Fabs Melbourne: Southbank

2698 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Fabian, Jun 17, 2012

Fabian

Discussion Starter · May 21, 2012

Did anyone ever think this part of Melbourne on the southern shores of the Yarra would become an extension of the Melbourne CBD?

It really feels like that these days.

Compare that to a generation ago. there was no highrise. It was still littered with factories and warehouses.

Not to mention Melbourne's tallest building is located here- the 297 metre Eureka Tower. Did anyone think that would happen too?

Its also the public come to admire the Yarra River. Walkways enable locals and visitors to walk along its shores. Restaurants and cafes have sprouted up. It is also a tourist destination. It is home to the National Gallery of Victoria, one of the most art galleries in Australia, and the Arts Centre. Crown Casino is also another notable attraction with Australia's largest casino. I'll look at Crown in further depth in a future post because alot has to be said about it. In fact it has been behind the renewal of Southbank but also Melbourne.

General shots of Southbank.

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-11

View from Federation Square

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-12

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-12

The Yarra separates it from the city hence the Southbank name.

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-12

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-13

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-13

The Tea House (1888) - one of the first highrises built outside of the Hoddle Grid. It is listed by the Heritage Trust.

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-13

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-14

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-13

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1 - 10 of 10 Posts

Mickeebee

· #2 · May 21, 2012

Corwn Metropol would have to be the most beautiful hotel building in the country.

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ChrisJudd83

· #3 · May 21, 2012

Fabian said:
Did anyone ever think this part of Melbourne on the southern shores of the Yarra would become an extension of the Melbourne CBD?

It really feels like that these days.

Compare that to a generation ago. there was no highrise. It was still littered with factories and warehouses.

Not to mention Melbourne's tallest building is located here- the 297 metre Eureka Tower. Did anyone think that would happen too?

Its also the public come to admire the Yarra River. Walkways enable locals and visitors to walk along its shores. Restaurants and cafes have sprouted up. It is also a tourist destination. It is home to the National Gallery of Victoria, one of the most art galleries in Australia, and the Arts Centre. Crown Casino is also another notable attraction with Australia's largest casino. I'll look at Crown in further depth in a future post because alot has to be said about it. In fact it has been behind the renewal of Southbank but also Melbourne.

Crown Casino is what kicked start Southbank and was the catalyst for transforming it from a nothing to an extension of the CBD. But don't tell Alphaville that. Casinos are evil in his eyes

hno:

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Daffy

· #4 · May 21, 2012

NGV, Art Centre & Hamer Hall, South Gate and River edge offices, Coronor's complex, Southbank Boulevard, Jones Residential development and the orginal Melb Museum converted to the Exhibition Centre all predate the Casino. Most of the planning and land consolidation done under the Cain Government in the 1980s.
The Crown Casino crowds are quite different to the Art Centre/Southgate lot and most regular Casino patrons drive into the Casino and many would never get out into the fresh air.
Non Casino users are the majority on the riverfront especially on weekend and workday lunchtimes. Most Exhibition Centre users get there via public transport and walk along the riverbank.

In general the Casino lot pretty much keep to themselves.

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Alphaville

· #5 · May 21, 2012

ChrisJudd83 said:
Crown Casino is what kicked start Southbank and was the catalyst for transforming it from a nothing to an extension of the CBD. But don't tell Alphaville that. Casinos are evil in his eyes hno:

Are you serious?

Firstly - you stating Crown Casino is what was the catalyst for transforming Southbank shows how ill-informed you are. If you actually did a little research on the area you'd know that the Southbank Cultural Precinct project of the 1960's and 1970's (a product of the Bolte-Hamer era); and later the Southgate project in the 1980's is what was Southbank's catalyst -- not Crown Casino. The area was already well and truly pacing ahead by the time the casino broke ground in 1993. I grew up in Melbourne and I remember pre-Crown Southbank vividly and it was already thriving.

Secondly - please quote me as to where i've ever said Casino's are evil? Can you tell me why they are good for society?

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Alphaville

· #6 · May 21, 2012

Daffy said:
In general the Casino lot pretty much keep to themselves.

Precisely. I think this ChrisJudd character took issue to my comments in another thread that highlighted the fact that Crown doesn't really contribute to the immediate area (aside from the Promenade - which is fantastic), and if anything turns its back on Southbank. It has also been very publicly criticised for the way in which it has increased crime levels in the area.

Talk about being misquoted.

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Alphaville

· #7 · May 21, 2012

BTW Fabian, great shots. Sorry to hijack your thread.

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spiralout

· #8 · May 21, 2012

Fabian said:
Not to mention Melbourne's tallest building is located here- the 297 metre Eureka Tower. Did anyone think that would happen too?

Might be home to Melbourne's second and 3rd tallest as well.

Isn't Pearl (currently U/C) going to be Melbourne's third tallest?

NIce pics

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Fabian

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 22, 2012

Eureka Tower
Year: 2006
Height: 297 metres
Floors: 91
Architects: Fender Katsalidis Architects

Key Facts:

Home to Australia's highest observation deck at 282 metres above street level
Eureka Tower has the second highest apartments in the world, its highest being the 87th floor penthouse 278.5 meters above ground level. Only the John Hancock Center in Chicago has apartments higher than this.
The two lifts servicing the observation decks will be the fastest in Australia, travelling at nine meters per second and taking just over 30 seconds from the ground floor lobby.

Sourced from Emporis.com on May 22 2012

By fabianamuso at 2012-05-13