Docklands sits on the Traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples. Originally part of the Port of Melbourne, the neighbourhood joined the City of Melbourne municipality in July 2007.
This area, at the lower delta of the Yarra River Birrarung, was once a wetland rich with natural resources. After European settlement, industry increased and by 1908, Victoria Dock was handling around 90 per cent of Victoria’s imports. By the 1970s the dock and wharves were in decline, then lay derelict until urban renewal began in the 1990s.
When Docklands was absorbed into the City of Melbourne, it doubled the size of Melbourne's central city and returned a significant area of waterfront to the city. The suburb now stretches out over 200 hectares of land and water just west of the CBD, hugging Victoria Harbour.
From the first development at New Quay – featuring apartments, restaurants and a private marina, Docklands has evolved into a sophisticated waterfront precinct.
Docklands offers a mix of inner city living, shopping at The District Docklands, commerce, connection to nature, entertainment, dining, sporting and community events, arts and culture.
About 16,000 residents now call Docklands home, although the pandemic led to a population dip as international students and others relocated. It’s a multicultural community: 62 per cent were born overseas and 53 per cent speak a language other than English at home. Vertical living is ubiquitous: 98 per cent of residents live in a flat or apartment.
The median age is 32 years, with approximately 61 per cent of residents in Docklands are renting their home.
Docklands Neighbourhood map
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Quick facts
Data is sourced from 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census of Population and Housing, ABS Estimated Resident Population 2023, and 2022 Census of Land and Employment (CLUE).
To access more data on Docklands, visit: Docklands community profile on profile .id.
To learn more about the ABS Census of Population and Housing, including definitions, visit: Guide to Census data.
Council services, facilities and spaces
Childcare in Docklands is provided by Gowrie @ The Harbour. This is a City of Melbourne facility, leased to Gowrie Victoria, which provides 150-place education and care centre integrated kindergarten.
Family services are provided at Community Hub @ The Dock including family, maternal and child health, immunisation, family support, counselling and parenting support.
Play sessions are also facilitated at Community Hub @ The Dock by Family Services, while an additional Community run session is also run at The Hub in Docklands.
The Library at the Dock provides loans of books and other materials to approximately 3,200 members.
In the 2021-2022 financial year, City of Melbourne bought approximately 5,600 new books to add to the collection. At the library a makerspace is also provided that offers equipment such as 3D printers, sewing machines, tools, media computers and creative programming.
The library also offers seven bookable community spaces, 120 seat performance space, recording studio and equipment.
The library supports and facilitates a number of additional programs including the Repair Cafe, Homework Club, Casual Conversation Club and other seasonal and one-off programs.
The Community Hub @ The Dock provides bookable community spaces and the Boating Hub.
City of Melbourne manages and maintains many public spaces in Docklands including:
- Adela Lane Reserve
- Buluk Park
- Collins Landing
- Hub @ Docklands
- Docklands Park
- Forge Apartments/The Wharf Club
- Harbour Esplanade (131-141)
- New Quay Promenade
- New Quay Central Park
- Point Park
- Quay Park
- River Esplanade
- Ron Barassi Senior Park
- Seafarers Rest
- Spencer Street Plaza
- Victoria Green
- Victoria Harbour Promenade
- Webb Bridge Reserve
- Wharfs Landing
- Yarra’s Edge.
The Playground At Docklands is a school holiday program that provides a no cost option for parents to bring their children to a pop-up playground at the water. In 2021 and 2022 the program brought over 20,000 visitors to Docklands.
Firelight Festival occurs in Docklands each year to coincide with the Winter Solstice, celebrating winter with a focus on family, community, food, music, fire and light. The event attracts approximately 75,000 people over three nights.
Docklands Summer Nights Drone Show was a one-time only evening drone swarm show running from 15 January until 5 February 2022, which attracted 107,000 people.
City of Melbourne manages the Melbourne City Marina, Melbourne's largest visitor berthing facility.
The Council also directly manage the Yarra’s Edge Marina and is responsible for day-to-day operations of the waterways, allocation and licensing of berths and marina leases management.
The Community Boating Hub is also managed by City of Melbourne and provides licenses for boating organisations to use the Hub as a base for dragon boating, sailing and outrigger canoes.
The Docklands Sports Courts is a synthetic multi-use sport facility which can be booked for use or is otherwise accessible open space for public use.
Ron Barassi Senior Park is home to the Docklands Sports Club comprising approximately 100 junior sport participants.
Docklands Sports Club runs junior programs in soccer, cricket and AFL. Ron Barassi Senior Park is also available for casual bookings and events.
The Hub @ Docklands is a community recreation facility supporting a range of recreation programs.
