Located in the heart of Melbourne's rapidly evolving North Wharf, the 3,500sqm waterfront park connects directly to 1 Hotel Melbourne, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle brand making its Australian debut.

The $600 million project centres on the adaptive re-use of the heritage-protected Goods Shed No.5, developed by Riverlee with leading Australian designers FK, OCULUS, Carr and One Design Office, in partnership with Starwood Hotels.

At a ceremony attended by City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece and project collaborators, private family developer Riverlee officially handed over Seafarers Rest Park to the City of Melbourne.

“As designers, we understand the profound importance that public spaces can have on public life,” says OCULUS Associate Director Claire Martin.

“Inspired by the site’s rich maritime history and cultural significance, we approached this project with a commitment to honour past stories while creating an inclusive landscape to improve future public health and wellbeing."

The waterfront park delivers vital green infrastructure and habitat for Melbourne’s CBD and connects pedestrians and cyclists directly to the river. It stands as a leading example of public–private partnerships creating meaningful public space that fosters healthy, resilient communities.

The ceremony also marked the completion of the entire Seafarers precinct and the opening of Australia's first 1 Hotel & Homes, featuring 277 guest rooms and 114 luxury hotel-branded residences, Melbourne's first branded residence offering.

The synergy between park and hotel creates something Melbourne hasn't seen before, a lush urban sanctuary where sustainability becomes experiential. The hotel's 7,000 plants blend naturally with the park's native landscaping.

This creates an immersive green environment where visitors experience both nature and Melbourne's maritime history as they move from Seafarers Rest Park through to the restored Goods Shed No.5, which forms the ground floor hospitality base of 1 Hotel Melbourne.

“The 1 Hotel philosophy is about letting nature in. For our guests in Melbourne, the Seafarers Rest park becomes a seamless extension of their 1 Hotel experience—an urban sanctuary where they can step directly from our nature-infused spaces into an expanse of waterfront tranquility,” says Raul Leal, CEO Starwood Hotels.

Designed by leading landscape architecture firm OCULUS in collaboration with the City of Melbourne, Seafarers Rest Park reflects years of community consultation.

The park features generous lawns, walking and cycling connections, a play area and a platform for live music, markets and gatherings. The park will also host curated experiences led by 1 Hotels, engaging guests, residents and the Melbourne community.

Nestled between the historic Mission to Seafarers building and Seafarers Bridge, the park is deeply informed by its maritime context. Its design incorporates timber seating inspired by shipping crates, rope swings, historical signage and local maritime artefacts.

Bringing the area's port history to life, the hero feature of the precinct is the restored Goods Shed No.5 and its iconic crane, which now stands as a beacon of Melbourne's waterfront legacy. This thoughtful urban renewal preserved over 2,000 original items from the shed while incorporating more than 4,500sqm of reclaimed and recycled timber across the precinct.

This approach to preserving the past extends to restoring the site's ecological heritage through Seafarers Rest Park, which incorporates native planting, water-sensitive urban design and habitat-supportive landscaping.

The park's innovative woody meadow plantings reconnect the site with its ecological past using native grasses and wildflowers that flourished along the Birrarung before European settlement.

“This park is our gift back to Melbourne—a city that has given us so much, and is an important part of our story,” says Riverlee Development Director David Lee.

“Through its culture, its energy, and the enduring presence of the Yarra River. For over a decade, we have worked with care and purpose to regenerate this once-forgotten stretch of waterfront. Now open to all, this park is a place for families to gather, for communities to connect, and for visitors to experience this very special stretch of the Yarra River.”

Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece welcomes the completion of the park, praising the collaborative model that made it possible.

“This part of the Birrarung holds a special place in Australia’s maritime history—once a place ships set off on journeys to Antarctica, and now set to be a new favourite spot for people to stroll, play or take a moment to relax,” Reece says.

“With lush greenery, a fun play space, and new paths, Seafarers Rest is a wonderful example of what the Greenline Project is all about, and I’m excited to see everyone make the most of this 200-metre riverfront transformation.”

Hero image: 1 Hotel Melbourne / Mikkel Vang

Architecture & Design Team

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