is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on the western end of the central business district. Docklands had a population of 15,495 at the 2021 census.
Primarily a waterfront area centred on the banks of the Yarra River, it is bounded by Spencer Street, Wurundjeri Way and Montague Street to the east, the Yarra River and Moonee Ponds Creek to the west, Footscray Road and Dynon Road to the north and Lorimer Street, Boundary Road and the West Gate Freeway across the Yarra River to the south.
The site of modern-day Docklands was originally swamp land that in the 1880s became a bustling dock area as part of the Port of Melbourne, with an extensive network of wharfs, heavy rail infrastructure and light industry. Following the containerisation of shipping traffic, Docklands fell into disuse and by the 1990s was virtually abandoned, making it the focal point of Melbourne's underground rave scene. The construction of Docklands Stadium in the late 1990s attracted developer interest in the area, and urban renewal began in earnest in 2000 with several independent privately developed areas overseen by VicUrban, an agency of the Victorian Government. Docklands subsequently experienced an apartment boom and became a sought-after business address, attracting the national headquarters of, among others, the National Australia Bank, ANZ Bank, Myer, David Jones, Medibank and the Bureau of Meteorology, as well as the regional headquarters for Ericsson, Bendigo & Adelaide Bank and television networks Nine and Seven.
Known for its contemporary architecture, the suburb is home to a number of heritage buildings that have been retained for adaptive reuse, and is also the site of landmarks such as the Docklands Stadium, Southern Cross railway station and the Melbourne Star.
Although still incomplete, Docklands' developer-centric planning has split public opinion with some lamenting its lack of green open space, pedestrian activity, transport links and culture.
History
Early history
thumb|upright|left|Illustration of the evolution of [[Batman's Hill between 1840 and 1892]]
Before the foundation of Melbourne, it was a large wetlands area of the Yarra River estuary consisting of a large salt water lagoon and a giant swamp at the mouth of the Moonee Ponds Creek. It was one of the open hunting grounds of the Wurundjeri people, who created middens around the edges of the lake. The lake was populated by fauna including native black swans and wild ducks as well and earlier, with its connection to Hobsons Bay, such marine life as snapper and swordfish.
In 1835, Vandemonian John Batman established a home on Batman's Hill, marking the westernmost point of a new settlement. The rest of the area, however, remained largely unused for decades. The swamp, known as Batman's Swamp, and later West Melbourne Swamp was a major source of nuisance to the colony, considered ugly and unsanitary and produced a strong unpleasant smell.
The first plans to reclaim the swamp issue were presented on 5 May 1858 by engineer Alexander Kennedy Smith to the Philosophical Institute of Victoria and proposed a system of three canals and a road to Footscray.
The advent of rail infrastructure in the late 1860s saw the city's industry gradually expand into the area. By 1878, Moonee Ponds Creek became a series of drainage canals with a system of bluestone constructions helping to funnel the salty water further south.
During the Great Depression era, the area along Moonee Ponds Creek was home to a large rubbish tip. Just across the creek (near the site of Costco) were Dudley Mansions, a notorious slum of half a dozen homes constructed from refuse which Frederick Oswald Barnett began photographing and actively campaigning against.
Construction of the new Victoria Harbour took place over the following decades and with shipping was moved from the Yarra turning basin at Queensbridge Victoria Dock became Melbourne's busiest.
thumb|Busy Victoria docks in the late 1930s
Disuse and rave epicentre
With the introduction of containerisation of Victoria's shipping industry in the 1950s and 1960s, the docks along the Yarra River, east of the modern Bolte Bridge, and within Victoria Harbour immediately to the west of the central business district, became inadequate for the new container ships.
The creation of Appleton Dock and Swanson Dock in an area west of the Moonee Ponds Creek, now known as West Melbourne, closer to the mouth of the Yarra, became the focus of container shipping, effectively rendering redundant a vast amount of vacant inner-city land to the immediate west of Melbourne's CBD.
Docklands became notable during the 1990s for its underground rave dance scene.
The size of the Melbourne Docklands area meant that political influences were inescapable. The Docklands project was on top of the government's agenda, however, due to the poor condition of the wharf infrastructure, a further investment was required to initiate the project, which the government at the time could not afford. Nevertheless, the Docklands project stayed on the drawing board, but with little progress. In 1989, several architectural firms were invited to discuss how the area could best serve the Melbourne public.
In 1990, the Docklands Task Force was established to devise an infrastructure strategy and conduct the public consultation process.
Bracks/Brumby era: Redesign and Commencement of Construction (1998)
thumb|[[Docklands Stadium under construction in December 1998.
Under the new government's revised 1999 masterplan, the railyards (lower right) would remain as a significant barrier to the CBD and pedestrian links were rejected in favour of a new 4 lane north–south highway, Wurundjeri Way, between it and the stadium]]
With the exception of Yarra Waters (later Yarra's Edge) bid by Mirvac, bid for every other precinct between 1998 and 1999 fell through, reasons for which were often unclear due to secrecy provisions
Through the tendering process for the sites, the business park was split once more and awarded to two consortia, becoming Entertainment City (renamed Paramount Studios) - a movie theme park with film studios, to be developed by a Viacom led consortium, and Yarra Nova (which later evolved into NewQuay), to the MAB Corporation consortium. The Paramount Studios proposal fell through, and the site was put to tender once more, as Studio City, and later awarded as two parts, becoming what is now Docklands Studios Melbourne and Waterfront City.
