67-495: Jolimont Yard was an array of railway lines and carriage sidings on the edge of the central business district of Melbourne , Australia . Located between Flinders Street station , Richmond Junction , the Yarra River and Flinders Street they were often criticised for cutting off the city from the river, being the site of many redevelopment proposals. The Princes Gate Towers (Gas and Fuel Buildings) were built over part of
134-432: A central role for retail, with flagship department stores, specialist shops, and luxury brands, and the upper floors of older buildings and down the city's famous laneways host a busy nightlife of numerous bars and restaurants, and a street art culture. The term 'Hoddle Grid' emerged in common use only in the 21st century. While it has long been well known that Robert Hoddle surveyed the first officially published plan of
201-433: A committee chaired by Ron Walker . No overall winner was chosen, a composite scheme with a tower in a garden setting recommended instead. Each of the finalists receiving a little over $ 2,000 prize money, with designs including hanging gardens, an underwater gallery, a free-standing escalator, a series of 12 transparent arches, a solar-powered earth beam, a Freedom Bird Park, and a Time Tower. 1985: Denton Corker Marshall By
268-478: A design competition was held by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects for redevelopment of the rail yard. The winner was James Smith with his proposal set back from the street line, featuring a paved civic plaza and fountain, railway offices, tourist bureau and a concourse to Princes Bridge station. 1929: Metropolitan Town Planning Commission The Metropolitan Town Planning Commission
335-432: A government precinct developed on the east side of Spring Street. The swampy area to the south soon hosted rail lines, with many suburban trains converging on Flinders Street railway station near Princes Bridge , the gateway to the city from the south, and Spencer Street station on the western edge was the terminus for country trains, as well as more suburban lines. Up until 1930s, the river bank west of Queen Street River
402-421: A half chains (99 ft; 30 m) in width, while all blocks are exactly 10 chains (660 ft; 200 m) square. The total dimensions, including widths of streets, are thus 93.5 chains (6,170 ft; 1,880 m) by 47.5 chains (3,140 ft; 960 m). The grid's longest axis is oriented 70 degrees clockwise from true north, to align better with the course of the Yarra River . The majority of Melbourne
469-504: A major yard for the stabling of suburban carriage stock, as well as the servicing of the steam locomotives that hauled them. Freight traffic was based out of Melbourne Yard and most of the country carriage stock was serviced at the Dudley Street sidings, both adjacent to Spencer Street station . The running lines were arranged into pairs (inbound and outbound for each destination) with multiple sidings located between them. In 1917
536-670: A marked angle to the rest of the city, and is easily recognised on any map. Most inhabitants of Melbourne know all the streets of the Hoddle Grid by name, and the order they occur. The whole town was at first accommodated within the Hoddle Grid, but the huge surge in immigration brought about by the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s quickly outgrew the grid, spreading into the first suburbs in Fitzroy , South Melbourne (Emerald Hill), and beyond. The Hoddle Grid and its fringes remained
603-708: A multimillion-dollar development to link the sports and arts precincts in Melbourne's CBD. To be funded by a public-private partnership, the railway lines would be roofed and commercial buildings built on top. The next day the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged the roofing over the railway lines east of Federation Square for the construction of a residence for the Prime Minister of Australia, and as well as for hosting visiting heads of state and business delegations. In August 2009
670-662: A park, were standard practice across Australia in government settlements, to facilitate the creation of regular allotments for sale. Notable exceptions include the five central squares of the privately developed plan of Adelaide (also 1839), and the axially placed, though not central, church square set aside in the 1829 plan for Perth. Most of today's well known public squares, such as King George Square in Brisbane , Martin Place in Sydney , and Melbourne's City Square , were created in
737-400: A permanent location elsewhere. The Transport House location was only intended to be temporary, pending the replacement of the elderly technology with a new system; however, as of July 2017 Metrol was still at the same location (now named 595 Collins Street). When M>Train was franchised to operate half of the Melbourne suburban network, after the privatisation of the system, the company
