Birrarung Marr is an urban park on the north bank of the Yarra River, next to Federation Square. Opened in 2002, it was created as a place for the community and to celebrate public activities, major events, and festivals.
The park’s name comes from the language of the Wurundjeri people who originally inhabited the area - ‘birrarung’ means ‘river of mists’ and ‘marr’ relates to ‘side’.
The park features the Birrarung Wilam Aboriginal art installation, celebrating the diversity of Victoria’s indigenous culture. A winding pathway acknowledges the significance of the eel as a traditional food source and a semicircle of metal shields represents each of the five groups of the Kulin Nation.
Other features include Deborah Halpern’s two-headed Angel sculpture and the Federation Bells, an installation of 39 upturned bells ringing out three times daily with different compositions. The park’s William Barak pedestrian bridge leads directly to the MCG.