Yarra Waters/Yarra Quays was awarded to Mirvac, later becoming Yarra's Edge.
The technology park was renamed Commonwealth Technology Port (or Comtech Port) before finally becoming Digital Harbour.
A number of other sites also encountered false starts, with Victoria Harbour originally being awarded to Walker Corporation, before being put out to tender again and finally being awarded to Lendlease in April 2001. The Batman's Hill precinct was originally awarded to Grocon, which had plans for what would have been the world's tallest building rising 560 m, dubbed Grollo Tower and featuring a mix of office, apartment, hotel and retail. This deal also fell through with the site being subdivided into 15 parcels as well as No 2 Goods Shed.
On 1 July 2007 Docklands became part of the City of Melbourne Local Government Authority, however, VicUrban retained planning authority until 2010.
Districts
Following the initial Vicurban tender and the 1999 masterplan, Docklands was divided the land into a number of themed precincts, with each to be designed and built by a different development company. Overall governance was overseen by the Docklands Authority.
The precincts defined (from north to south) were:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!District
!Proposed use
!Land area
!Initially granted to
|-
| Waterfront City || Mixed-use commercial || Area from Footscray Road south to Docklands Drive || ING Real Estate
|-
| Commonwealth Technology Port (now Digital Harbour) || Technology Park || Area to the west between Harbour Esplanade and Wurundjeri Way || Digital Harbour Holdings
|-
| New Quay || Mixed use (primarily residential) || Area along the north shoreline of the Victoria Docks || MAB Corporation
|-
| Central Pier || Restaurant precinct || Heritage registered Central Pier, Victoria Dock || Victorian government
|-
| Stadium Precinct || Mixed use || Land around the Docklands Stadium up to Wurundjeri Way || Divided into 4 sections - NWSP was awarded to Channel 7/Pacific Holdings (NSWP), Pan Urban (NESP), Devine Limited/RIA Property Group (SWSP), Bourke Junction Consortium (ISPT, Cbus Property and EPC Partners) (SESP)
|-
| Victoria Harbour || Office/Mixed use || From the south of Victoria Dock to the Yarra River to Wurundjeri Way with Collins Street and Bourke Street extended and planned to meet || Lendlease
|-
| Batman's Hill || Office/Mixed use || West of Harbour Esplanade and south of Bourke Street to the Yarra River connecting Docklands to the Hoddle grid including an extension of Collins Street || Walker Corporation (Collins Square) and Lendlease (Melbourne Quarter)
|-
| Yarra's Edge || Residential/Mixed use || Area along the southern shoreline of the Yarra north of Lorimer Street || Mirvac
|}
Since the initial tendering process, other precincts and sub-precincts within these have emerged.
Northbank
thumb|WTC Wharf and Crowne Plaza from South Wharf
thumb|Flinders Wharf from South Wharf
Though not part of the 1999 masterplan or tendering process, the area of Docklands north of the Yarra opposite South Wharf from Spencer Street to Charles Grimes Bridge area around Siddeley Street originally including the part of North Wharf closest to the Hoddle grid is part of the gazetted land. It was rebranded as the Northbank precinct as other parts of Docklands began construction. At the time it consisted of a collection of a handful of existing buildings. Originally home to 1880s markets and industry including the Mission to Seamen building, between the 1920s and 1940s the area was almost completely cleared for a new port including Goods Shed number 5 and a large electric crane. By the 1970s, the majority of the area was covered by a parking lot with a petrol station and a small number of commercial buildings remaining from the 1920s era.
In the late 1970s, the disused port area was first earmarked for urban renewal aimed at extending CBD beyond the Hoddle grid along the river past Spencer Street. A small cluster of 1920s commercial buildings were cleared to construct the brutalist landmarks the blocky World Trade Center (1982) and semi-circular shaped Crowne Plaza Hotel (1988) along with a massive multi-storey carpark, Melbourne's largest at the time, aimed to attract motorist commuters. However without permanent residents, like much of the CBD in the 80s the area proved unpopular and failed to attract activity despite the opening of Melbourne's Melbourne's first casino there, Crown Casino in 1994 and after its 1997 relocation to the permanent new site in Southbank, a temporary Madame Tussauds wax museum. Due to the precincts initial failure, development subsequently halted for over a decade.
Since the Docklands project the area has seen a growth of new interest in the long neglected precinct with over $1 billion in planned development. Flinders Wharf (2003) was one of the first new developments, adding 301 hi-rise apartments and mixed use to the riverfront. Relocation of Victoria Police headquarters to the World Trade Center offices and establishing a new police museum in 2007 was followed by redevelopment of the World Trade Centre as WTC Wharf (2008) aimed at stimulating further investment in the precinct. Mirvac have constructed a 20-storey office tower at 7 Spencer Street (2021). Melbourne Skyfarm (2021-23), a greening of the roof of the multi-storey carpark including sustainability centre, was aimed at softening the mostly harsh concrete area. 637 Flinders (2022) by Cox Architecture is seven storey modern infill office building added to the provide street frontage to the shorter World Trade Centre tower. Seafarers (2024), a mixed-use apartment building by architects Fender Katsalidis included a new public park known as Seafarers Rest and restaurants along a reconstructed Goods Shed 5.