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#1732780881970804-687: A replacement train control centre was announced in May 2006, as part of the State Government's "Meeting Our Transport Challenges" policy, and was costed at $ 88 million. The first stage was a $ 27 million contract, awarded to Westinghouse Rail Systems in March 2007, for the design and installation of the new Train Control and Monitoring System. A customised version of the SystematICS control system
871-611: A separate north-south grid of streets at one mile spacing around the central city grid. The origin of this grid, marked on the 1837 map, was on the crest of Batman's Hill , striking magnetic north for one mile, to an east west line (now Victoria Street/Parade) marking the northern extent of the government reserve outside the central grid. The rest of metropolitan Melbourne generally follows this grid pattern. [REDACTED] Australian Roads portal 37°48′51″S 144°57′47″E / 37.81417°S 144.96306°E / -37.81417; 144.96306 Metrol Metrol
938-484: A theatre and an office tower built above. 1961: Matthew Flinders Square This proposal was put promoted by ex Lord Mayor William Lempriere and was prepared by architects Montgomery, King and Trengrove. It aimed to fix the "desecration of the city's southern gateway by the rail yards," and the "'mid-Victorian monstrosity" of Flinders Street Station by roofing the rail yards and relocating the railway station underground. The open space on either side of Princes Bridge would be
1005-567: Is oriented at 8 degrees clockwise from true north - noting that magnetic north was 8.05° E in 1900, increasing to 11.7° E in 2009. Parallel to the Yarra River: One-way westbound, except two-way between Market and Spencer Streets One-way westbound, except two-way between King and Spencer Streets One-way westbound One-way eastbound Perpendicular to the Yarra River: Robert Hoddle also surveyed
1072-512: Is still the most common phrase to refer to the central grid area of Melbourne. Official planning strategies in the 1980s and 90s did not use the phrase 'Hoddle Grid'; for instance the State Government's "Central Melbourne : Framework for the Future", published December 1984, identifies it as 'the formal city grid' (p25), while the City of Melbourne's 'Grids and Greenery', published 1987, picks out
1139-460: Is the central control centre of the Melbourne suburban rail network . It controls signalling , passenger information , and emergency procedures. It is located at 595 Collins Street, Melbourne . Metrol has two key functions—train control and signalling. Operations are split, with train control covering the whole suburban area, while control of points and signalling is only over a limited area in
1206-481: The City Loop was built. In addition to the relocation of the electrical substation, numerous tracks at Richmond Junction needed to be relocated to make room for the ramps descending into the tunnel, and tracks in the yard itself were slewed as work progressed on the cut and cover tunnels. The Metrol train control complex was also constructed beside the yards on Batman Avenue, to control the loop as well as to replace
1273-470: The Hurstbridge line will also be controlled from Metrol after the completion of resignalling works, with work beginning in 2006. Metrol is also where information about cancellations or delayed trains is entered into Metro Trains ' SMS disruption alert system. The Metrol train control complex was built as part of the City Loop project of the 1970s. The original site was on Batman Avenue , beside
1340-586: The Jolimont Yard , and adjacent to Electrol, the control centre for the railway electrical substations and traction power supply . During construction, it was revealed that the Metrol building would block the view from Russell Street to the Botanic Gardens and Government House , and that no planning permit had been applied for. Bill Gibbs, chairman of VicRail , stated that under Section 79 of
1407-415: The Melbourne central business district , Australia. Bounded by Flinders Street , Spring Street , La Trobe Street , and Spencer Street , it lies at an angle to the rest of the Melbourne suburban grid, and so is easily recognisable. It is named after the surveyor Robert Hoddle , who marked it out in 1837 (to Lonsdale Street , extended to La Trobe Street the next year), based on the city grid established in
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#17327808819701474-637: The Railways Act 1958 , VicRail had the right to build anything on its own land that it deemed necessary. The City of Melbourne and the Board of Works asserted that a permit was necessary, because the building was within 60 metres of the Yarra River . State Premier Rupert Hamer responded to the public outcry by ordering the half-constructed building to be demolished. He also told all government departments that they must apply for planning permits, whether they were legally obliged to or not. The building
