Victoria Point gardens recognised globally as a peace park

Victoria Point’s new and expanded native gardens next to Marvel Stadium has, remarkably, garnered international attention, with the urban forest being named a global peace park.

The transformation of the gardens, which was only unveiled on July 23, saw them built and filled with trees and plants with the aim of creating a welcoming green space for residents and visitors alike.

The City of Melbourne, under the Urban Forest Fund, worked with the Victoria Point Owners’ Corporation to make the $1.2 million project possible, which included a contribution from the Development Victoria.

Incredibly, the stunning gardens have now been designated as a global peace park by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism Australia (IIPT), a not-for-profit organisation, in conjunction with Skal International, a tourism network organisation.

The prestigious nomination for Victoria Point meant it now joined the ranks of other renowned parks and iconic sites around the world that have been instrumental in promoting peace and harmony under the Global Peace Parks initiative.

These included Victoria Falls in Africa; the Bethany Beyond the Jordan, near the Dead Sea; Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine, one of the largest Christian pilgrimage destinations in Africa; and the Harrisburg Peace Promenade in the US.

The initiative also aims to create common ground for the community to come together in celebration of their nation’s people, land, and heritage, and the common future of all humankind.

Victoria Point’s gardens, which span 2000 square metres and feature the sculpture of AFLW legend Tayla Harris, were awarded the recognition during a ceremony held on Sunday August 27, after members of Skal International had attended a conference in Melbourne.

An interium commemorative plague was unveiled at the gardens, with attendees including City of Melbourne councillor Jamal Hakim, Skal International Melbourne president Tara Strickland, and IIPT Australia president Gail Parsonage.

Also present was Victoria Point owners’ corporation (OC) chair Dr Janette Corcoran, who has led the gardens project since it was conceived in 2017.

Dr Corcoran expressed her joy and gratitude for the gardens’ dedication, which she hoped would be the start of something great for Docklands.

“Docklands is still focused upon visitation, so the tourism industry plays a critical role in that,” she said, adding “this is a really great initiative to be a part of”.

“What’s really good for us is that we’re now connecting with a whole different sector … if we can engage with people in the sector that are really forward looking it helps us rather than trying to do the same old things.”

Cr Hakim said the achievement was “not just the creation of a park, but a commitment to nurturing connections and building bridges that span beyond our city, right here in Docklands”.

“In a world often divided, projects like these remind us that fostering understanding and celebrating diversity are key drivers of lasting peace,” he said. 

“This symbol of unity highlights how sharing culture, language, and space fosters lasting peace.” •