Northbank is also a key part of the Greenline pedestrian and cycling link aimed at connecting Melbourne to the Docklands along the Yarra.
Batman's Hill
thumb|Batman's Hill modern office buildings at night, including the Kangan Institute and [[Transurban headquarters]]
The Batman's Hill precinct is an 100,000 square metre area bordered by the Yarra River to the south, Spencer Street to the east, Docklands Stadium to the north and Victoria Harbour to the west. The precinct is named after the historical landmark Batman's Hill, which was once located within the area.
It is a mixed-use precinct including commercial and retail space, entertainment, hotels, residential sections, restaurants, cultural sites and educational institutions as well as the historic Rail Goods Shed No. 2, which was split in half to allow for the extension of Collins Street into Docklands, providing businesses with an address that is considered to be prestigious.
Fox Classic Car Museum in the Queens Warehouse was one of the first places to open in Batman's Hill in 2000.
thumb|Media House modern offices at 643 [[Collins Street, Melbourne|Collins Street]]
Completed buildings include:
- 700 Collins Street (home to the Bureau of Meteorology and Medibank) (2003)
- 750 Collins Street (the Melbourne headquarters of AMP) (2007)
- Watergate apartments and small office complex (2007)
- 737 Bourke Street (10 storey office building for headquarters of National Foods) (2008)
- Media House (2010) at 643 Collins Street. Built for Fairfax Media it comprises 16,000 m<sup>2</sup> of office space accommodating 1,400 staff, on decking over railway lines opposite Southern Cross Station. The $110 million eight-storey facility was designed by architects Bates Smart to achieve a 5-star Green Star rating, and features a news ticker, outdoor screen and grassy plaza. It was developed by Grocon in 2009.
- 717 Bourke Street (17 storey building consisting of a 294-room Travelodge Hotel) (2011)
- Kangan Institute's Automotive Centre for Excellence (ACE) (2023)
On 2 August 2007, it was reported that a $1.5 billion scheme had been earmarked for Collins Street by Middle Eastern investment company Sama Dubai, to be designed by architect Zaha Hadid and Melbourne firm Ashton Raggatt McDougall. The plan would consist of four buildings, including Docklands' tallest tower as well as civic spaces spanning two sites to be built on decking over Wurundjeri Way. The proposed tower would have between 50 and 60 storeys tall but did not proceed and VicUrban put the site back out to tender in early 2011.
Collins Square
thumb|Collins Square and Batman's Hill tram stop
Collins Square (previously Village Docklands) is a ~2 Ha site within the Batman's Hill precinct. It was developed by Walker Corporation.
Collins Square is the outcome of a split of precincts in the tender process in 2000, which resulted in Goods Shed South, 735 Collins Street and Sites 4A-4F, originally awarded to the Kuok Group and Walker Corporation.
A master plan prepared by Marchese + Partners in conjunction with Bligh Voller Nield architects was approved in early 2002. It included a 60-storey Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts tower with a Collins Street address and a mix of commercial and residential towers, as well as the refurbishment of the southern half of Goods Shed No. 2 into a night market and food hall.
In mid-2007, a new master plan was prepared by Bates Smart. In it a new 38-storey office tower replaced the Shangri La Hotel on Collins Street and the number of streets is reduced from four to three, replaced by pedestrian thoroughfares. Overall there will now be five office buildings, ranging in height from 155 m (to roof) to 36 m, a 10,000 m<sup>2</sup> retail and public space, and the refurbishment of the Goods Shed with a 'Lantern' structure addressing Collins Street. The entire precinct is aiming for a 5-Star Green Star rating.
Construction of Collins Square was completed in 2018.
Stadium Precinct
thumb|Stadium precinct plaza, [[Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Stadium, 7 Network headquarters, Bendigo Bank building and Victoria Point apartment tower in 2009. More than half the original palm trees (centre) have been removed and replaced with hedge screen to help act as a wind break.]]
The Stadium Precinct, which sits on the eastern edge of Docklands, consists of Docklands Stadium, Seven Network's Melbourne digital broadcasting centre, Victoria Point, Bendigo Bank offices, Medibank offices and serviced apartments. It is linked to Southern Cross station and the Melbourne CBD by the Bourke Street pedestrian bridge, built over railway lines.
During the 2000 Docklands development tender process, the stadium precinct was divided into four corners, the North West Stadium Precinct (NWSP), North East Stadium Precinct (NESP), South East Stadium Precinct (SESP) and South West Stadium Precinct (SWSP). The NWSP was awarded to Channel 7/Pacific Holdings. The NESP was awarded to Pan Urban. The SWSP was awarded to Devine Limited/RIA Property Group and the SESP - Bourke Junction Consortium (ISPT, CBUS Property and EPC Partners).
Docklands Stadium (originally Colonial Stadium) was opened in March 2000. The ability for the structure to have both open and closed roof configurations has seen it host many sports events, including Australian Rules Football, soccer, cricket and rugby as well as concerts. The stadium complex is currently managed by Stadium Operations Ltd, which is owned by the Seven Network, with ownership transferring to the Australian Football League in 2025.
