Batman Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Batman Park |
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Batman Park as viewed from Kings Bridge
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Operated by | Parks Victoria |
| Status | Open |
| Paths | Sealed paths |
| Terrain | Flat riverbank, former riverside wetlands |
| Water | Yarra River |
| Vegetation | Australian native, non-native lawns |
| Connecting transport | Car, bus, train, tram |
| Landmarks | Yarra River |
| Facilities | Toilets, barbecues, helicopter landing pad |
Batman Park is a cool park right in the middle of Melbourne, Australia. It's on the north side of the Yarra River.
It's a nice grassy area with paths and tall Eucalyptus trees. Streets like Spencer Street, Flinders Street Viaduct, and King Street surround it.
The park opened in 1982. It was built on an old train yard that wasn't used anymore. The park is named after John Batman, one of Melbourne's founders. This area is special because the ship Schooner Rebecca landed nearby.
In 1997, Batman Park was split into two parts. The section east of King Street became Enterprize Park. This new park was built to look like an old 1850s boat turning area. It has sculptures by Bruce Armstrong and Geoffrey Bartlett that show its history with ships. The Melbourne Aquarium was also built in Enterprize Park.
Contents
History of Batman Park
How the Park Area Changed Over Time
Long ago, this land belonged to the Wurundjeri people. It was a big area of wetlands along the river. After European settlers arrived, the land became a place for dumping waste. This changed the beautiful wetlands into a muddy, smelly swamp.
For many years in the 1800s, the main port of Melbourne was right next to the park. This meant the land was used for storing cargo and for train tracks. Later, bigger docks were built further down the river. So, the cargo areas and train yards here were no longer needed.
From Old Yard to New Park
The land was mostly empty for a long time in the mid-1900s. Then, in 1982, Batman Park was finally created!
The park was once home to a famous sculpture called Vault. People often called it the "Yellow Peril." This sculpture was moved several times. Since 2002, you can find it at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
In 1997, an old turning basin for boats was brought back to life. This basin had been filled in during the 1950s. The part of Batman Park east of Kings Bridge was then renamed Enterprize Park. It was named after the schooner Enterprize, which landed there in 1835.
The Pigeon Loft Experiment
In 2006, a special pigeon loft was built in the park. This was to encourage pigeons to stay away from city buildings. The city council was worried about pigeon droppings damaging old buildings. They even replaced pigeon eggs with fake ones.
However, the pigeon loft didn't work very well. Not many pigeons used it. So, it was removed nine years later in 2015.
Park's Future and Surroundings
In 1999, the Melbourne Aquarium was built right next to the park. Batman Park has managed to stay a park, even as other areas around it have been developed. New apartment buildings are now being built north of the park. This area was once a fish market.
Location and Nature of the Park
Where is Batman Park?
The park is located on the north bank of the Yarra River. It sits between Queens Street and Kings Way. The Flinders Street Viaduct forms its northern edge. This viaduct was built around the same time the park opened. It separates the park from the old Fish Markets, which are now new apartment buildings.
The Park's Landscape
Batman Park is on a very flat part of the riverbank. It only floods sometimes, but not often. Before the Upper Yarra Dam was built, this area flooded more regularly. This created swamps and wetlands.
Today, the park has a few mature eucalypts trees. There are no smaller trees or young plants under them. The ground is covered with non-native grasses, making large lawns. Simple paved paths cross through these grassy areas.
