Pipemakers Park

Pipemakers Park
Type Public Park
Location Melbourne, Australia
Coordinates 37°46′37″S 144°53′42″E / 37.777°S 144.895°ECoordinates: 37°46′37″S 144°53′42″E / 37.777°S 144.895°E
Area 8 hectares
Opened 1984
Operated by City of Maribyrnong
Visitors 750 per month approx.
Status Open
Paths Sealed paths
Terrain Remnant Riparian Bushland
Water Maribyrnong River, artificial wetlands
Vegetation Australian Native
Connecting transport Car, Bus
Landmarks Maribyrnong river
Facilities Toilets, Barbecues, Picnic areas, Conference room, ecomuseum, Wildlife sanctuary

Pipemakers Park is located in the inner western suburbs of Melbourne in the city of Maribyrnong, on the western bank of the Maribyrnong River near Highpoint Shopping Centre. The park was created on the site of a former pipe works and meat preserving company, and retains historic buildings adapted to a museum[1] and interpreted industrial ruins.[2]

The park was formerly managed by Parks Victoria but in 2014, Maribyrnong City Council took over management of this and the adjacent Burndap Park and Frog Hollow.[3]

History

Meat preserving on Saltwater River Pipemakers Park

Joseph Raleigh established a boiling down works on the banks of the river in the 1840s. the buildings were adapted to the Melbourne Meat Preserving Company works in 1868, and then taken over by Humes Pipe in about 1911. In the 1980s the MMBW purchased the site and developed it as parkland and home to the Living Museum, opening in 1984.[4]

Geography

The park sits on a the floodplain of the Maribyrnong river below a steep escarpment of the western basalt plains.

References