Big builds that have changed Melbourne’s skyline in past 30 years
Some have attracted controversy others are much loved but all have changed Melbourne’s skyline. Here is the list of the 30 big builds in Victoria in the past three decades.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne has been transformed with big builds over the past 30 years – some much loved, others controversial. Development reporter Peter Rolfe picks the 30 big builds across the state.
AAMI Park: Built at a time soccer was booming, the rectangular stadium became home of the Melbourne Victory A-League, Storm NRL and Rebels rugby teams. The intricate bubble roof wowed Victorians when the 30,050 seat venue opened in 2010 – until it was revealed it would be cheaper to build a new stadium than lift the lid and expand its capacity.
Australia 108: Billed as “the highest residences in the Southern Hemisphere’’, the 316.7m tall skyscraper is the tallest building in Australia by roof height. It trails only the Q1 building on the Gold Coast for bragging rights.
ANZ headquarters, Docklands: Six star green building including solar power, wind turbines and underfloor airconditioning. Built in 2011 and named Victorian Development of the Year, it was the largest single tenanted commercial building in Australia with 86,000 sqm of lettable area accommodating 6500 staff.
Birrarung Marr: Opened in 2002 as a public park between the CBD, Yarra River and MCG, the 8ha site gave Melbourne a series of terraced parkland for leisure and event. It has become a much loved place, hosting everything from food markets to Australian Open tennis fan sites but is also a stunning place to walk and take in the views.
Bolte Bridge: Named after Victoria’s longest serving Premier Sir Henry Bolte, it linked the West Gate, Monash and Tullamarine Freeways his governments commissioned or completed. The eight lane bridge and landmark was builtbetween 1996 and 1999 at a cost of $75 million.
Burnley Tunnel: The 3.4km tollway linking the West Gate Freeway to the Monash Freeway has frustrated most than its fair share of Melburnians stuck in traffic. But it was a feat of engineering dug deep under the Yarra River – 65m at its maximum depth – when it opened in 2000. Also the scene of a major collision that killed three people in 2007.
Chadstone Shopping Centre: Are you even from Melbourne unless you’ve been lost or forgotten where you’ve parked your car at this sprawling suburban shopping mecca? While it’s been open since 1960, expansion of Australia’s largest mall has exploded to more than 550 shops over three floors in the past 30 years. And “Chaddy’’ is not done yet, with plans recently announced for a new $685 million revamp.
CityLink: Opened in 1999, the tollway was eight times larger than any other road project in Melbourne and the first to use “e-Tags”. The 22km long ‘’freeway’’ linked the Monash, West Gate and Tullamarine Freeways.
Crown Casino complex:
Former Premier Jeff Kennett has a concise summary of how Crown casino changed the landscape of Victoria forever when it opened 23 years ago.
“Utilisation of a dead area of the city which still at that stage had unused warehouses on it,’’ he said.
Crown has courted its share of controversy since opening on its current Southbank site in 1997 but also played a major role in Melbourne life.
More than just a gambling mecca, the entertainment venue brought big name international chefs to town as well as fashion labels, high class hotels, function centres and a big dose of glitz and glamour.
Celebrities have walked the red carpet for Brownlow Medal counts, Logie Awards and Formula One Grand Prix balls and tourists have flocked to one of the world’s largest casinos.
Mr Kennett said construction of Crown helped drive jobs, the state economy and a “massive revitalisation of the city as a whole … that played a very large part in rebuilding confidence.’’
“The Crown precinct is extraordinary when you think it now contains three hotels of varying standards but more importantly it is a destination for a whole range of activities,’’ he said.
“It’s a destination for large meetings, functions, restaurants, accommodation.
“It is the single largest employer of people in the state and at the time it was built it was the first utilisation of an industrial area that was in decay.’’
Behind the “spectre of gambling, RMIT architecture expert Martyn Hook said Crown delivered a “quite plush semi public space’’.
“The interesting thing to remember is what was there before Crown arrived and it wasn’t exactly the most attractive bit of the city,’’ he said.
Docklands redevelopment: A hotchpotch of warehouses and under-utilised waterfront land. 30 years ago is now a harbourside village of high-rise office and apartment blocks. Maligned as soulless, windswept and slap dash development since constriction began in 1997, Docklands also delights with stunning precincts such as Mirvac’s Yarra’s Edge.