Developer Pan Urban has announced plans for a $300 million twin-tower apartment development, known as Lacrosse Docklands, for the NESP, with the towers set to rise 21 and 18 storeys respectively, above the stadium concourse, with restaurants and bars opening out on to the concourse, forming a retail plaza.
Plans for the site to be known as Bourke Junction include office towers of 29 and 21 storeys on the north-eastern and south-western corners of the SESP site, as well as three lower-rise buildings housing a 250-room hotel, a pub, medical centre, retail facilities, a business club and a two-level gymnasium.
Harbour Esplanade and stadium redevelopments (2010-)
thumb|Aerial perspective of Marvel Stadium in 2023 showing planting of Norfolk pines to replace the original palm trees along Harbour Esplanade and deteriorated wharves removed, and Central Pier shut down for demolition and rebuilding
Due to concerns over the failed pedestrian activation of Harbour Esplanade, it was redeveloped between 2010 and 2011 at a cost of $9.2 million. The existing twenty-three palms and gum trees were replaced by 230 Norfolk Island pines (for a more stronger windbreak effect), realigned tram tracks to the centre roadway and new separated bicycle paths added. However the redevelopment failed in its objective to increase pedestrian activation of the foreshore. As a result, another $16 million redevelopment under a new Harbour Esplanade Masterplan was proposed to repair the degraded wharfs unsuitable for pedestrian activation and reinstate previously demolished sheds and introduce an avenue trees to the waterfront. In 2020 the heritage listed Central Pier and its Shed 9 and Shed 19 were permanently closed due to its deteriorating condition. By 2023 the government decided to demolish and replace the heritage listed Central Pier which had been a centrepiece of the revised 1999 masterplan. The project would cost a total of $550 million. The shutdown was estimated to cost a further $865 million to the economy and was the subject of legal action against the government by commercial tenants. In 2024 an additional $225 was committed by the government to redevelop the stadium in an attempt to activate the foreshore.
Digital Harbour at Comtechport Precinct
thumb|The Port 1010 building
Digital Harbour is a waterfront that has an area of 44,000 square metres, with development intended to expand to include 220,000 square metres of commercial, residential, SOHO units and retail space. At present only three buildings have been completed; 1010 LaTrobe Street/Port 1010 (home to VicTrack, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service), and the Innovation Building (home of the Telstra Learning Academy and Innovation Centre). A third building, Life.lab currently resides at 198 Harbour Esplanade, while a fourth, 1000 La Trobe Street, is expected to commence shortly.
Port 1010 received the Commercial Architecture Award at the 2007 Victorian Architecture Awards, held on Friday 13 July.
The Digital Harbour Business Association was launched in 2011. This is a group of businesses established in the Digital Harbour precinct in the Docklands. The precinct is a destination for IT, Media and other related businesses. The aim of the association is to promote the businesses within Digital Harbour to the wider Docklands Community and the Melbourne CBD.
Victoria Harbour
thumb|View across to Victoria Harbour precinct, [[National Australia Bank HQ (centre) Ericsson Building and Dock 5 tower (right), from New Quay]]
thumb|right|The [[ANZ Bank headquarters, Victoria Harbour, viewed from Docklands Park]]
thumb|right|Offices on Victoria Harbour at night
The Victoria Harbour Precinct is the centrepiece of Docklands. The precinct includes Central Pier and the land south towards the Yarra along with an extension of Collins Street and Bourke Street to meet at the water's edge. It has an area of 280,000 square metres, with 3.7 kilometres of waterfront. The 12-year construction plans for Victoria Harbour include residential apartments, commercial office space, retail space, community facilities and the development of public spaces such as Grand Plaza, Docklands Park and Central Pier.
One of the first completed office buildings in the precinct was the colourful National Australia Bank (NAB) headquarters, located at 800 Bourke Street, which accommodates approximately 3,600 staff. The building has large open floor plates, an atria, a campus-style workplace and a four-star energy rating.
Almost 1,000 Ericsson employees also call Victoria Harbour home, with the company's new Melbourne offices at 818 Bourke Street. Ericsson House sits on the water's edge next door to the National Australia Bank HQ and Dock 5 apartments.
The first residential tower to be built at Victoria Harbour was Dock 5. Rising 30 storeys, it was designed by Melbourne firm John Wardle Architects and Hassell. Dock 5 derives its name from its location, which was known as Dock 5.
The Gauge, at 825 Bourke Street was built to house offices for developer Lendlease and Fujitsu. The eight-storey building was designed to achieve a six-star energy rating, becoming the second building in Docklands to do so.
A Safeway supermarket opened in Merchant Street (opposite The Gauge) in 2008, along with a number of other retail tenancies at street level, including Australia Post, a childcare centre, and offices above, which have been occupied by LUCRF Super and the National Union of Workers since 2008.
In 2009 the ANZ Bank's new world headquarters at 833 Collins Street have was completed. The office complex includes shops, car parking facilities and a YMCA. It enables 6,500 ANZ staff to work in one integrated area. The new ANZ headquarters, designed by Hassell and developed by Lendlease, was expected to become the largest office complex in Australia. Construction commenced in late 2006. It has been designed to achieve a six-star energy rating.
