Melbourne’s revamped Enterprize Park opens

Marking the first phase of the Greenline development, the new look Enterprize Park has opened to the public following major works to make the north bank of the Yarra River – Birrarung more accessible and enjoyable.

In December 2021, the City of Melbourne unveiled the latest designs for its ambitious, multimillion-dollar Greenline project, set to rejuvenate a large stretch along the north bank of the Yarra.

The riverside park's upgrade has gifted Melbourne with an extra 1000 square metres of green public space, which is almost the size of an Olympic swimming pool. Along with the new lawns, the precinct now features upgraded pathways and wider staircases to improve accessibility, as well as additional seating along the riverbank.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp noted "seating along the river's edge, more space, better pathways and wider stairways will make this a space where family and friends can be active or come to unwind.”

Plans for the Enterprize Park rejuvenation were also guided by the site's known history as a gathering place for Indigenous Australians.

"Enterprize Park was once a gathering place for Aboriginal people and its connection with our First Nations people is profound," the Lord Mayor said.  

"The park now offers our diverse community with an honest and respectful representation of what this space once was." 

Growing indigenous vegetation and improving this sense of belonging will ensure the area can act as a meeting place for Aboriginal cultural tours into the future.   

Environment Portfolio Lead, Councillor Rohan Leppert, said the improvements are a huge step towards repositioning the Yarra River – Birrarung as a centerpiece of Melbourne's culture and livability. 

"Our vision of a greener, more sustainable Melbourne is becoming a reality. Enterprize Park is just one of many projects which will reinvigorate the north bank of the river," Councillor Leppert said.     

"It will attract people as well as new forms of wildlife – fostering a vibrant, sustainable river-front ecosystem." 

Immigration Museum General Manager Rohini Kappadath said the upgrades breathe new life into one of Melbourne's most important, yet relatively unknown, historical precincts, of which the Immigration Museum is proudly a part.  

"The area now showcases a re-emerging of the traditional environment and a tribute to First Peoples," Kappadath said.  

"The upgrade creates a new, more accessible, and inclusive place for community to get together and spend time in the city beside the river."    

In its entirety, the proposed Greenline project spans a four-kilometre section of riverside stretching from Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge. It's expected to cost up to $300 million, delivering one of the biggest transformations of the city since the opening of Fed Square back in 2002.

Greenline is set to incorporate a stack of new parkland, a new maritime heritage trail, and a series of waterside pedestrian boardwalks and bridges, in the hopes of transforming a previously underused pocket of land into a world-class waterfront precinct.

For more information on the new-look Enterprize Park visit the City of Melbourne website  

Image top: Recently opened Enterprize park; image above:render Greenline Project