Albury City Council commissioned our Cities and Places sector team to do the re-design and documentation of the Albury Riverside Precinct, located on the northern side of the New South Wales and Victorian border, separated by the Murray River.
In 2007, Albury City Council launched the ‘Murray River Experience’ Masterplan to reimagine the City’s relationship with the river. One key objective was revitalising the central Albury Riverside Parks, creating a new Riverside Precinct.
Our team became involved in 2019 to transform the precinct into a popular destination for tourists and locals. While respecting its context within the public realm, our landscape architects engaged stakeholders and community members to ensure the redesign met the needs of short and long-stay visitors, rivercraft users, recreation through the Wagirra Trail, and those visiting the precinct for specific events.
Since opening in October 2023, the precinct has strengthened the connection between the Albury community, the central business district (CBD), and the Murray River. It provides a place to gather, host community events and markets, and allow visitors to enjoy recreational activities. The revitalised precinct is anticipated to provide opportunities for future development and support surrounding facilities and venues.
This video is courtesy of the Albury City Council website.
The new precinct runs alongside the Murray River up to Bungambrawatha Creek and boasts an elevated fully inclusive boardwalk. The design also incorporated a canoe launch platform, a floating pontoon, designated river viewing points, BBQ/picnic spots, shaded areas, ample parking, well-lit spaces, attractive landscaping, and interconnected pathways from Hovell Tree Park to the Albury Swim Centre.
The brief required a design that would unite the Riverfront, Western Peninsula, and Hovell Tree Park into one cohesive space with three distinct yet interconnected sub-destinations.
The Wagirra walking trail, located within the precinct, spans from the Peninsula past the riverfront to Hovell Tree Park and beyond.
The Riverfront along Hovell Tree Drive to Hovell Tree Park now presents a fresh venue for community gatherings and weekend markets while promoting activities such as walking and cycling.
This improved pathway provides a more convenient link to other parts of the foreshore, including Noreuil Park.
The Western Peninsula is the primary connection to the Murray River waterway. It features a canoe launch and an elevated boardwalk leading to a viewing point.
The Albury Riverside Project won two awards from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) NSW Chapter: Parks and Open Space Award + Regional Achievement Award.
Congratulations to the Albury City Council and our Landscape Architecture team, led by Director John Holland.
Pictured below, holding the award, are Zhipeng Cai and Hong Zhang with John Holland (far right). They were pleased to receive the award for the whole team in the Sydney and Melbourne studios.
