Modern Melbourne: the 21st Century
In 2000, the new ultra-modern Melbourne Museum opened in the Carlton Gardens, sitting alongside the Royal Exhibition Building. Development continued at Southbank creating a vibrant community on the waterfront, and the striking new public space of Federation Square opened in 2002.
Originally a separate development without local government representation, Docklands was incorporated into the City of Melbourne through legislation on 1 July 2007. Its governance is shared between the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government's land development agency, Places Victoria.
Docklands already encompasses a series of distinct areas while being well-connected to the central city. It continues to be developed as Melbourne’s urban waterfront with community priorities being identified through the Docklands Community and Place Plan released in July 2012. Upon completion (envisaged for 2020), Docklands is hoped to be home to 20,000 residents, attracting many thousands of workers and visitors on a daily basis.