Overview
If you've been looking for a new patch of grass to run around, to walk your pup across or soak up some rays in with a book, you're in luck. South Melbourne has just scored a big'un — and it's located only a five-minute drive (or easy two-kilometre run) from the CBD.
Officially opened on October 20, the new 9000-square-metre park (around the size of 20 netball courts) has been dubbed Kirrip Park, which means 'friendship' or 'mate' in the local Boon Wurrung language. Sitting just opposite the new South Melbourne Primary School — Victoria's first vertical primary school — it's a joint venture by the City of Port Phillip and Labor, and it's set to give a much-needed boost in public space to this busy corner of Melbourne.
At the moment, it doesn't have a heap of recreational facilities, but the government plans to add them in after gathering feedback from the local community. If you'd like to add in your two cents — and maybe score that basketball court you've been dreaming of — hit up the City of Port Phillip website.
While we mentioned south Melbourne earlier, Kirrip Park is actually located in a super-new Melbourne suburb, called Fishermans Bend. It's located in the space of land below South Melbourne and sandwiched between Port Melbourne and the Yarra. To the south, it's accessible from Yarraville over the West Gate. If you're not familiar with Fishermans Bend, that's because you probably haven't had much reason to give it a visit — until now.
At the moment, it's largely industrial — but the Andrews Government plans to turn the 480-hectare site into a brand new suburb, complete with residential housing, commercial buildings, new schools, community centres and plenty of green open space by 2050. While the majority of this huge urban renewal project is dependent on Labor being re-elected at next month's state election, it seems they've already started making good on some of their promises, regardless, with the opening of this brand spankin' new park.
Find Kirrip Park at 2-4 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne.
Image one is a render.