The stretch of linked parklands along the river’s north bank are all closely connect to Melbourne’s maritime heritage and the development of Melbourne. These public spaces reference first John Pascoe Fawkner’s arrival in the schooner Enterprize in 1835 and John Batman’s arrival soon afterwards in the Rebecca. Rebecca Walk threads through this area of riverside parkland and the pre-eminence of the Wurundjeri is reflected by various art installations.

There has been much controversy over the years as which of the two Johns was the founder of the city of Melbourne: Fawkner or Batman. Fawkner arrived in October 1835 and John Batman moved his camp from Indented Head to the Birrarung/Yarra in November 1835. Batman is reputed to have stated, ‘This is the place for a village’. Both men have a claim to be the ‘founding father’.

Coinciding with the Fawkner/Batman arrival, at this season of the year, the Wurundjeri would have recently arrived from wintering inland. Traditionally, in this location this season was a time of plenty – an abundance of fish, plant food and wildlife. The Wurundjeri would have found the arrival and actions of these strangers in their country as incomprehensible. The Fawkner group began clearing scrub, chopping down trees and creating shelter seemingly indifferent to the Indigenous custodianship and life.

Excited by news of prospects of the new settlement, the Fawkner and Batman parties were soon followed by an influx of many, many of ‘overstraiters’ from Tasmania and ‘overlanders’ from Sydney. In 1841 alone, just six years after Batman and Fawkner arrived, 10,000 people arrived by sea, their many boats moored on the riverbank, tied to trees, or staked to the riverbed. As people began pouring into the settlement, the Birrarung/Yarra filled with vessels and the remains of former wharves can be seen at the water’s edge.

The Batman Park reserve was established in 1982 on the north bank, just to the west of the turning basin. In 1997 the original turning basin, which had been filled in by the 1950s, was reinstated and the portion of Batman Park was established on north bank in 1982 by the conversion of a disused freight train rail yard. Today, the heliport and its associated bluestone control tower can be seen at the western edge of Batman Park.

FURTHER READING

• James Boyce, 1835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest of Australia, Black Inc., Collingwood, 2012
• Bruce Pascoe, Convincing Ground, Learning to fall in Love with Your Country, Aboriginal Studies Press, Melbourne, 2007

IMAGE CREDITS
Image 1: Batman Park looking towards the river and south bank, photographer Liz Rushen 2025
Image 2: Batman park with heliport in the background, photographer Liz Rushen 2025

STOP 12  >

Spencer Street Bridge