Eureka Tower:
Victorians and visitors moving around Melbourne were craning their necks for a look at the dizzy heights of the Eureka Tower long before it was completed.
The 297.3m high, gold plated skyscraper soaring above Southbank took almost four years to build and was the tallest building in Melbourne and the world’s highest residential tower when it opened in 2006.
And the 91 floor structure by the Yarra River was an instant hit, with a “skydeck” high above the city boasting incredible 360 degree views and an elevator that zipped you there in 38 seconds.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the magnificent finishes of the building as well as its obvious presence made it “something pretty amazing.’’
“It’s an extraordinarily elegant building and one that is very iconic of both its architecture and how it sits in the landscape there,’’ he said.
“You would have to say it is a word leading building.
“It’s an iconic building for Melbourne, Australia and probably one of the most iconic buildings in the world’’.
RMIT University Architecture and Urban Design Dean Martyn Hook said “it places a flag into Southbank and starts to talk about an alternative way of living in an Australian context.’’
“It’s a significant marker for urban development in Southbank,’’ he said.
“It demonstrated that people wanted to live in an apartment building as opposed to pursuing the great Australian dream of four bedrooms, to bathrooms, a couple of cars and a pool in the suburbs.’’
Evan Walker Bridge: Named in honour of the former planning Minister whose vision for Southbank made it a reality. The pedestrian bridge over the Yarra River between the Sandridge and Princes Bridges links Southbank with the CBD and is typically used by more than 20,000 people a day.
Federation Square:
Loved and loathed in equal measure by Victorians when it opened in 2002, Federation Square has since become one of Melbourne’s most popular places.
When former Premier Jeff Kennett announced plans to demolish the former Gas and Fuel Buildings, the public rejoiced news a long needed public square for Melbourne would be built in their place.
After budget blowouts and construction delays, it took us a while to warm to the bold new amenity built above busy railway tracks near Flinders St Station.
Bringing together cultural hubs such as the Ian Potter Centre and Australian Centre for the Moving Image, as well as cafes, bars and a big screen, Federation Square had clear purpose.
But its bold architectural style met mixed reviews and in 2009 the 3.2ha paved public plaza was judged the world’s fifth ugliest building.
It has not stopped more than 100 million people visiting since.
Critics say designers missed a golden opportunity to open the CBD to the Yarra River and plans are afoot to make amends.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said it “was very important to Melbourne’’.
“It is a meeting point for Melburnians and we want to ensure that we continue to enliven, open it up a bit to the river and make some minor tweaks,’’ he said.
Federation Square has hosted homecoming parades for national sporting stars, concerts and food festivals and been a live site for AFL Grand Final and FIFA World Cup screenings.
RMIT University Architecture and Urban Design dean Martyn Hook said
protests during the Iraq war made Federation Square a democratic space and “announced the importance of that development’’.
Former Victoria Police Mounted Branch stables: Heritage site transformed into University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Music following an $18 million makeover. The Southbank centre features 170 art studios, exhibition spaces and a 260-seat multipurpose arts wing.
Marvel Stadium: The now AFL-owned stadium was designed to draw people to Docklands as well as a place to play footy under a roof when it was wet. But RMIT architecture and urban design dean Martyn Hook said the $460 million venue known as Colonial Stadium when it opened in 2000 was also an opportunity lost. “Marvel Stadium is iconic of a civic gesture to try and revitalise the western side of the city,’’ he said. “But it’s also remarkable in the way it talks about a failed experiment where the development levers that were available around Docklands never really allowed the finer grain of Melbourne to become enabled.’’
Melbourne Park redevelopment: The home of the Australian Open tennis Grand Slam and National Tennis Centre has grown to become one of the world’s best sporting precincts. Four stadiums with retractable roofs including Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arena host the world’s best tennis players each year as well as concerts and domestic sporting events. One of the jewels of Melbourne’s sporting crown, thanks to more than $972 million spending and counting by successive state governments.
101 Collins St: Built in 1991, the 260m skyscraper at the Paris end of Collins St soared 57-storeys high. The CBD landmark and corporate headquarters replaced the 26 storey CRA Building, demolished in 1988. Still the seventh highest tallest building in Australia when measured to its highest point.
