$3 million revamp planned

A $3 million redevelopment is set to revitalise Dockland’s Batmans Hill precinct.

The 1.9 hectare site, bordered by Collins St, Village St, Wurundjeri Way and Batman’s Hill Drive, is home to Lindsay Fox’s classic car collection and the Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE).

The redevelopment will be funded by the Lindsay Fox Trust and Places Victoria, with support from City of Melbourne.

The redevelopment includes:

A park to be created at the corner of Collins St and Harbour Esplanade;

A new exhibition space; and

An internalised bluestone piazza between the Queens Warehouse, which houses the classic car collection, and the ACE.

“The redevelopment will create a drawcard for the automotive community,” Places Victoria chairman Peter Clarke said.

He said the piazza could be used as a public meeting space as well as a site for vintage car rallies or swap meets.

Mr Clarke said the Fox Trust had already spent $1 million on the Queens Warehouse.

Mr Clarke said the area had previously not been activated and the development would add open spaces and provide more access to the restored Queens Warehouse, with extended opening hours planned.

Places Victoria and Kangan Institute have also partnered to build a new street along the Yarra River side of the precinct.

McCrae St will connect Batman’s Hill drive to the Yarra Northbank allowing pedestrian access to the Webb Bridge and the new Jim Stynes Bridge.

Work on McCrae St should be finished by December and development work on the Batman’s Hill precinct is due to start in the same month.