1541-501: The Yarra River frontage, partially roofing the rail yards, constructing a bridge from Russell Street to Batman Avenue, and building underpasses below Princes Bridge and Batman Avenue. 1958: Kenneth McDonald This plan was proposed by Kenneth MacDonald and Associates to the City of Melbourne , and proposed the roofing of the rail yards between Swanston and Spring streets, with public space, shops, car parking, apartment and hotel towers,
1608-500: The 1950s the phrase 'Golden Mile' comes into use, describing Collins Street itself. The "Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme Report", published by the Board of Works in 1954 refers to the area as 'The Central Business Area'. The phrase 'CBD' or Central Business District appears in the 1960s, probably within the publication of the 'Borrie Report' in 1964, and the subsequent Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme, enacted in 1968. CBD
1675-469: The 20th century, by widening streets and demolishing buildings. Robert Hoddle remained the surveyor for the district until 1853, and laid out all the surrounding subdivisions in a north south, east west grid, excepting the area between La Trobe Street and Victoria Street, which is sometimes included in the 'Hoddle Grid', and is usually officially included in the CBD. This has meant that the original grid sits at
1742-542: The Darling regulations, the area around the grid was reserved for future expansion and government purposes, and some blocks and allotments were held back from sale and were allocated for government use, a market and a church. The first land sale, of allotments around a block reserved as the site for the Customs House, took place in the settlement on 1 June 1837. The lack of a public square or formal open space within
1809-559: The Princes Bridge locomotive depot was closed, and replaced by the Jolimont Workshops . Built as part of the electrification of the Melbourne suburban network , it was the main storage, servicing and maintenance depot for the new fleet of suburban trains. The workshops was erected to the south along Batman Avenue , with the storage sidings located between the running lines. A footbridge ran from Flinders Street across
1876-480: The Princes Gate towers were demolished in 1996–1997. 1973: Jolimont Pleasure Gardens A City of Melbourne proposal for roofing the yards and reconnect the city with the river and sports and arts precincts beyond. 1979: Landmark Competition Premier Rupert Hamer announced a $ 100,000 competition for designs to roof the remainder of Jolimont Yard. Over 2300 entries were submitted, with 48 finalists selected by
1943-526: The VECCI again brought up the topic of roofing over the railway tracks, an article in The Age cited a 2002 cost of $ 1.4 billion. 37°49′01″S 144°58′30″E / 37.817°S 144.975°E / -37.817; 144.975 Hoddle grid The Hoddle Grid is the contemporary name given to the approximately 1.61-by-0.80-kilometre (1.00 mi × 0.50 mi) grid of streets that form
2010-607: The architecture firm, the Princes Plaza Proposal included demolition of one of the Princes Gate towers, and the construction of a large street level plaza stretching across the yards, and a new building to the east surrounding a formal garden. 1996: Federation Square A design completion for the site commenced in 1996, resulting in Federation Square that was opened in October 2002. The first area of
2077-448: The area today, in six pairs named (from north to south): Where the lines interconnect outside the MCG was originally known as Jolimont Junction, but was renamed Richmond Junction following the demise of the yard. From Flinders Street in the west to Richmond station in the east, bridges over the area include: On 28 April 2008 Premier John Brumby announced that his government was proposing
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2144-399: The central grid of streets most commonly referred to as 'the City', it was not traditionally named after him. In the 19th and early 20th Century the focus was more on Collins Street , the grandest thoroughfare, with the most expensive and exclusive buildings along its length, while the western and northern edges comprised unremarkable low rise residential and light industrial development. By
2211-510: The centre and most active part of the city into the mid 20th century, with retail in the centre, fine hotels, banking and prime office space on Collins Street, medical professionals on the Collins Street hill, legal professions around William Street , and warehousing along Flinders Lane and in the western end. Government buildings like GPO, State Library, Supreme Court, and Customs House occupied various blocks, while Parliament House and
2278-448: The centre of Melbourne. Outside this area, signal-boxes direct trains under the direction of the train controllers at Metrol. Before Metrol, the points and signals in the Melbourne suburban area were controlled by a series of individual signal-boxes, under the direction of a train controller who coordinated train movements. The original function was to be the main train control facility for the Melbourne suburban railways, as well as to be
