Built in 1894, the historic fire station at 100-110 Curzon Street, North Melbourne, is now a residential apartment building, containing twelve dwellings, overlooking the communal garden space.
This funding supported Phase 2 of the greening project, building on the successful Phase 1, where the Owners Corporation received $5,000 as part of an earlier round of the Urban Forest Fund (Habitat Grants projects) to create a habitat garden.
The Owners Corporation built on the successful Phase 1 of the project, expanding green cover to create a refreshing and inviting space for residents, which is respectful to its heritage while increasing the biodiversity and canopy cover of the surrounding area.
The design of Phase 2 remained respectful to the architectural heritage of the site. Recent replanting (completed as Phase 1) focused on the upper third of the garden. Phase 2 targeted the lower two thirds of the garden which was predominantly paved and had no trees.
Existing concrete areas were broken up with a variety of plants suitable for the west-facing courtyard. Improvements to below-ground soil conditions and new trees increase shade and canopy cover.
The project incorporates a minimum of 60 per cent local indigenous plants to complement the existing plantings and enhance biodiversity value.
The historic fire station at 100-110 Curzon Street, North Melbourne, is now a residential apartment building. The garden space is visible to the public through the large front gates.
The project was completed in January 2024.
Environmental and biodiversity benefits
- This project will result in 59 square metres of new green cover for residents to enjoy, including four new trees, grassed areas and new garden beds.
- Plants have been selected based on their contribution to local biodiversity primarily through food and habitat structure for bees, butterflies and birds. This includes:
- Groundcovers/wildflowers: tough scurf-pea (Cullen tenax), chocolate and pale vanilla lilies (Arthropodium strictum, Arthropodium milleflorum), cut-leaf daisy (Brachyscome multifida) and common flan-flower (Scaevola aemula)
- Shrubs: coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa), rock correa (Correa glabra) and diggers's speedwell (Veronica perfoliata)
- Removal of 35 square metres concrete will provide a permeable surface to improve rain runoff and reduce heat being retained to improve thermal comfort for residents.
- The addition of four new trees will provide a canopy and shade.
Community benefits
- This greening project will create new green space opportunities to engage with nature for residents of the 12 apartments, many of which do not have private outdoor space. This will encourage residents to get outside and improve the mental health and overall wellbeing.
- This resident-led greening initiative will embed a sense of community and encourage more communal and social activities such as, outdoor dining together, gardening working bees and encouraging children to play outside.
- The fire station is regularly visited by tourists and architecture students and through Open Garden programs, there is potential that public can explore the site in the future.
