The Docklands park will feature river lawns, a play space for children, an events deck, an urban forest and more.
After five years in development, Seafarers Rest Park is set to open in Docklands on Wednesday 19 June as Melbourne’s newest riverfront public park in two decades.
The largescale precinct project is being delivered in partnership between the City of Melbourne and property developer Riverlee, as part of their $600 million Seafarers Precinct development.
Seafarers Rest Park – Docklands
- When: Open to the public from Wednesday 19 June
- Where: 68 Siddeley Street, Docklands
- It’s part of a $600 million Seafarers Precinct development
- Seafarers Rest Park will create 3,500 square metres of new public green open space in Docklands
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The new park will be built between the Mission to Seafarers heritage building and Seafarers Bridge. Hundreds of residents from the new precinct will enjoy spacious green lawns, a riverside promenade, children’s play area and multi-use open spaces.
Designed by landscape architects OCULUS, the new park has been inspired by the area’s maritime legacy – embracing the city’s industrial roots while also acknowledging Melbourne’s significant indigenous cultural heritage.
Docklands Seafarers Rest Park – The six key areas and features include:
- The River Lawns: open lawns connecting the park to the river promenade via a series of new paths to increase pedestrian and bicycle access.
- The Play Wharf: a playful space for children and adults with seating and play elements.
- The Habitat Hollows: outdoor rooms for nature play and habitat for Melbourne’s urban ecology.
- The Events Deck: a flexible-use open space to accommodate gatherings and events.
- The Crates: framing the Events Deck, generous timber seating will provide a distinctive place to meet and connect.
- The Urban Forest: a green haven to frame the park, complete with shaded area and dog-friendly access.
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Docklands – The River Lawns
Connecting the park to the river promenade, the river lawns define a series of new paths with clear views and routes to Docklands and Northbank.
- Protecting and celebrating Melbourne’s maritime heritage with clear and framed views to the Yarra and riverside.
- Increasing pedestrian and bicycle access.
- Sunny open lawns allow for natural surfaces and planting over the existing concrete wharf slab.
- Informal spaces for rest, relaxation and recreation.
- Columns evoke the site of the former wharf shed.
The Play Wharf
A playful space for children and adults overlooking the Yarra River as part of the river lawns.
- Spaces for informal recreation, exercise and play.
- More natural surfaces including lawn.
- Seating.
- Play elements.
The Habitat Hollows
Outdoor rooms for nature play and habitat for Melbourne’s urban ecology.
- Trees, plants and greenery for amenity, shade and shelter.
- Retaining existing trees.
- Nesting boxes.
- Salvaged tree trunks.
- Increasing pedestrian and bicycle access.
- Water sensitive urban design.
The Events Deck
A flexible use open space that can accommodate gathering and events.
- Protecting and celebrating Melbourne’s maritime heritage.
- Spaces for events.
- Spaces for relaxation and recreation.
- Shaded areas.
- Protecting and enhancing the existing trees.
The Crates
The deck is framed by generous timber seating edges whose form references timber cargo crates. The space provides a new distinctive place to meet and a connection to the wharf’s history.
- Spaces for neighbourhood activities and events.
- More natural surfaces including timber.
- Safe, welcoming and inclusive.
- Seating for respite.
The Urban Forest
Seafarers Rest will become a green haven with existing and new groves of trees framing the park.
- Trees, plants and greenery for amenity, shade and shelter.
- Dog friendly (on-lead) access.
- Retaining and protecting existing trees.
- Shaded areas.
Upon completion of Seafarers Rest, the park will be transferred to the City of Melbourne to form part of the city-shaping Greenline Project.
The Greenline Project will revitalise the north bank of the Yarra River, creating a 4 kilometre promenade of parks, open spaces and cultural activations between Birrarung Marr and the Bolte Bridge.
The completion of the Seafarers Rest Park project comes after the City of Melbourne’s 2025-26 budget allocated just $18 million to allow for the completion of the Birrarung Marr stage, which will deliver 450 metres of boardwalks and native plantings along the north bank of the Yarra.
Last year’s City of Melbourne budget revealed the $316 million project had only been allocated $27 million over four years.
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