New life for heritage wall

New life for heritage wall

An important slice of Docklands’ history will be given a second life as restorative works are set to commence on the Flinders St retaining wall.

Constructed in 1890 by Victorian Railways, Lendlease is restoring the 174 m heritage retaining wall as construction works begin on the 2.5 ha Melbourne Quarter neighbourhood.

Last year, Lendlease secured approval from Heritage Victoria to carry out restoration works to the wall to secure and preserve its long-term future.

Before the Second World War, the wall was a place where workers would congregate in the hope of receiving a day’s work at the docks.

Lendlease’s managing director for urban regeneration, Mark Menhinnitt, said the company was proud to be preserving an important part of Melbourne’s past.

“As one of the sites most closely linked with the foundation of Melbourne, this heritage wall marks the original location of Batman’s Hill where city founder John Batman built his home in 1835. The site is also linked to the city’s former railyards and structures,” he said.

Mr Menhinnitt said Melbourne Quarter residents would connect with Flinders St through the wall.

“This hotel-style entrance will give apartments their own distinct identity and offer residents concierge services. It will also form part of a new public pedestrian connection from Melbourne Quarter to the CBD’s Spencer St,” he said.

“High quality construction and restorative works will celebrate the site’s colorful heritage and breathe new life into the precinct to create new and vibrant spaces for the public to enjoy.”

With designs informed by leading heritage experts Lovell Chen, the precinct’s residential architects Fender Katsalidis and landscape architects Aspect Oculus, the wall is an important piece of Melbourne’s history, built to retain Batman’s Hill as Flinders Street was extended to create access from the CBD to the newly created Victoria Dock.

New openings through the wall will give the public access to the precinct’s new plaza and retail laneway, which will connect Collins and Flinders streets.

“Bluestone components will become publicly visible as part of these works for the first time. By uncovering these bluestone elements, the wall will take on a new dimensional experience and will allow for a greater understanding of the wall’s design, construction and original retaining purpose.”

For further information visit http://www.melbournequarter.com

Join Our Facebook Group