In 2007, Myer announced that it had chosen Victoria Harbour as the location for its new Corporate Store Support Offices. The new offices were built at 800 Collins Street, opposite ANZ.
NewQuay
thumb|right|View of NewQuay from Central Pier; from the left the Nolan, Arkley, Palladio and Boyd
NewQuay, opened in 2002, was one of the first residential and commercial developments in Docklands. It is a mixed-use precinct comprising a number of private residential, hotel accommodation, serviced apartment and retail/commercial properties, developed by the MAB Corporation. The flagship building, Palladio - which is shaped like the prow of a ship - is named after Italian architect Andrea Palladio. The podium building, Sant'Elia is named after another Italian architect, Antonio Sant'Elia. Other buildings are named after Australian artists: Nolan (Sidney Nolan), Arkley (Howard Arkley), Boyd (Arthur Boyd), and Conder (Charles Conder). In 2013, the construction of the twin residential towers "The Quays" was completed.
Aquavista, completed in May 2007, is a strata office development and the first commercial building to be completed in NewQuay, as part of the HQ NewQuay development. Another, the seven-storey 370 Docklands Drive, is currently under construction, with a further two buildings - Lots 5 & 9 - currently under design development.
On 17 October 2007, MAB Corporation launched 'The Avenues at NewQuay' development, consisting of three-storey townhouse residences, with park and waterfront frontages, to be built as part of NewQuay's western precinct. The development is being designed by Plus Architecture.
The ground level podiums contain a commercial precinct with a variety of restaurants and cafes including Italian, Indian, Middle Eastern, Cantonese, Moroccan, Cambodian and Modern Australian cuisines.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Address
!Use
!Developer
!Architect
!Height (m)
!Storeys
!Construction completed
!Notes
|-
| Arkley || 20 Rakaia Way || Residential || MAB Corporation || Plus Architecture || || 21 || 2002 || 176 apartments. Named after artist Howard Arkley
|-
| Palladio || 15 Caravel Lane || Residential || MAB Corporation || Plus Architecture || || || || Named after Italian architect Andrea Palladio
|-
| Sant'Elia || 30 Newquay Promenade || Residential || MAB Corporation || Plus Architecture || || || || Named after another Italian architect, Antonio Sant'Elia
|-
| Aqua Vista || 401 Docklands Drive || Commercial || MAB Corporation || Plus Architecture || || || 2007 ||
|-
| Boyd || 5 Caravel Lane || Residential || MAB Corporation || Plus Architecture || || || || Named after Australian painter Arthur Boyd
|-
| Conder || 2 Newquay Promenade || Residential || MAB Corporation || Fender Katsalidis || || || || Named after Australian artist Charles Conder
|-
| The Quays || 241 Harbour Esplanade || Residential || MAB Corporation || McBride Charles Ryan || || || 2013 ||
|}
Yarra's Edge
thumb|Yarra's Edge towers 3, 4 and 5 (left), marina and ANZ headquarters (right) in 2011 with the Bolte bridge in the distance
Yarra's Edge is a residential precinct being developed by Mirvac, and the only Docklands precinct south of the Yarra River. When complete, it will consist of 11 apartment towers, costing A$1.3 billion, and cover 0.15km<sup>2</sup>.
A mix of restaurants, cafes and retail, including a day spa and a convenience store. Yarra's Edge also has a 175-berth marina, giving boat owners previously unavailable proximity to Crown Casino and the city.
Yarra's Edge was one of the first developments in Docklands, with construction of Tower 1 commencing in 2000. It is divided into 3 smaller precincts:
- Marina Precinct - Comprising the marina and boardwalk, with 5 tall residential towers ranging in height from 25 to 47 storeys:
- Park Precinct - Comprising Point Park and two residential towers
- River Precinct - Comprising a mix of lower-level, less intense terrace-style developments and three high-rise towers towards the Bolte Bridge
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Address
!Use
!Developer
!Architect
!Height (m)
!Storeys
!Construction completed
!Notes
|-
| Yarra's Edge 1 || 50 Lorimer Street || Residential || Mirvac || Mirvac, Ashton Raggatt McDougall, HPA Architects || 96 || 32 || 2002 || Features a large circular blue glass section in its balustrading. Features RekDek in podium with gymnasium and 25-metre lap pool
|-
| Yarra's Edge 2 || 60 Lorimer Street || Residential || Mirvac || || 70 || 21 || 2003 || Lego block-like with rectangular primary coloured balustrade and rooftop panels.
|-
| Yarra's Edge 3 || 70 Lorimer Street || Residential || Mirvac || || 104 || 31 || 2003 || Oval footprint with large curved balconies and 4 storey podium
|-
| Yarra's Edge 4 || 80 Lorimer Street || Residential || Mirvac || Ashton Raggatt McDougall || 96 || 30 || 2003 || Curved white tower with wide curved balconies and 4 storey podium
|-
| Yarra's Edge 5 || 90 Lorimer Street || Residential || Mirvac || Wood Marsh || 134 || 41 || 2005 || Angular gold curtain wall glass with angular hat style roof and prominent balcony columns
|-
| Array (Yarra's Edge 6) || 92-100 Lorimer Street || Residential || Mirvac || || 125 || 40 || 2015 || Blue curtain wall glass punctuated by balconies with 5 storey podium
|-
| Trielle (Yarra's Edge 9) || 130 Lorimer Street || Residential || Mirvac || Mirvac Design || 135 || 45 || Under construction || Curtain wall glass punctuated by balconies with 5 storey podium
|}
Webb Bridge
thumbnail|Webb Bridge from the Yarra's Edge marina
Webb Bridge is a bridge designed by Denton Corker Marshall, in collaboration with artist Robert Owen, forming a cycling and pedestrian link to the main part of Docklands, through Docklands Park. It is the conversion of the former Webb Bridge rail link.
