Key details
Location
Docklands
Update
Works to remove Central Pier from Victoria Harbour are progressing well, with the removal of Shed 9 now complete.
The removal of the concrete area on the west and south of Shed 14 continues, as does works to realign services along Harbour Esplanade.
Specialist marine contractor, Fitzgerald Constructions Australia Pty Ltd has also started stabilising the sea wall and removing the concrete deck connecting the piers to Harbour Esplanade.
As we continue the removal of Central Pier, where practicable, we will also be aiming to repurpose maritime heritage materials salvaged during the removal works, such as signage, bollards and shed numbers.
More than 80% of the waste materials from the removal are receiving a new lease on life in construction and manufacturing across Victoria.
So far, approximately 10,000 tonnes of steel, concrete and bricks, timber and e-waste from the pier have been recycled by Victorian-based companies, underpinning Development Victoria’s goals to support both sustainable construction and local business.
Find out more about how we are recycling the items from Central Pier.
The removal of Central Pier from Victoria Harbour is a key step in the Victorian Government’s plans to revitalise this waterfront in the heart of Docklands.
Development Victoria will continue to work closely with Heritage Victoria, the City of Melbourne, the community and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities for the revitalisation of Central Pier and adjacent waterfront along Harbour Esplanade to create a vibrant waterfront destination.
Revitalising Central Pier Waterfront - Vision and Place Principles
The ‘Revitalising Central Pier Waterfront - Vision and Place Principles’ outlines the long-term vision to transform Central Pier and the adjacent waterfront in Docklands, drawing inspiration from successful waterfront locations around the world.
It is built around five key themes - Reflect, Flourish, Celebrate, Play, and Connect – and sets out the vision to create a vibrant, community-focused space by the water.
The vision and place principles were developed following extensive consultation with the community and key stakeholders, plus input from an advisory panel consisting of leaders in the fields of cultural place making, heritage, urban design, architecture and sustainability.
It was also delivered with input from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
Next steps
Development Victoria will continue to collaborate with Heritage Victoria, the City of Melbourne, the Docklands community, Traditional Owners, and other key stakeholders to transform the precinct into one of Australia’s premier waterfront destinations.
The delivery of a revitalised Central Pier waterfront is a long-term project that will be progressed in stages.
Informed by the Vision and Place Principles, the next step is to investigate options for revitalisation and develop a detailed implementation plan focusing on funding, approval and delivery.
Feedback from online community engagement workshop on 6 December 2022
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Following the closure of Central Pier in 2020, further investigations were undertaken to assess the condition of the structure and the future of the pier and adjacent waterfront.
These investigations found underlying safety concerns with the pier and previous engineering advice that the pier’s condition was irretrievable. Development Victoria commenced planning for the safe removal of the pier by lodging an application to Heritage Victoria for a permit to remove the pier from the water. This application was approved by Heritage Victoria in October 2022.
Works to remove the sheds on Central Pier have now started following the removal of the western tip in 2022.
No. We have installed permanent hoarding around Central Pier which is around 125 metres long to ensure it is secure and unable to be accessed. It is important the pier is secure and safe while we undertake the removal of the Central Pier structure.
For safety reasons, the removal of the pier will be undertaken from barges in the harbour as the structure is unsafe and unable to support any equipment.
Victoria Dock, including Central Pier is of state significance and included on the Victorian Heritage Register. We will be following all appropriate processes to ensure we understand what is required from a heritage perspective. We will continue to work with Heritage Victoria, plus other key stakeholders, about the future of the pier.
Heritage Victoria has approved Development Victoria’s permit application to remove the unsafe pier structure from the water and we will comply with all permit conditions.
No. The engineering advice is that the pier structure has deteriorated significantly and is irretrievable. It is more than 100 years old, and the structure has been in the water for a very long time. Development Victoria recognises the heritage value of Victoria Dock and Central Pier, and any future plans will reflect its heritage significance.
