Reviving Melbourne’s historic Northbank

The Northbank Promenade Redevelopment is a series of major projects to strengthen Melbourne’s central city riverfront spine alignment between the CBD and Docklands. The Victoria State Government, together with the City of Melbourne, is bringing this historical precinct back to life as an important Melbourne destination and linkage. Both levels of government recognise the importance of the riverfront to the city, and the Northbank Promenade is a unique asset waiting to be transformed to a vibrant and water-focused experience. It will complement a series of completed key developments in the precinct including the new Seafarers’ Bridge and the new Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Charles Grimes Bridge Underpass Artistic

The DPCD Urban Design Unit, in partnership with the City of Melbourne, is investing $18 million in the Northbank Promenade Redevelopment project. This creates a continuous river frontage for pedestrians and cyclists between Spencer Street and the Charles Grimes Bridge and facilitates adjacent private sector investments. The project is being delivered over four years, 2008-2012. When completed, it will provide a vital link between Melbourne’s CBD, Docklands, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Southbank. It will also complete a major link in the Capital City Trail – a long standing aspiration of both the State Government and the City of Melbourne.

The first stage of Northbank was completed in March 2010. Since opening, the redeveloped promenade at the World Trade Centre has become a lively destination lined with cafes and public venues. The refurbishment and widening of this part of the promenade has created generous walkways and a floating pontoon, including berthing facilities.

WTC Wharf Artistic Impression. Image Credit: Asset1 WTC Pty Ltd and McGauran Giannini Soon Pty Ltd

More projects to come

Stages to be completed over the next two years are:

• Crowne Plaza Hotel Promenade – providing more generous promenade access between Spencer Street and the Northbank riverfront.

• Charles Grimes Bridge Underpass – providing a simple, elegant ‘state-of-the-art’ suspended underpass establishing the missing link between the CBD, Docklands and South Wharf.

Beyond these projects, further riverfront improvement works have been identified as part of the North Wharf site redevelopment project to be undertaken by the Department of Treasury and Finance. This will see private sector investment for the redevelopment of the historic Goods Shed, Seafarers Rest public space, and the refurbishment of the North Wharf promenade.

The planning and implementation of the Northbank projects has involved strong collaboration across multiple government agencies and stakeholder groups including the Department of Treasury and Finance, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Parks Victoria, VicUrban, VicRoads, Melbourne Water and Bicycle Victoria.