Key details
Location
Fishermans Bend, Port Melbourne
Bunurong Country
Policy objective
Urban renewal
Economic Development
Client
Department of Transport and Planning
Key partner
University of Melbourne
City of Melbourne
Overview
A $179.4 million funding package from the Victorian Government was invested to kick start development in the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct (FBIP), formerly the General Motors Holden (GMH) site.
A major transformation is underway to put Victoria at the forefront of global innovation in advanced manufacturing, engineering and design.
Stage 1, being delivered by Development Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) includes some remediation and the installation of crucial infrastructure and services to create an investment-ready precinct.
Stage 1 will also provide key development infrastructure for the Precinct. This includes the establishment of an east west connection through the site by linking Salmon Street and Todd Road, creating public realm and open space, and unlocking development ready lots for related industry investment.
The Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct will foster collaboration between industry and academia, spearheaded by the University of Melbourne. Opening in 2026, the precinct will house the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
By 2051, the Precinct is projected so support up to 30,000 STEM jobs, underlining its pivotal role in driving innovation and shaping the future workforce.
Development Victoria acquired the former General Motors Holden (GMH) site in Port Melbourne in 2017 when it was a vacant industrial site.
The Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct is part of Fishermans Bend Australia’s largest urban renewal project, consisting of five precincts across two municipalities – the City of Melbourne and the City of Port Phillip.
The Victorian Government has a clear vision for the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct as ‘an internationally renowned centre of innovation in advanced manufacturing, engineering and design’.
The Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct will ensure Victoria remains a powerhouse in manufacturing, supporting thousands of high value jobs in defence, aerospace, clean energy and transport.
It will seek to support, curate and be the catalyst for an innovation eco-system that will unlock the next wave of growth and evolution in Fishermans Bend. It will do this by creating knowledge economy jobs, driving innovation and commercialisation and contributing to the existing precinct.
By 2050, Fishermans Bend is expected to be home to approximately 80,000 residents and provide employment for up to 80,000 people.
32ha project area
New Centre of Innovation
$179.4m Invested in stage 1
Outcomes
Redevelopment of the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct will act as a catalyst to drive additional private sector investment and development within the Fishermans Bend National Employment and Innovation Cluster (NEIC).
The Fishermans Bend Innovation precinct will provide significant direct and indirect economic benefits to Melbourne and Victoria, supporting more than 30,000 high-income jobs and up to 74,000 jobs in total across inner Melbourne by FY2051.
Progress to date:
- Strategic site planning continues
- Settlement of the University of Melbourne Land Sale contract. Stage 1 of the campus will be purpose-built for the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, and is expected to open in 2026. The campus is part of an almost $1 billion commitment to create a world-class engineering school at the site.
- In 2019, Development Victoria entered into a long-term lease with Leonardo Australia for the construction of a Helicopter Gearbox Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Facility (MROF) in part of Plant 18 at the FBIP (Phase 1). The MROF has been delivered and will provide an Australian base for the maintenance and support of the Australian Department of Defence’s MRH90 helicopter fleet. It is the only site in the southern hemisphere with a sophisticated aeronautical gearbox dynamic engineering maintenance capability.
- Early works are now complete at the GMH site including the demolition of vacant plant and equipment, site remediation works, service relocations and early civil works to prepare the land for the future construction of the Stage 1 roads and a new public park.
- The Main Works package will commence in late 2024. This will involve the installation of essential services, road network, parks and public realm.
Approach
Development Victoria and Department of Transport and Planning are developing a master plan for the site. When complete, this will align with the broader Fishermans Bend NEIC Precinct Implementation Plan being prepared by DTP.
The master plan will guide the redevelopment of the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct to accommodate a range of advanced manufacturing and research leaders, supported by a high-quality street and public open space network, including public transport connections.
Location
The Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct is strategically located at the centre of the Fishermans Bend National Employment and Innovation Cluster, which in turn forms part of Australia’s largest urban renewal precinct at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne, Victoria.
The Precinct site is less than 5 kms from the edge of Melbourne’s CBD and has good access to the West Gate Freeway and CityLink. The site was formerly known as the General Motors Holden (GMH) site and is bounded by Salmon Street and Todd Road.
DV acknowledges the Bunurong people as the Traditional Custodians of the land now known as Fishermans Bend.
Who to contact about this project
Customer service
Ph: 03 8317 3400
Contact us
Media
Ph: 03 8317 3700
media@development.vic.gov.au
Latest news
View allView more projects
View allWas this page helpful?
Timeline
- Development Victoria acquire the 32 hectare General Motors Holden site in Fishermans Bend.
- The University of Melbourne announces it will purchase land at the GMH site to develop its School of Engineering Campus.
- Site renamed Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct
- State Government announce funding commitment of $179.4 million to deliver Stage One of the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct
- Completion of Phase 1 of a helicopter gearbox Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Facility (MROF) at the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct.
- Settlement of University of Melbourne Land Sale Contract for the delivery of the new campus, purpose-built for the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) and the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning (ABP).
- Commencement of design and statutory approvals phase for Stage One of the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct
- University of Melbourne engineering, design and advanced manufacturing campus scheduled to open
History of Fishermans Bend and the GMH Site
- 1830s: Port Melbourne became the main arrival point for ships visiting Melbourne
- 1930s: Location of early aviation development, where from the 1930s the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation manufactured aircraft in its Lorimer Street factory
- 1936: Fishermans Bend site acquired by Holden for new headquarters and assembly plant
- 1945: General Motors Holden open Social Centre – built as a dining hall seating 580 employees
- 1946: After the war ended and when the Australian government was looking to take advantage of the manufacturing capability built up during those years, Holden engineers at Fishermans Bend began work on the new sedan
- 1948: First Holden car rolled off the line at the Fisherman’s Bend plant
- 1956: Car manufacturing ceases at the site after Holden opened other plants in South Australia and Victoria
- 1964: Plant 3 is redeveloped, and Salmon Street frontage replaced by the Technical Centre
- 2016: Holden ceases engine production at the GMH site
- 2016: The Minister for Planning establishes the Fishermans Bend Taskforce, which released the Fishermans Bend Recast Vision for public consultation, setting a framework to guide the redevelopment of Fishermans Bend
- 2017: Development Victoria acquire the 32ha General Motors Holden site in Fishermans Bend
- 2018: The Fishermans Bend Framework is released, containing the long-term strategic plan for the development of Fishermans Bend up to 2050
- 2018: The University of Melbourne announces it will purchase land at the GMH site to develop its School of Engineering Campus
Additional resources and information
Updated on 30 August 2024