2345-408: The city design being dubbed the Hoddle Grid. The unusual dimensions of the allotments and the incorporation of narrow 'little' streets were the result of compromise between Hoddle's desire to employ the regulations established in 1829 by previous NSW Governor Ralph Darling, requiring square blocks and wide streets, and Bourke's desire for rear access ways (now the 'little' streets). The placement of
2412-505: The entire yard to provide access for train drivers. An electrical substation was also erected to the south of the yard, to feed power into the overhead wires. Of 18,000 kilowatt capacity, it was fitted with four 4500 kilowatt rotary converters and was the largest substation on the network until demolished in the early 1970s to make room for the City Loop portals for the Caulfield Group . Additional sidings were also provided in
2479-598: The final stage, that ran into opposition in the early 2000s, but was approved in 2005. The State Government announced the Federation Square project in 1996, along with additional development of the sports and entertainment precinct and new parklands. Rationalisation of the yard was carried out in 1997–1998 to clear the way, with the stabling sidings and workshops removed and replaced by new facilities located elsewhere, including: The track rationalisation itself cost $ 40 million with 53 operating lines between Flinders Street and Richmond were reduced to just 12. The number of points
2546-461: The first railway in the city, running to Sandridge (now Port Melbourne ). It was later joined by the independent Princes Bridge station on the eastern side of Swanston Street , which served as the terminal for lines towards Richmond, South Yarra and Hawthorn . The two stations were not connected together until 1866, with Princes Bridge not reopening until 1879. As time continued, the area between Princes Bridge and Richmond stations developed into
2613-465: The first survey of Melbourne conducted by Robert Russell (architect) in 1836, establishing the first formal town plan. This grid of streets, laid out when there were only a few hundred settlers, became the nucleus for what is now Melbourne, a city of over five million people. In 1835 John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner organised rival groups of free settlers from Van Diemen's Land (now called Tasmania) to cross Bass Strait and illegally settle on
2680-424: The first survey of Melbourne in 1836, before Russell returned to Sydney in early 1837. This grid layout was later adopted by surveyor Robert Hoddle when he arrived in early 1837 with New South Wales Governor Bourke in order to continue survey of the area and regularise the fledgling unauthorised settlement. . As Robert Hoddle was the colony's surveyor when his plan of Melbourne was officially published this led to
2747-572: The five Flinders Street signal boxes. During construction the public discovered that the building would block the view from Russell Street to the Botanic Gardens and Government House, and that it had occurred due to no planning permit being applied for. State Premier Rupert Hamer responded to public outrage and instructed the half built building to be demolished, and instructed all government departments that they must apply for planning permits, whether they were legally needed or not. The building
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2814-463: The grid was criticised as early as 1850, and it has been claimed that Governor Bourke specifically discouraged the inclusion of such spaces “to deter a ‘spirit of democracy’ from breaking out”. However there is little evidence that Bourke had a view on the matter, and the Darling regulations made no mention of including a central square (as either desirable or not). Instead, simple grid plans, with lots or blocks set aside for public buildings and sometimes
2881-421: The grid was determined firstly by the fact that the fledgling settlement was already established at that point on the Yarra River , next to a natural shipping basin, just below a rocky outcrop known as 'the falls', above which the water was usually fresh. It was placed to run roughly parallel to the course of the river, with its western half closest to the basin, and spanned the mostly gently undulating area between
2948-448: The home of a new Town Hall, a 6-acre (24,000 m) civic square, concert auditoriums, the railways administration, and other commercial buildings. 1963: Princes Gate Announced in 1963 by Premier Henry Bolte , the £5 million project would roof part of the yard and build a plaza and two 15-storey buildings on this structure. Completed in 1967 and commonly known as the Gas and Fuel building,
3015-635: The junction as well as access into the Richmond end of the stabling sidings. Of utilitarian brick construction it remains in place today underneath the William Barak Bridge, but is unused as a signal box. During the heyday of the yard only two footbridges crossed the yard: Only the first bridge remains today, the other bridges being recent additions. Over the years, various redevelopment plans for Jolimont Yard have been proposed by various parties, including: 1925: Cathedral Square In 1925