Charles Grimes Bridge and Jim Stynes Bridge
thumb|Greenline shared path (right), Jim Stynes Bridge and Charles Grimes Bridge from Northbank. Seven of the Yarra's Edge towers are visible (left)
Charles Grimes Bridge is a dual-carriageway bridge that carries the Docklands Highway over the Yarra River. It was named after New South Wales surveyor general Charles Grimes, who was the first European to sight the Yarra. The bridge, built in 1975 and given its current name in 1983, predates the Docklands development but was connected the new Wurundjeri Way in 1999 to the West Gate Freeway.
The Jim Stynes Bridge was opened in 2014 to carry pedestrian and cyclist traffic underneath the Charles Grimes Bridge from Yarra's Edge to Northbank area.
Greenline
The Greenline is a shared bicycle and pedestrian path that runs along the Northbank of the Yarra River connecting Yarra's Edge to the Melbourne CBD and North Wharf Victoria Harbour, Docklands Esplanade and the Capital City Trail via the Web Bridge interchange.
Waterfront City
thumb|upright|Bronze statue of Melbourne singer and actress [[Kylie Minogue at Waterfront City, one of five tributes to legends of Australian entertainment including John Farnham, Dame Nellie Melba, Dame Edna Everage and Graham Kennedy erected in 2007 and removed in 2016 to make way for a new apartment tower.|alt=A bronze statue of Kylie, on a star-shaped pedestal, portrays her in a dancing pose. Her legs are crossed and she bends at the waist, with both arms stretched above her head. The statue stands in a public square in front of a modern glass building, and several people are walking.]]
thumb|left|Aerial perspective of the District at the Docklands waterfront. March 2019.Waterfront City is a shopping and entertainment area that includes The District Docklands shopping mall, Melbourne Star Observation wheel, Icehouse ice sports and entertainment centre, and numerous shops and cafes which are centred on this area.
The precinct features an integration of retail, waterfront entertainment, tourism, dining, commercial and urban community. It has an area of 193,000 square metres.
Stage One was completed in December 2005, in time for the Melbourne stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in January – February 2006 and the Commonwealth Games in March 2006. The precinct originally featured a large circus tent, which hosted the International Circus Spectacular, as well as a mosaic of local entertainers and a number of bronze statues, including Kylie Minogue, John Farnham, Graham Kennedy, Nellie Melba and Dame Edna Everage and a Melbourne Walk of Fame.
Stage Two includes a public entertainment area incorporating the Melbourne Star (previously Southern Star), a tall Ferris wheel in the shape of a seven-pointed star, and The District Docklands Shopping Mall. Waterfront city is home to Australia's first Costco Warehouse Store.
In May 2017 Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Planning Minister Richard Wynne visited The District Docklands to announce a $150 million redevelopment of the centre including an eight-screen Hoyts cinema, which opened in 2018, and a full-line Woolworths supermarket due mid-2019.
During 2017–2018, a collaboration between The District Docklands and Renew Australia allowed the creation of an initiative called the Docklands Art Collective, which made a wing of The District Docklands complex available at very low rents to arts businesses and galleries. These included a photography studio, a puppetry workshop, a comics retailer and printery, a recycled art paper maker and the relocated Blender Studios.
Docklands Studios
thumb|Aerial perspective of the Docklands: Melbourne Flyer, the District and Docklands film studio
When it opened in 2004, Central City Studios became Melbourne's largest film and television studio complex. The site is located approximately 2 km north west of the Central Business District. It has an area of 60,000 square metres and currently consists of five film and television sound stages.
The first major contract for the new studios was the American film Ghost Rider in 2005; with a budget of nearly $120 million, at the time it was the biggest feature film to be made in Victoria and features scenes involving Melbourne landmarks. Since then the studios have housed many international productions.
In 2009 the Government of Victoria, together with the Studios, undertook the Future Directions project. This resulted in the State Government committing the Studios to focus on both the international and domestic film and television industries. Further developments to the infrastructure of the site are planned, including a sixth sound stage.
On 11 October 2010 the studios were re-branded as Docklands Studios Melbourne, formally adopting the name by which the studios were commonly known.
Heritage
Significant heritage buildings include the No 2 Goods Shed (now a mixed use development), former railway offices at 67 Spencer Street (now the Grand Hotel), The Mission to Seafarers building, Victoria Dock and Central Pier, Queens Warehouse (adaptively reused as a vintage car museum), Docklands Park gantry crane and a small number of warehouses and container sheds.
