Birrarung Marr

Located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Birrarung Marr is an 8-hectare (20-acre) land park located alongside the north bank of the Yarra River between the central business district in Melbourne and Batman Avenue.

The park was officially opened to the public on Australia Day, January 26, 2002, at a cost of A$15.6 million. The park's name, Birrarung Marr, refers to the bank of Birrarung, translated as the "river of mists" in the Woiwurrung language used by the Wurundjeri people.

In 1856, the land on which Birrarung Marr now resides was designated for park or ornamental purposes by the colonial government. Over time, various establishments and facilities were built on the site, including a morgue and the State Swimming Centre. In 1992, the Victorian Government initiated the centralisation of Melbourne's development, with Birrarung Marr as its centrepiece. Construction began in 2000 and was completed two years later.

Birrarung Marr was designed as a lively and upbeat urban space, unlike the more conventional public gardens in other parts of Melbourne. The park layout features three broad, flat terraces with different surfaces and levels. The terraces were formed on the level site caused by works on the adjoining rail lines and nearby constructions. The park design provides beautiful lines of sight to various landmarks in Melbourne.

Birrarung Marr features several facilities that are open to the public, including a footbridge, Speakers Corner, the Yarra River Trail, barbecue facilities, public toilets, ArtPlay, the Federation Bells, and the William Barak Bridge. The park's name, Bir