Tribute to Melbourne’s maritime history could revamp Yarra’s riverside

From a busy ferry network to a maritime museum and a heritage trail along the Yarra, here’s the ideas aimed to make the most of our maritime history.

Melbourne has a rich maritime history Picture: Jay Town

A busy ferry network, a maritime museum and a heritage trail along the Yarra River are among ideas to make the most of Melbourne’s seagoing history and culture.

Proponents say the city has a rich maritime history with many surviving assets, but lacks an overall plan to bring it before the public.

Melbourne’s waterways are also governed by myriad authorities, making it difficult to make decisions to improve facilities and launch new ventures.

Fortunately, a group called Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network has been lobbying councils, governments and other authorities to step up and take action.

Network chair and former City of Melbourne councillor Jackie Watts said the plethora of responsible authorities was not ideal.

“We really do need to have reform so that we can promote waterways activation more proactively,” she said.

Artist’s impressions of the new park designs for Seafarers Rest in Docklands near Mission to Seafarers. Picture: Oculus landscape architects

“It’s a tourism asset that’s just very minimally developed in a maritime city.”

Key goals include a Docklands Maritime Museum, and a maritime heritage trail stretching from Birrarung Marr to Ron Barrassi Senior Park near Bolte Bridge.

The heritage trail on the Yarra’s north bank looks set to be part of the Greenline linear park proposal championed by Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

Ms Watts said that an “experiential” museum would boost the Docklands precinct, but the network was also keen for an upgrade to the 1917-built Mission to Seafarers building in Flinders Street.

“Our aspiration for Mission to Seafarers is a seafarers’ centre which could be an exhibition and function space,” she said.

The state government and city council are considering a $20 million improvement plan for the building, which is part of a maritime precinct at North Wharf including Seafarer’s Rest Park and the $500 million Seafarers mixed development by Riverlee.

Ms Watts said that while the north bank was finally getting attention, the south bank maritime area was poorly understood.

“We’ve got the (restored tall ship) Polly Woodside, those splendid goods sheds and warehouses, we’ve got the Merchant Navy memorial there, we’ve got the last heritage dry dock on the Yarra,” she said.

Artists impressions of the new park designs for Seafarers Rest in Docklands near Mission to Seafarers. Picture: Oculus landscape architects

“It’s there, it’s just not properly presented in the community’s eyes.”

Also proposed is for Melbourne to open up its extensive navigable waterways to commuter and tourist ferries.

Victoria Harbour in Docklands would become a water transport hub with services up the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers, into the bay and destinations including Federation Square, Station Pier, Fishermans Bend, St Kilda, Williamstown and Sorrento.

“Those in the bureaucracy charged with managing Melbourne’s waterways seem to have little understanding of the potential … which may be derived from unlocking our waterways,” Ms Watts said.

Melbourne’s riverside could soon be transformed Picture: Sarah Matray

Other proposals include a marine services depot at Fishermans Bend, a specialist skills centre at Docklands’ Kangan TAFE and expansion of Melbourne’s heritage fleet, which includes the schooner Enterprize replica.

Ms Watts said city bridges had their own story to tell, while gems like the rowing sheds on the south bank near Princes Bridge had a wonderful history.

“Is anybody talking about all this as a very important part of Melbourne – no – but they will,” she said.

“It’s about information presented in an engaging way.”