Place

The Alphington Commons is one of the last-remaining green wedges just 7km from Melbourne city. Alphington is known for its tracts of green open space, with Darebin Parklands acting as a bushland oasis in the middle of the urban environment. The specific site is 2 Wingrove St - adjacent to the Darebin Parklands, and flanked by Alphington train station.

People Today

Alphington is a small suburb with a population of 3,249. It is home to a high proportion of children (under 18) and persons 60+ years. The age structure being clustered at younger and older years, provides key insights into the demand for age-based services and facilities, such as kindergartens and social spaces designed for connection.

Traditional Owners

The land, waterway and skies of the Alphington Commons is traditional country of the Wurundjeri people. For Wurundjeri people, the fertile site of The Alphington Commons provided fresh water from the Darebin Creek and seasonal fish and water plants. Birds and animals provided clothing and food, trees and plants provided food and tools.

Current Use

The land area of the site comprises 3.6 hectares, and has <15% utilisation. It is owned by Darebin City Council and zoned Public Use Zone 6 – Council Purposes. Permitted uses are those that are conducted by, or on behalf of Council. As of 2024, there are approximately 10 small business tenants onsite - who occupy a small portion of permanent and temporary structures.

History

Sacred beginnings Pre-1839

Home to Wurundjeri people, providing shelter, medicine and food. Rich grasslands were abundant with bush foods such as native tubers and grass seed.

Colonisation From 1839

European colonisers used the land for dairy farming, grazing and market gardens. They planted Mulberry, Olive, Almond and Quince trees that can be seen onsite today.

Quarry 1839-1965

Rich deposits of basalt and bluestone were discovered on the site - and it was transformed into a quarry. 6 million tonnes of material was extracted for road and rail metal before the quarry closed in 1965.

Tip 1965-1975

The deep hole left by the quarry was converted to a tip, quickly filling with garbage from residents and local enterprises. The surrounding land was used for horse agistment and became weed infested and degraded.

Rejuvenation 1975-1998

Residents lobbied Government to purchase of the land for a public park. City of Northcote purchased part of what is now Darebin Parklands.

Since then, significant restoration and revegetation works have been undertaken. In contrast the site of The Alphington Commons whilst owned by Council is not a park and continues to be depleted.

Melbourne Innovation Centre 1998 - 2022

Darebin Council leased the site to Melbourne Innovation Centre (MIC). MIC operated as a hive of local jobs, employment opportunities and business activity, but did not opt to renew its lease due in part to a lack of investment to improve infrastructure at the site.

A small hub remains 2023

A handful of tenants remain, key among those being Melbourne Farmers Markets, Reground and Farmwall - all of whom have aspirations for improving the site for the benefit of the community.

In early 2023, Council committed to development of a Masterplan for future use of the site.