Port of Melbourne Heritage Trail
Williamstown to Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The Port of Melbourne is Australia’s largest container and general cargo port, handling almost 40% of the nation’s international container trade. Its precinct contains significant heritage sites and structures — many of which are operational — including historic piers, wharves and navigational aids, and links with surrounding communities and industries. The Heritage Trail developed for the Port of Melbourne Corporation by Lovell Chen in association with Büro North provides an insight into the history and current operation of the port.
The trail is a major interpretation initiative. It makes use of the existing bike path network, marked in twelve key locations around the port with interpretive markers relating the stories of individual places and drawing out themes relating to the port as a whole and its context. The trail runs from Point Gellibrand at Williamstown, through Footscray and West Melbourne, along the south bank of the River Yarra to Station Pier in Port Melbourne. Separately, we also developed interpretation schemes for Station Pier and Princes Pier, which are linked into the trail.
Lead collaborators Büro North designed the robust markers, using salvaged timbers supported on faceted concrete bases. The visual and written information researched and supplied by our historians is presented on vitreous enamelled panels.
Other projects undertaken by Lovell Chen for the Port of Melbourne Corporation include a heritage strategy and review, upgrade works at Station Pier, and conservation management plans for Point Lonsdale Lighthouse, West Channel Pile Light and the Port Melbourne Leading Lights.
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photos : Daniel Colombo
photo of ridge tile at factory : Lovell Chen
SELECTED REPORTS HELD
full list : see REPORTS INDEX
Port of Melbourne Corporation Heritage Procedures Manual
Lovell Chen / JUNE 2009 : HERITAGE STRATEGY
Port of Melbourne Heritage Strategy
Lovell Chen / MAY 2009 : HERITAGE STRATEGY
Port of Melbourne Corporation: Station Pier Master Plan
Lovell Chen / 2008 : MASTER PLAN
Breakwater and Gellibrand Piers: Conservation Management Plan
Lovell Chen / NOVEMBER 2007 : CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN
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