Batman's Hill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Batman's Hill in Melbourne was named for the Tasmanian adventurer and grazier John Batman. This hill was located approximately where the Spencer Street Railway Station is currently sited and was removed to make way for subsequent building. Settled by Batman in 1837 it served as his base for a few years. The western slope of Batman's Hill was sold to the government in 1847 and a powder magazine was built. At the foot of the slopes at this time were tanning pits and melting works. As of 2005 the site is dominated by the Spencer Street railway station which forms part of the city loop and for years served as the terminus for interstate trains from Adelaide and Sydney. It is currently being rebuilt and the State Government announced, controversially, in 2004 that it was to change its name to the Southern Cross Station. It now forms the eastern border of the Melbourne Docklands and a precinct of the Docklands development is also named Batman's Hill.