- Victoria Dock and Central Pier (1887-1892)
- No.2 Goods Shed (1889-1890)
- Queen's Warehouse (1890)
- Batman's Hill Retaining Wall (1890)
- Former Victorian Railways Headquarters (1893)
- Mission to Seamen (1919)
- Berth No. 5. North Wharf (1948)
- History of Transport Mural (1973), DFO
<gallery>
File:67 Spencer Street Melbourne.jpg|67 Spencer Street, one of Melbourne's largest 19th century office buildings, now the Grand Hotel
File:Docklands Shed.jpg|No 2 Goods Shed, Australia's longest building once completed in 1889, now a mixed use development
File:Queens Warehouse, Melbourne.jpg|Queen's Warehouse houses the Fox Classic Cars collection
File:Mission to seamen.jpeg|Mission to Seamen is preserved as a museum
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Transport
thumb|right|[[Southern Cross railway station]]
thumb|Aerial perspective of the ramp going onto the M2 just outside of the Docklands. March 2019.
Docklands has access to road, rail and water transports.
Docklands Highway or Wurundjeri Way is the main road through Docklands. It connects to the nearby Westgate Freeway on the southern end and links to the CBD including extensions from Flinders Street, Collins Street and La Trobe Street.
Southern Cross station, near the eastern edge of Docklands, is the closest passenger railway station. It is also the major interchange for metropolitan and intercity rail. Much of Docklands area remains covered by rail yards previously used for freight transport and rolling stock which are being progressively reclaimed or built over.
Trams in Docklands include the free City Circle tram, along Docklands Drive and to and from Waterfront City. As Docklands has developed, tram routes have been extended and rerouted into the area. Route 70 also runs to Waterfront City. Route 75 runs along Harbour Esplanade, terminating at Footscray Road. Routes 11 and 48 run along Collins Street to Victoria Harbour. Route 30 enters Docklands via La Trobe Street, terminating at the north end of Harbour Esplanade. Route 86 runs along La Trobe Street and Docklands Drive, terminating at Waterfront City.
Docklands also includes major pedestrian links with a concourse extending from Bourke Street and extensive promenades along the waterfront, including the wide Harbour Esplanade.
Several offroad bicycle paths run through Docklands, all of which connect through the central spine of Webb Bridge, Docklands Park and Harbour Esplanade, connecting Melbourne City Centre to the inner western suburbs and the Capital City Trail.
There are also three ferry terminals which connect Docklands to the Melbourne City Centre and inner bayside suburbs. One at Victoria Harbour, one at NewQuay and one at Yarra's Edge.
Sports and recreation
thumb|Ron Barassi Sr park from above.
- The Docklands Stadium (currently known as Marvel Stadium), located just northwest of the Southern Cross railway station, is the home ground to five AFL football clubs (St Kilda, North Melbourne, Carlton, Essendon and Western Bulldogs) and one Big Bash League cricket team (Melbourne Renegades). It was also one of the venues for the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and hosted the 2015 Speedway Grand Prix of Australia.
- The O'Brien Icehouse, located between the Moonee Ponds Creek (accessible via the creek trail) and the Melbourne Star observation wheel, is the largest ice sports venue and the only dual-rink facility in Australia. It is the home to both of the two Victorian AIHL ice hockey teams, the Melbourne Ice and Melbourne Mustangs.
- The Docklands Sports Courts is a public urban park on Harbour Esplanade featuring two mixed-use court for basketball, netball, soccer/futsal and dodgeball and an outdoor ping-pong table, as well as children's play parks and shading parasols. The Docklands Park is across the Esplanade, offering more green spaces with bicycle trails.
- Lasersports Australia operates a booking-based laser clay shooting business at New Quay.
Demographics and industry
In the 2016 Census, there were 10,964 people in Docklands. 27.3% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were China 16.5%, India 12.7%, South Korea 3.1%, Malaysia 2.6% and England 2.3%. 34.4% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 18.3%, Hindi 4.9%, Cantonese 3.1%, Korean 2.9% and Telugu 2.4%. The most common response for religion in Docklands (State Suburbs) was No Religion at 38.1%.
Of the occupied private dwellings in Docklands, 97.1% were flats or apartments and 2.3% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses, etc.
In 2009, there were just under 10,000 working mostly in office and retail industries.
In the 2021 Census, the Docklands had grown to a population of 15,495 people.
Local media
The precinct has two publications, Docklands News and 3008 Docklands Magazine.
The Docklands Community News' first edition was published in 2003, and both DCN & 3008 Docklands Magazine have grown with the Docklands precincts' population. Both publications are printed and distributed to all businesses and residences within Docklands, which allows for a regular readership of over 10,000. The DCN paper informs the community of relevant news relating to Docklands as well as supplying residents, business owners and workers with a platform for community discussion.
3008 Docklands Magazine also covers all matters relating to the Docklands community and businesses, but also covers events and news pertaining to Melbourne City and the surrounding suburbs, as Docklands is under the jurisdiction of the City of Melbourne. 3008 Docklands Magazine is a glossy, well-produced, stylish publication which is both informative and interesting and has been well received by its reader base since its first issue back in May 2006. 3008 Docklands Magazine has a significant online following.
Response and reception
thumb|right|The Docklands port in 2013. Construction activity was concentrated in key precincts closer to the city
The planning of Docklands has raised a large amount of public debate and the area has created significant controversy, particularly the failed Ferris wheel.
