Docklands Skyfarm revealed

In a Victorian first, a large section of a 2000sqm rooftop car park in the heart of Docklands has been transformed into a thriving urban farm, with works continuing over the next 12 months on this new rooftop city oasis.

When complete, the farm will feature sustainable and contemporary hospitality sites, and environmental education, as well as business conference facilities and event spaces.

Aptly named Melbourne Skyfarm, the sustainable city oasis is located at the emerging Seafarers’ precinct and directly overlooks the Yarra River to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

City of Melbourne (CoM) Lord Mayor Sally Capp said she was “incredibly excited” that Skyfarm had come together to increase the green space in the city.

“Through our Urban Forest Fund we committed $300,000 to support the delivery of the urban farm component of Skyfarm and we’re extremely proud of what Brendan Condon and his team has delivered,” she said.

It has never been more important for us to invest in sustainable greening projects which engage our community, show innovative thinking and showcase how we can all work together to create an environmentally friendly and greener future for our city.

When fully completed in the second half of 2022, Melbourne Skyfarm will be opened to the public and will be a haven for visitors as they tour the working farm.

They will be able to visit and sample from the rooftop orchard and herb gardens, dine at the sustainable cafe, enjoy a drink or coffee overlooking Melbourne’s skyline and Yarra River, or hire one of the three unique event spaces on offer.

Visitors will also be able to purchase plants from the rooftop nursery, as well as attend classes in the environmental education area.

MCEC chief executive Peter King said he was thrilled to be involved in a project that will benefit Docklands, South Wharf, and the CBD as a whole.

“We acknowledge the obligation we have to reduce our demand on the planet’s finite resources and through the opening of Skyfarm, we are sending a message that we can and will do more for our community and the environment,” he said.

The first chapter of Melbourne Skyfarm will celebrate and mark the completion of the urban greening and urban farming component of the farm, which has occurred with the support of a $300,000 grant by the CoM Urban Forest Fund.

This represents about 10 per cent of the budget of the overall project •