Birrarung Marr, Melbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Birrarung Marr |
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Pedestrian bridge in Birrarung Marr
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| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Area | 8 hectares (20 acres) |
| Operated by | City of Melbourne |
| Paths | Pedestrian and bicycle access throughout |
| Terrain | Floodplain with built-up terraces |
| Water | Yarra River |
| Vegetation | Contemporary formal gardening featuring Australian native plants |
| Connecting transport | Trains: Flinders Street station Trams: 3, 5, 6, 48, 64, 67, 70, 72, 75 Buses: 340 and 479 |
| Landmarks | Speaker's Corner, William Barak Bridge, ArtPlay, Federation Bells, Angel sculpture |
| Facilities | Toilets, barbecues, playground |
Birrarung Marr is a cool park right in the middle of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It sits between the city center and the Yarra River. This park opened in 2002. Its name is special! It comes from the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. They were the Indigenous inhabitants living here when Europeans first settled the area. 'Birrarung Marr' means 'river of mists' and 'river bank'.
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Where is Birrarung Marr Located?
This park is about 8 hectares (20 acres) big. It's just south-east of Melbourne's main city area. You can find it between Flinders Street and the north side of the Yarra River. It's also east of Flinders Street station and west of Exhibition Street. The Rod Laver Arena is also nearby.
What is the History of Birrarung Marr?
For a long time, this area was a marshy spot. In 1856, the government wanted it to be a park. But over the years, many different buildings were put there. These included a morgue and even a swimming center.
Later, in 1859, train tracks were built across the area. Eventually, trains took up most of the land between the city and the Yarra River. By the late 1800s, the Yarra River itself was changed. It was made straighter, wider, and deeper. Tree-lined paths were also built along its banks.
How the Park Was Created
In 1992, the Victorian Government decided to improve central Melbourne. They held a competition to design Federation Square. To make space for Federation Square and the new park, some big changes happened. Old train yards were cleared away. A road called Batman Avenue was moved further from the river.
These changes helped create new land from the old train yards and road. This allowed Melbourne to build its first big new inner-city park in 100 years!
Building Birrarung Marr started in 2000. The City of Melbourne and the State Government of Victoria worked together. The City of Melbourne spent A$15.6 million to design and build the park. The State Government paid for moving the train lines and clearing the land. The park officially opened on Australia Day, January 26, 2002.
How Was Birrarung Marr Designed?
At first, people thought Birrarung Marr would be a "festival park." This meant it would mostly be used for big events like the Australian Grand Prix. These events help Melbourne attract visitors. However, the City of Melbourne wanted the park to be more than that. They wanted it to be a place for everyone. It would be for community activities and individual fun, as well as major events.
The park was planned to be an active city space. It's different from older, quieter gardens like the Fitzroy Gardens. The goal was to have a strong place for events like Circus Oz and the Moomba Waterfest. It also hosts changing art shows and community festivals. At other times, it's a nice place to relax. The park also connects the city center to the sports area nearby. It's part of the Capital City Trail, which is a bike path along the Yarra River.
Park Levels and Features
Birrarung Marr was designed with different levels, like big steps or "terraces."
- The lower terrace is next to the river and has a gravel surface.
- The middle terrace is on the east side, next to Batman Avenue, and has grass.
- The upper terrace is on the north side, at the same level as Flinders Street. It's about 10 meters higher than the river.
These huge terraces were made using dirt from digging up nearby train lines and other construction sites. Large rocks found during digging were also used to build walls in the park.
The park's design helps you see famous Melbourne landmarks. You can spot the spires of the Victorian Arts Centre and St Paul's Cathedral. The park's shape and drainage channels remind people of the billabongs (waterholes) that used to be here. The paths and bridges also hint at the train lines that once covered the area. Even though it's near busy roads and railways, the park feels surprisingly calm and quiet.
The City of Melbourne created the main idea for Birrarung Marr. Many talented designers helped make it happen. The park has won several awards for its design.
What Can You Do at Birrarung Marr?
A long ramp-like bridge inside the park connects the three different levels. This bridge makes it easy for everyone to move around, including those using wheelchairs.
Speaker's Corner
Speaker's Corner is in the south-eastern part of the park. This spot has a long history. People used to gather here for public talks, protests, and demonstrations. For example, in 1916, about 50,000 people came to protest against conscription (forcing people to join the army). This was one of the few places in Melbourne where large groups could meet and speak without needing a special permit. You can still see the small hills where speakers used to stand to talk to the crowds.
The park also has barbecue areas and public toilets near Speaker's Corner. The Yarra River Trail, a path for walking and cycling, runs along the south side of the park.
ArtPlay and Playgrounds
One of the old railway buildings was turned into a children's art and cultural center called ArtPlay. It opened in 2004. At ArtPlay, children and families can join fun art workshops with different kinds of artists. ArtPlay is open on weekends and during school holidays. It also works with schools on weekdays. A children's playground is right next to ArtPlay. Sometimes, art workshops even use this outdoor space. Because ArtPlay was so popular, the City of Melbourne made a similar program for teenagers called Signal. It's located near Flinders Street Station.
Federation Bells
The Federation Bells are on the middle terrace. They were created in 2001. This is a collection of 39 inverted (upside-down) bells of different sizes. They range from half a kilogram to 1.2 tonnes! The bells are mounted on steel poles. It's like a collection of church bells, but they are spread out in an open space. This lets people walk among them.
The bells are controlled by a computer. They play different songs and sounds three times a day. Some of the music is specially made, and people can even submit their own compositions online! The bells were designed by Neil McLachlan and Anton Hassel. They are a unique sound sculpture.
Angel Sculpture
The Angel sculpture is ten meters tall and has three legs. It was placed along the river bank in 2006. This sculpture was made by Melbourne artist Deborah Halpern.
William Barak Bridge
The William Barak Bridge opened in December 2005, just before the 2006 Commonwealth Games. This bridge lets people walk from the middle terrace of Birrarung Marr over a toll road and train tracks. It leads to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Plants and Gardens
When the park was built, about 200 new trees were planted. Many of these are Australian native species. You can see a large group of Macrozamia communis (a type of cycad) on the hill overlooking Speaker's Corner. There are also Doryanthes excelsa (gymea lilies) and Lepidozamia peroffskyana (pineapple zamia). Hundreds of smaller Australian native plants are also in the park.
More trees were planned for shade on the upper and middle terraces, but they haven't been planted yet.
What Does the Name "Birrarung Marr" Mean?
The name "Birrarung Marr" comes from two different Aboriginal languages. One is from the Melbourne area, and the other is from the Adelaide area. Together, they mean "beside the river." The park was given this name after its design was chosen.
Images for kids
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River of Mists & River Bank Architecture Design in Birrarung Marr parkland
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Deborah Halpern Art Sculpture in Birrarung Marr parkland
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Deborah Halpern Art Sculpture & City Skyline seen from Birrarung Marr parkland
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Yarra River flows along the northbank and Birrarung Marr parkland
