Victoria has officially commenced works on the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct, marking a significant milestone in Australia’s largest urban renewal project. The precinct will become a hub for advanced manufacturing, engineering, and design, set to transform inner-city Melbourne.
This ambitious development forms part of the wider Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Project, spanning 480 hectares and incorporating five distinct neighbourhoods. It aims to revitalise a once-industrial area south of the Yarra River, providing new residential, commercial, educational, and green spaces close to Melbourne’s central business district.
Innovation Precinct to Become a Centre for Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing
At the heart of the Fishermans Bend renewal, the Innovation Precinct will occupy the former General Motors Holden site between Salmon Street and Todd Road.
According to the Victorian government, this area will serve as a “world-class advanced manufacturing, engineering and design precinct.” Construction is underway, led by Winslow Infrastructure Pty Ltd, who are responsible for Stage 1 works including new roads, public parks, and foundational infrastructure for future facilities.
A notable feature of the precinct is the University of Melbourne’s new School of Engineering and Design campus, currently under construction and scheduled to open next year. This development is expected to attract students, researchers, and industry partners, fostering collaboration and innovation within the precinct.
Alongside educational facilities, the area will accommodate light industrial and commercial ventures, creating employment opportunities and enhancing Melbourne’s reputation as a centre for technological advancement.
Wider Fishermans Bend Project Poised to Reshape Inner-City Living and Working
The broader Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Project covers five precincts: Montague, Lorimer, Sandridge, Wirraway, and the Innovation Precinct. These neighbourhoods will feature a mixture of residential, retail, office, and heritage buildings, blending new constructions with renovated sites to cultivate a vibrant urban environment.
According to projections, by 2050 the area will be home to approximately 80,000 residents and provide jobs for 80,000 workers. Developments on the project’s edges are already taking shape.
For example, Port Lane in the Wirraway precinct offers boutique townhomes near Port Melbourne Beach, reflecting a coastal design theme. Meanwhile, The Canopy in the Sandridge precinct targets eco-conscious living with EV charging stations and high environmental ratings.
Further north, Mirvac’s Trielle at Yarra’s Edge, adjacent to the Lorimer precinct, features spacious apartments and townhomes with completion expected by 2027. These developments indicate early momentum towards reshaping this key area on Melbourne’s doorstep, combining lifestyle improvements with economic growth.
The Fishermans Bend project represents a bold vision for Melbourne’s urban future, integrating innovation, sustainability, and mixed-use living in a strategically important location.