In 1999, Melbourne City Council Director of Projects criticised the disconnection of the precinct to the CBD, claiming that the lack of transport links, particularly pedestrian, meant Docklands was "seriously flawed".
The problem was exacerbated in 2005, when the pedestrian link between Lonsdale Street and Docklands proposed in 2001 was cut from the final design of the Southern Cross Station development due to budget blowouts.
In 2006, Royce Millar of The Age referred to it as a "wasted opportunity".
In 2009, Neil Mitchell wrote for The Age declaring Docklands as a planning "dud".
In 2010, VicUrban's general manager David Young acknowledged that Harbour Esplanade "doesn't stack up". Kim Dovey, professor of architecture and design at the University of Melbourne, added that Harbour Esplanade was "too big" and claimed that Docklands was "so badly done" that it required a "major rethink". A private school, Melbourne City School, opened on King Street in 2010 but closed in 2012 due to low enrollments. Docklands Primary School in NewQuay opened in January 2021. The Docklands Sports Club has run Junior Football and Cricket programs since Summer 2019.
George Savvides, CEO of Medibank, which has been based in Docklands since 2004, has been critical of the area's lack of soul and amenity, but the company has nevertheless chosen to remain committed to the area.
"Ghost town" reputation and post COVID-19 Pandemic decline
thumb|Aerial perspective Harbour Esplanade the civic heart of Docklands showing the permanently closed Central Pier (bottom left). Despite the stadium's regular large events and attempt to improve its appeal with successive revamps, the esplanade is consistently devoid of pedestrian activity.
In the late 2010s, the area developed a reputation as a ghost town due to rapidly declining activity. In 2022 the Victorian Liberal Party declared it as such, citing neglect and poor planning by successive governments causing an extreme lack of activity, especially due to the permanent closure of Central Pier in 2019. Docklands has consistently been labelled this way by the media post COVID-19 pandemic. By 2023 among the stark lack of activity was exacerbated by a trend of owner occupiers converting their residences to Airbnbs, Costco shutting its flagship store, several prominent businesses closing their doors, and the Walk of Stars being permanently relocated elsewhere.
Public art
There are approximately 68 pieces of public art in the Docklands Precincts, with works from Australian and New Zealand artists. There are self-guided tours and maps available for the public to discover the artworks.
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File:Cow_Up_A_Tree_by_John_Kelly_(Horizontal).jpg|"Cow up a tree" by John Kelly. Harbour Esplanade
File:Bruce_Armstrong_Eagle.jpg|"Bunjil" by Bruce Armstrong. Wurundjeri Way
File:AuroraDocklands03.jpg|"Aurora" by Geoffrey Bartlett on the corner of Harbour Esplanade and Collins Street
File:Melbourne_Emily_Floyd_Toy_rabbit_03.jpg|"Toy Rabbit" by Emily Floyd
File:"Shoal_Fly_By"_by_Cat_McLeod_and_Michael_Bellemo,_Docklands,_Melbourne_Australia_(4589640781).jpg|"Shoal Fly By" by Cat McLeod and Michael Bellemo. Harbour Esplanade
File:"Unfurling"_by_Andrew_Rogers,_Docklands,_Melbourne_Australia_(4590265008).jpg|"Unfurling" by Andrew Rogers. Harbour Esplanade
File:Docklands_Simon_Perry_04.jpg|"Threaded Field" by Simon Perry. Harbour Esplanade
File:Continuum_Docklands_01.jpg|"Continuum" by Michael Snape. Harbour Esplanade
File:Aqualung_by_John_Mead_in_Captain_Walk,_Docklands_(1).jpg|"Aqualung" by John Mead at Captain Walk
File:Duncan_Stemler_Blowhole_(1).jpg|"Blowhole" by Duncan Stemler
File:Lillies.jpg|"Lillies" by Adrian Mauriks at New Quay
File:Melbourne_Docklands_Sculpture_-_panoramio.jpg|"Panoramio" by Russell Anderson
File:Sculpture_and_the_Bolte_Bridge_(on_the_background)_at_the_-then-_undeveloped_Docklands_(2005)_(4613795039).jpg|"Reed Vessel" by Virginia King
File:Unfurling_curve_by_Andrew_Rogers,_Docklands.jpg|"Unfurling Curve" by Andrew Rogers
File:Wulunj_(Digging_Stick)_by_Glenn_Romanis_and_Brodie_Hill.jpg|"Wulunj" by Glenn Romanis and Brodie Hill
File:Bicycle-End_of_Victoria_Harbour_Promenade,_Docklands.jpg|"Bicycle-End". Harbour Esplanade
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Notable residents
- Sally Capp – 104th Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Victoria Harbour)
- Sam Newman – former AFL player and sportscaster (Yarra's Edge)
See also
- History of Melbourne Docklands
- Australia Award for Urban Design
References
Further reading
- Kim Dovey: Fluid City: Transforming Melbourne's Urban Waterfront, London: Routledge, 2005
External links
- 3008 Docklands Magazine Website
- Docklands Community News
- NewQuay website
- Waterfront City website
- Victoria Harbour website
- Yarra's Edge website
- Digital Harbour website
- Victoria Online - Docklands Authority
- Australian Places - Docklands
- How public is your private? Article about Docklands by Martin Musiatowicz