City strategy floats plans to get Yarra River into Melbourne’s picture

Melbourne’s river has been historically unloved and ignored, but these plans will give it a vital boost, adding new floating bars and drive-your-own boats. See the plans.

Maddi Gribben and Michael Hopcroft enjoy a picnic on a GoBoat with Rupert the dog. Picture: Alex Coppel

Melbourne’s waterfront is getting a new look inspired by the swanky waterways of Europe, Asia and North America.

The Yarra River’s facelift includes improvements to infrastructure, new floating bars and eateries, and picnic boats that people can drive themselves.

Floating gardens and pontoons will also sprout up.

Arbory Afloat hopes to be approved as a permanent fixture by Parks Victoria later this year. Picture: Alex Coppel

In as little as two months, Danish-designed picnic GoBoats will launch from Banana Alley on the northern bank below Flinders St station.

The dog-friendly boats people can drive themselves and drink on-board appeared at the start of the year at Docklands and were ­approved for their new mooring following early success.

“People love the freedom to explore the city from a new angle,” GoBoat co-owner Ollie Swan said.

“You’re in the middle of a busy city but you’re not in the hustle and bustle. It’s going to be great to be right in the heart of the city.”

GoBoat is the new neighbour to popular Arbory Bar, which is credited with bringing new life to the northern side of the Yarra when it opened in 2015. The Arbory launched pop-up floating bar Arbory Afloat the next year, which hopes to be approved as a permanent fixture by Parks Victoria later this year.

Melbourne’s Yarra River precinct. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Over three seasons, we have really proved it works and are really proud of ourselves,” bar marketing manager Daniel Manly said.

“It gives appreciation to a river that before people might have just shrugged at.”

The bar owners visited Italy, Hong Kong and the US to study the experience at waterfront bars and have picked the best elements to bring back to Melbourne.

Melbourne City Council’s newly released draft strategy for the waterfront details measures aimed at ­getting more Melburnians to embrace the historically unloved Yarra River.

Architect impressions include tree-lined pontoons.

Yarra River areas in need of a facelift.

“The goal is to significantly raise the quality of the Birrarung environs and the central city stretch to be the centrepiece of Melbourne’s economy, culture and liveability,” the strategy stats.

“The river and its banks should be an attractive complement to the central area, offering a diversity of uses and new economies.”

Parks Victoria chief operating officer Simon Talbot said the lower Yarra River would have a revitalised visitor offer on the water with commercial vessel operators and pop-up floating premises to enable the public to enjoy the river and appreciate the water from a different perspective.

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“Businesses along the banks of the Yarra, particularly in the CBD area, contribute greatly to bringing the river to life,” he said.

“They offer day and night experiences and provide a space for the local community and visitors to stop and relax, shop, meet, play or stay.”

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