Victoria Dock, including Central Pier, is of state significance and is included on the Victorian Heritage Register. We will be following all appropriate processes to ensure we understand what is required from a heritage perspective.
We will continue to work with Heritage Victoria and other key stakeholders to explore ways to continue to celebrate the heritage of Victoria Dock for many more years to come.
Central Pier is no longer safe for occupation or public access.
In late 2021, Development Victoria received approval from Heritage Victoria to remove the western tip of Central Pier from Victoria Harbour. It was removed in 2022.
In October 2022, Heritage Victoria approved a permit for Development Victoria to remove the remaining unsafe pier structure from the water.
Specialist marine contractor Fitzgerald Constructions Australia Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract to progress the removal of Central Pier in the heart of Docklands.
The pier was permanently closed in January 2020 due to safety issues. This decision was based on specialist advice on the pier’s condition, which noted that even with further maintenance, there was no guarantee Central Pier would be safe for ongoing occupation.
The contract was awarded after a competitive public process conducted by Development Victoria, the State Government’s major projects agency and property developer.
In 2022 Fitzgerald Constructions completed the project to remove the western tip of Central Pier.
Fitzgerald Constructions will evaluate the safest way to remove the pier before removal work is anticipated to begin in the second half of 2023. The removal of the pier is expected to take several years to complete.
The pier was closed for safety reasons following engineering advice. Additional advice from independent engineers is that it is not possible to safely repair the pier because of its current dilapidated condition and associated safety issues.
The safety of workers and visitors has always been the primary concern in considering the future of Central Pier.
Given the current dilapidated condition of the pier structure and safety concerns the pier must now be removed from the water.
To safely remove the pier, cranes and equipment will work from barges anchored in the water, carefully positioned alongside the structure to begin the process of removing the buildings first and then the pier itself.
From 15 October to 22 December 2022, Development Victoria undertook stakeholder and community consultation on the revitalisation of Central Pier and adjoining waterfront via an online survey on the Engage Victoria website, as well as an online community session and an in-person session with the Victoria Point Owners Corporation.
An Engagement Summary Report was released in late-2023.
The feedback gained from the community engagement process will be used to inform the development of a Vision and Place Principles document which will guide the future revitalisation of the pier and adjacent waterfront. The document is anticipated to be publicly released in 2024.
There will be further opportunities for the community to engage and provide feedback as the strategy and plans for Central Pier and adjacent waterfront are developed. We are at the start of the journey to revitalise Central Pier and the adjacent waterfront, and no decisions have been made at this early stage.
Development Victoria is planning to commence our engagement process shortly.
We have allowed for an approximate three-month engagement process but will be reviewing this timeframe while the engagement process is underway to make sure adequate time is allowed for all interested parties to provide their feedback.
Vision and Place Principles
Following engagement with the community and other key stakeholders across 2022 and 2023, Development Victoria has released the Central Pier Waterfront Vision and Place Principles document.
It was developed with input from an advisory panel and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, the document will guide future planning and concept development for revitalisation of Central Pier and the waterfront along Harbour Esplanade.
- It reflects the community’s aspirations for Central Pier as captured during the public consultation process.
- It acts as a guide to inform the future revitalisation of the area.
- It establishes the aspiration and values to be achieved through the revitalisation process.
In the Central Pier Waterfront Vision and Place Principles document, the vision is that the Central Pier waterfront will be Melbourne’s gathering place at the water’s edge where the city’s creative energy comes together in welcoming spaces to reflect, celebrate, play, and connect. It will be a resilient harbour where regenerated ecological systems enable people, flora, and fauna to flourish.
The Place Principles establish a framework of objectives and values that will be used to inform and guide decisions that shape the future physical design, appearance, and functionality of the revitalised waterfront.
The Vision for Central Pier and adjacent waterfront is framed by the five key Place Principles:
- Reflect
- Flourish
- Celebrate
- Play
- Connect.
Updated on 21 March 2025