120 Collins St: The 265m high post modern skyscraper opened in 1991 as a tip of the cap to New York’s art deco masterpieces. Corporate high flyers peering out at Melbourne from 50 levels of office space worked in the tallest building in the city until Eureka Tower opened in 2006. Still Australia’s sixth tallest building.
Kardinia Park redevelopment: GMHBA Stadium, the home and heartland of Geelong’s famous footy club, has had new grandstands and light poles installed in a rapid redevelopment since 2004. It has allowed the venue to host international cricket, soccer and rugby union. Capacity is soon expected to be expanded to 40,000, making it the biggest stadium in regional Australia.
Melbourne Arts Precinct: The Southbank home of the Melbourne Theatre Company, Melbourne Recital Centre, ACCA and Potter Conservatorium combined the city’s love affairs of arts and architecture in a cultural hub close to the CBD and Arts Centre.
MCG revamp: Australia’s greatest stadium had a $150 million redevelopment of the Southern Stand in 1992 and a $460,000 upgrade of the Northern Stand in time for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. The $400 million latter works pushed the ground’s capacity beyond 100,000. Subsequent renovations included new scoreboards, a $17 million rebirth of the National Sports Museum and installation of LED lighting in the iconic towers.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre: The Exhibition Building dubbed “Jeff’s Shed’’after then Premier Kennett opened in 1996 but grew almost as fast as Melbourne’s reputation for events. The $1 billion Melbourne Convention Centre opened in 2009 with a 5541-seat Plenary Hall. Another major redevelopment took place between 2016 and 2018 with a $205 million expansion opening 20,000 sqm of event and exhibition space including a 1000 seat theatre.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Visitor Centre: A $58 million revamp of the iconic Victorian attraction has won race reviews since opening last year. Won the William Wardell Award for Public Architecture and Regional Prize at the 2020 Victorian Architecture Awards. The Australian Institute of Architects applauded “the ambitions of this tourism and conservation program across iconographic, experiential and functional contexts.”
Royal Children’s Hospital: The $1 billion construction of a new home for Melbourne’s iconic children’s facility at Parkville was the biggest hospital development in the state’s history. When the new hospital opened in 2011, it had the capacity to treat an additional 35,000 patients each year and state-of-the-art research and education facilities. It also enhanced accommodation for parents, play areas for kids, park access and childcare facilities.
Royal Women’s Hospital: The new $250 million Women’s Hospital and Frances Perry Private Hospital opened next to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Parkville in 2008, creating capacity for 7000 births annually.
Southern Cross Station: The Former Spencer St railway station opened in 1859 but underwent a major revamp from 2002-06 that added retail spaces and notable a wave-shaped roof. Planning Minister Richard Wynne said it was “a massive feat of engineering and architecture to actually get it up and it’s been a terrific asset for the city.’’ Extra platforms were added in 2010.
Southern Cross Tower: Opened in 2004 on the site of the former Southern Cross Hotel, the skyscraper also known as 121 Exhibition St spans 161m high and boasts 39 levels of office space in a twin tower used predominantly by state government departments.
Southbank: The riverside precinct with stunning views of the CBD is one of Melbourne’s most popular precincts now. But Planning Minister Richard Wynne, Lord Mayor in 1991, said “it was nothing … just warehouses’’ 30 years ago. “If you look at what has changed the city it’s the development of Southbank and Docklands, in a global sense,’’ he said.
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre building: Victoria’s new state-of-the-art cancer centre opened in 2016, housing world-leading research and care facilities in a building or architectural beauty. The Parkville building, constructed under a public-private partnership, cost more than $1 billion to build and won the Victorian Medal and William Wardell Award for Public Architecture in 2017.
William Barak Bridge: It is now hard to think of Melbourne without the “singing” pedestrian footbridgefrom the CBD to our world class sporting precinct. Named after the last of the Wurundjeri clan who initially inhabited Melbourne, the 525m structure connecting Birrarung Marr and Yarra Park opened for the2006 Commonwealth Games.
RELATED 30TH BIRTHDAY NEWS:
THE VILLAINS THAT ROCKED MELBOURNE