Located in Dodds Street between Grant Street and Southbank Boulevard, the Dodds Street Linear Park project will create 1,300 square metres of native grassland planting and add 34 new trees to the space. Growing largely from seed, this new landscape will be resilient and sustainable, with inbuilt raingardens and structural soil made onsite from remediated site soils.
With the hardscape complete, the first chapter of this project is now accessible to the public. Where Dodds Street previously operated as a thoroughfare between creative institutions, you'll now find a completely transformed space where the heritage bricks of the old stables building bleed into new paved pathways; bluestone spheres emerge from the ground plane; and amphitheatre seating provides a space to gather, perform or rest.
The northern end of the street is open to vehicles and operates as a shared area, enabling the arts precinct businesses to continue creating the world-class artistic and cultural offerings our city is known for.
The landscape has been thoughtfully designed to welcome people of all abilities into the world of art within Melbourne's iconic arts precinct. The road surface has been raised and kerbs removed to enhance the pedestrian experience and minimise trip hazards, and accessible and pick-up/drop-off parking has been prioritised over long-term spaces.
The Dodds Street Linear Park will breathe new life into this under-explored part of the city, increase visitation to the area, and provide students, residents, visitors and workers a place to gather, rest and explore.
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Planting
In late autumn and early winter our team sowed wildflower, grass and wetland species by hand into the landscape mounds, with the cooler weather giving our delicate seeds and seedlings the best chance to thrive. Our soil scientists, landscape architects and horticulture specialists have utilised climate-positive principles, creating onsite systems that improve soil quality, utilise rainwater and increase permeability throughout the landscape.
As opposed to transplanting mature greenery, growing from seed takes respect, love and patience. As the germination process takes place underground, you ll see erosion control matting covering the soil mounds. Nature can't be rushed, and while the landscape will look bare for a little while, each chapter of plant growth will have its own story to tell.
Here's what to expect as the seasons change:
Deep winter
Beneath the erosion control mesh, seedlings are taking root and establishing. Our landscape may look dormant but in fact, a lot is happening at soil level, preparing for spring. Increased rainfall brings our water-sensitive urban design elements into play as our wetland areas collect runoff for passive irrigation.
Early spring
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) flowers from August to December and is one of the best native trees for nectar production, encouraging an increase in biodiverse activity. (Three of our melliodoras are direct descendants of a parent tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Our senior ecologist found some tiny Yellow Box seeds on the ground during a walk around the Tan and carefully propagated them into the beautiful saplings you see today.)
True spring
As the temperature warms, the first seedlings begin to emerge with some of the grasses and wildflowers pushing through the mounded layers to reveal the first of the species.
High summer
Expect to see the final bursts of wildflowers with the everlasting daisies battling on through the hot summer months. Tall and wispy drifts of wallaby and kangaroo grass will dominate the landscape well into the Autumn months with their foliage transforming golden brown.
Late summer
By the end of summer in our first year of growth, we should be able to see a fuller coverage of plants with a variety of species that have made the emergent journey. A lovely surprise will be guessing which plants have popped up on the mounds and which are still to come.
Enjoying your new landscape
Dodds Street Linear Park is now open to the public.
Now that both the hardscape and planting are complete, we encourage you to explore all the little details that make this landscape unique. You may see our team in the area from time to time, tending the garden beds and making sure it s a welcoming space for everyone.
You'll see hoop fencing with on-site signage asking you (and your pets) to help our delicate wildflower, grass and wetland seeds germinate by staying off the mounded area. You'll notice the landscape will stay bare for quite some time as the germination process takes place underground. It may not look like a lush green space for a while, but in time a resilient, biodiverse and sustainable landscape will begin to emerge.
Dodds Street Linear Park is best explored slowly, so hop off your bike, scooter or skateboard and explore. Vehicles now have access to the shared area in the northern end of Dodds Street (which runs from Southbank Boulevard to the service lane next to the Melbourne Theatre Company) and can use the dedicated pick-up/drop off bays and accessible parking bays.
Community consultation
Local residents, businesses, Traditional Custodians and relevant stakeholders were consulted as part of the development of the Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street Draft Concept Plan endorsed by Council in 2017.
The community provided feedback about what elements they consider crucial when designing open community space. Green, accessible space with culturally sensitive planting were highlighted by those who live, work and are culturally connected to the area.
Future works
This project forms Stage 2 of the Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street Draft concept plan endorsed by Council in 2017.
Our community engagement for the concept plan showed public art was important to the local Southbank community when it comes to designing public space. A public artwork has been commissioned for this area. Planning and design for the work is underway.
Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation
Work has begun on the Victorian Government s $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.
To allow construction to continue on the northern end of the project, the section of Sturt Street between City Road and Kavanagh Street closed permanently on 12 January 2023.
The remaining section of Sturt Street, between Kavanagh Street and Southbank Boulevard, closed permanently on 9 March 2023. Closing this section will allow for construction of The Fox: NGV Contemporary and the new 18,000 square metre public urban garden.
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