3082-497: The maintenance of the suburban multiple unit fleet, the E class suburban freight and L class mainline electric locomotives were maintained there until the 1960s. Five signal boxes controlled traffic into Flinders Street station . Later replaced by Metrol , four of them were located in Jolimont Yard: Flinders Street B was located at the Richmond end of Flinders Street platform 8/9 and controlled
3149-437: The middle of the blocks to allow for rear access to the long, narrow allotments. These were to be 1 chain (66 ft; 20 m), but Bourke's suggestion of keeping the allotments the standard size by making the main streets narrower was resisted by Hoddle, leaving them as surveyed, so they became 1/2 chain (33ft; 10m), taken out of the depth of the blocks either side, the end result making the allotments smaller than usual. As per
3216-810: The remaining railway lines, entering the CBD via the Exhibition Street Extension rather than Batman Avenue. A new footbridge from the Multi Purpose Stadium to the MCG Great Southern Stand concourse was built, and existing footbridge from the MCG Pontsford Stand to Scotch Oval was rebuilt and widened. As part of the 2006 Commonwealth Games the 525-metre long William Barak footbridge was built east–west from Birrarung Marr to Yarra Park.Stated in 2005 and opened in 2006. Twelve tracks run through
3283-481: The signal box for the City Loop, and to control the ventilation and other systems for the tunnels. It was later expanded in function to control points and signals for other stations in the inner Melbourne area. The current area of point and signal control extends to Clifton Hill , Jolimont , East Richmond , Flinders Street , Southern Cross , North Melbourne Junction and South Kensington . The outer section of
3350-556: The site of what would become Melbourne. In response, the Imperial authority in London authorised William Lonsdale to lead a party to establish an official settlement the following year. As part of this Robert Russell was appointed as Surveyor and assigned Frederick Robert D'Arcy and William Wedge Darke as assistants. The grid of streets that is now central Melbourne was established by Robert Russell and his assistants while conducting
3417-544: The skewed grid of streets in various graphics, but only names it as 'the city centre'. More recently the Encyclopedia of Melbourne, published in book form in 2005, and online in 2008, calls it the "City Grid', while another entry on Roads, describing the wider subdivision of Melbourne, calls the central area 'the Hoddle grid'. The phrase appeared in The Age newspaper as early as 2002. All major streets are one and
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#17327808819703484-523: The small hills of Batman's Hill to the west, and Eastern Hill . Elizabeth Street, Melbourne in the centre of the grid coincided with the lowest point and roughly paralleled an existing gully . The streets were surveyed 1 1/2 chains (a chain being 66ft, so they were 99ft; 30m), the blocks at 10 chains (660 ft; 200 m) square, with allotments 1 chain (66 ft; 20 m) wide, as per Darling's Regulations ). However, at Governor Bourke's insistence, 'little streets' were inserted east west through
3551-520: The southern tracks into and out of the station from Jolimont Yard. Constructed of brick it was of 'traditional' Victorian Railways design, and was demolished when the Federation Square Deck was built. Flinders Street C was located beyond the Richmond end of Flinders Street platform 4/5 and controlled the northern tracks into and out of the station from the yard. Constructed of brick it was of 'traditional' Victorian Railways design, and
3618-724: The triangle formed by the lines bound for Richmond and Jolimont . Located on the site of the East Melbourne Cricket Ground , the ground was acquired by the Victorian Railways and the Essendon Football Club played their final season there in 1921. The next major change was construction of the Richmond Flyover beginning in early 1970s. Part of the quadruplication works between Richmond and Burnley stations, it converts
3685-593: The up (inbound) – down (outbound) – up – down track layout at Flinders Street to an up – up – down – down track layout at Richmond and beyond. Completed in February 1973, it also permits a cross-platform interchange between City Loop and Flinders Street direct trains at Richmond on platforms 7/8 and 9/10. The flyover necessitated the reconstruction of a footbridge that linked Yarra Park to the Melbourne Cricket Ground . Further changes occurred when
3752-477: The yard in the 1960s, which themselves were replaced by Federation Square in the 2000s. The rail sidings themselves were progressively removed from the 1980s to the 1990s with only running lines today, but the area continues to be referred to as the 'Jolimont railyards' by Melburnians. The area of the Jolimont Yards had long been a site of railway development. Flinders Street station was the terminal of
