$1.5b Wesley Place development in CBD to feature park with nod to site’s history
When construction began on a key CBD development, archaeologists were called in to examine thousands of artefacts and remains of 19th century cottages. See how the area’s history will be put on show.
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A new park featuring Melbourne history is set to open in the CBD.
The green space will be part of 5000 sqm of public open area in Lonsdale St’s $1.5 billion Wesley Place development.
Touted as one of only four green spaces in the Hoddle Grid, it will include 520 sqm of lawn and native flora, and food and drink outlets.
It will also boast digital maps for wayfinding, outdoor power outlets for USB charging and solar-powered smart bins.
Wesley Place will comprise three office towers at the Wesley Church site redevelopment which involves retention of the historic church and some restored heritage buildings.
Simon Stockfeld, from developer Charter Hall, said the new space would open mid-2020.
“It will create a sanctuary in the heart of the Melbourne CBD, providing the
community and our Wesley Place tenants with a diverse, future-ready and tech-enabled space for people to collaborate, converge and communicate on a daily basis,” he said.
It will also have an interactive heritage trail featuring educational plaques that link to an online history site, as well displaying artefacts found in archaeological digs during construction.
Thousands of items were found during the digs which revealed the remains of six bluestone cottages built in the 1860s, and evidence of a house from the 1840s.
Bob Earl, from landscape architects Oculus, said heritage was a key inspiration for the new park.
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“The layout of seating, gardens and lawn respects the orthogonal layout of the buildings, and variation in textures will be used to connect the new with the old,” he said.
“The open lawn at the Lt Lonsdale end provides a generous green space focused around existing trees, one of which is the oldest olive tree in Australia.”
Stage one of Wesley Place is due for completion mid-year.