YEAR 11 GEOGRAPHY: URBAN ENVIRONMENTSFIELDWORK BOOKLETDOCKLANDS: AN EXAMPLE OF URBAN RENEWAL

Introduction

In a few short years, the Docklands area has changed from industrial wasteland to a vibrant, modern, residential and recreational hub. This dramatic change has not been easy or inexpensive. In this fieldwork experience you will discover for yourself how Docklands has changed over the last 150 years and make up your own mind about the degree of success of this change.

Assessment

Your responses to the fieldwork questions will form part of your Docklands Fieldwork SAC.There are two main study questions that you will be investigating at Docklands.

1. How and why has the Docklands region changed over time?2. What efforts have been made to make the Docklands sustainable?

The activities are listed in the order you will complete them.The activities related to change over time will have a clock symbol next to them, and the activities related to sustainability will have a recycling symbol next to them. See below.

Change over time Sustainability

Ongoing activity throughout the day

Look for examples of urban renewal and change over time as you make your way around the Docklands precinct. This may be old buildings used for a new purpose or demolished and replaced. It may be small reminders of past land uses such as railway sleepers and bollards. Take photographs of all these as they will be useful to you when writing your field report.

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Stop One: Bourke Street Bridge

1. Read the plaques on the red post. They provide some historical background on the Docklands development. What changes are described on these plaques? Who was Robert Hoddle and what was his contribution to the layout of Melbourne? What has happened to Batman’s Hill?

2. This photograph shows the Docklands region in 1983 and was taken from the newly opened Rialto Tower. Comment on the ways in which the area between Spencer Street and Victoria Docks has changed since the photograph was taken. You should, where possible, take photographs of the changes that you list.

Observed changes since 1983 include:

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Stop Two: 700 Bourke Street

3. This new building has been designed and developed to be one of Australia’s most sustainable buildings and has been recognised as one of the world leaders in environmentally sustainable design. Take notes (and photographs where appropriate) of examples of sustainable design practices. Here are some headings that may be appropriate to use when taking notes but be alert to more possibilities.

Heating and cooling

Air quality

Waste

Light and shade

Water

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Other

Stop Three: Central Pier

From this vantage point you can get a great overview of the Docklands area.

4. Comment on the number of people in the area. Does this appear to be a busy or quiet area?

5. Draw a field sketch of this scene. You should use labels to point out the important features such as New Quay, Victoria Harbour, Central Pier, Bolte Bridge and Yarra’s Edge.

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6. How many different types of public and private transport can you see from the vantage point? List them.

7. Record your initial observations about Central Pier. What does it look like? How is it being used at present? How well does it “fit in” with the land and water uses around it?

Stop Four: Harbour Esplanade

Harbour Esplanade is the main transport link within the Docklands Precinct. Great attention has been given to providing alternative forms of transport to private motor cars. Alternative transport options are expected to reduce visual and physical congestion, air and noise pollution, travel costs and travel stress levels, and reinforce the concept of a people-focussed precinct.

8. Over a 10-minute period, record the following data about transport use along Harbour Esplanade.

Number of pedestrians

Number of cars

Number of passengers in cars

Number of trams

Estimated number of tram passengers

Number of cyclists

Number of buses

Estimated number of bus passengers

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9. In order to reduce the visual impact of transport modes on this area, the various modes have been separated by changing the road levels. Draw a labelled sketch of Harbour Esplanade from Victoria Harbour to the base of Etihad Stadium.

10. Waste disposal and minimisation is another important aspect of sustainable development. What kind and how many waste disposal and recycling bins can you find along Harbour Esplanade?

11. An important indicator of the effectiveness of waste disposal and minimisation in this area is the quality of the water. Have a close look at the water of Victoria Harbour. Comment on the presence or absence of floating rubbish, oily waste or anything else about water quality.

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Stop Five: Docklands ParkDocklands Park is a softer, greener area suitable for passive recreation. It is a major contemporary park for Melbourne and includes large areas of grass and native trees, creating a space for relaxation, play and outdoor events. Wetlands are a key landscaping feature of the park, and underground storage adjacent to the wetlands enables around 80 per cent of the park’s irrigation needs to be met by treated storm-water.

12. Describe this park.

13. What evidence can you see that this park has been developed using strict ESD (ecologically sustainable development) principles?

14. Can you see or hear any wildlife in the park?

15. How is the Park being used? What facilities have been provided for people who visit the park?

16. Would you visit and spend time in this park if you were a resident of the area or if you were a tourist?

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Stop Six: 2 Goods Shed

The No. 2 Railway Goods Shed was built in 1889 to accommodate the increased traffic in the railway yard. Its length is almost two city blocks and the grandiose architecture of its front offices gives some idea of the scale of operation of the railway yards during the 19th century, and the importance of the railway service in the development of this transport complex.

The refurbishment of the Goods Shed North presented an opportunity to renew an integral part of Melbourne’s history. One of the few heritage buildings left in Docklands, the Goods Shed was derelict for over 30 years and became redundant in the 1980s, later being bisected by the Collins Street extension which created the North and South side. An investigation of the building found damage to the piles and steel work while roof rectification was also made difficult because the construction team had to ensure the entire building was restored to original condition. A complete section of the northern end of the building had to be demolished and reconstructed brick by brick and the building’s slate roof replaced in its entirety. Finally the glass windows were all painstakingly replaced, and the exposed timber ceiling was restored and asbestos removed.

17. What is this building used for today?

18. Do you think that old buildings such as these should be restored and re-used? Give some reasons for your answer.

19. What examples can you see in this building that suggests that sustainable design principles were followed when it was restored?

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