3819-407: The yard to be removed was the 'Collingwood Sidings' in the northern corner, near the intersection of Wellington Parade South and Jolimont Road. The area was cleared of tracks during 1987 and 1988 and was offered for sale as a development site. Purchased by a company that later collapsed, it was not until the mid-1990s that the present apartment buildings have been built. High-rise apartments featured in
3886-520: Was also built, connecting the CBD to Batman Avenue and Swan Street , permitting the closure of Batman Avenue for Federation Square and Birrarung Marr . Tolled as part of the CityLink project, it was opened in 1998 and carries trams and four lanes of traffic. In June 1999 tram route 70 was rerouted from Swan Street to a new section of reserved track running between the Tennis Centre and
3953-439: Was also reduced, from 164 to 48 and 1 in 9 and 1 in 15 points were used to permit higher speeds. New lower profile masts were installed to support the overhead wiring, and a new electrical substation erected to supply power to the trains. The main area of new track was between Flinders Street Station, Richmond Junction and the City Loop portals. Piling works and crash walls for Federation Square were done by October 1998. The deck
4020-511: Was completed by mid-1999, with building works atop of it commencing in August 1999. The removal of other buildings along Batman Avenue was carried out at this time, including the Metrol train control facility. Opened at the time of the City Loop opening in 1981, it was moved to a temporary location pending the replacement of the elderly technology with a new system. The Exhibition Street Extension
4087-525: Was created in 1922 and was chaired by City of Melbourne councillor and architect Frank Stapley. The initial report included a city square over the yard between Flinders Street and Batman Avenue, running east 33 feet (10 m) from Princes Bridge, but was later dropped as unsuitable due to cost and traffic congestion. 1954: MMBW Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme The Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works commenced its Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme in 1949. This scheme involved redeveloping
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#17327808819704154-470: Was demolished when the Federation Square Deck was built. Flinders Street D was located at the Richmond end of the Princes Bridge station island platform (later renumber to Flinders Street 15/16). Of utilitarian brick construction it remains in place today just outside the Federation Square Deck, but is unused as a signal box. Flinders Street E was located at Richmond Junction, and controlled
4221-405: Was lined with wharfs for cargo and passenger ships. Residential uses, most notably the slums of Little Lonsdale Street , were largely replaced by commercial uses by the 1950s, with residential not making a return until the 1990s with the conversion of older buildings. Since the 2000s this has accelerated with numerous high rise apartment buildings and student housing projects. The CBD still retains
4288-498: Was redesigned to be lower and resulting in completion being delayed until early 1980. The Jolimont Workshops were the main maintenance and repair facility for the Victorian Railways electric fleet, both multiple units and locomotives . Located on the south side of the yard, it was made up of a large brick carshed with tracks leading into if from both the east (Richmond) and west (Flinders Street) ends. In addition to
4355-459: Was redesigned with a lower profile, which meant that completion was delayed until early 1980. That, in turn, delayed of the opening of the City Loop past August 1980. Control of suburban trains by Metrol commenced on 13 September 1980. As part of the removal of Jolimont Yard, the Metrol building was demolished in 1999, and Metrol operations were moved to Transport House (589 Collins Street, Melbourne ). The functions of Electrol were relocated to
4422-505: Was required, under its contractual obligations, to develop a new Metrol system by June 2001. Work on the Train Management Facility started when Bombardier Transportation was awarded an $ 11 million contract, with completion due for mid-2001. The project included plans for a back-up "disaster recovery centre" at Melbourne Central station . In 2003 the State Government cancelled the then $ 18 million contract, saying it
4489-420: Was unhappy with the deal. On 28 June 2005, a leak in an air-conditioning hose caused Metrol to be shut down for two hours from 11.40am, causing 30,000 passengers to be stranded and 66 trains cancelled, with 23 more trains cancelled later in the day due to flow-on effects. Train operator Connex Melbourne was fined $ 300,000 by the State Government for failing performance benchmarks. A second attempt to provide
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