Memories of the Billabong
and the Health of the River
Como Park
Birrarung Riverfest 2025 , YRKA
The Birrarung, the river of mists and shadows runs for 424 km from the the Foothills of Mt Baw Baw to the mudflats of Port Philip Bay. The Birrarung is an energetic force, a growing organism and the lifeblood of all that surrounds it.
With colonisation the lands and waters of the Birrarung have been stolen and gradually altered by the displacement of Traditional Custodians; the filling of billabongs; quarrying of the riverbanks; an the ongoing re-engineering of the river course and flows.
Como Park, once a Billabong and important cultural place for the Yalukit-Willam Clan it is now a thriving recreational hub. However, the legacy of the Billabong remains in the landscape, through it’s remnant species and increasing riverine flooding events, Como Park continues as a place of contention.
Through a collective workshop, walk, and visioning session at Como Park, we will explore how our urban infrastructure, seasonal flooding, and forgotten wetlands remain part of the Birrarung’s living memory and how future restoration efforts can support the river’s rights to heal and flow. Participants will be invited to engage in deeper discussions andd share aspirations about how we value, treat, and connect with the Birrarung and its
Country today.
Wattle Valley Road
Garden Design
Under-construction
This small garden nestled in Camberwell is a living extension to the recently renovated house, integrating the existing ornamental aesthetic with a variety of native masses and palettes. With a focus on endemic plants this design will attract and support native pollinators and wildlife with key species providing seasonal attractions across the year. The lush bush setting will provide a welcome backdrop for the residents to enjoy their open and vibrant entertaining area.
Royal Park Response
Advocacy Project
Encapsulated by its people, professionals, council and community alike, Royal Park has been a pioneer and pushed the boundaries. The 1984 Master Plan by Laceworks Landscape Collaborative celebrated and pinned up the essential qualities of the landscape and in doing so, fundamentally reframed the Australian park.
Synergy between the strong design assertions and perspectives of the 1984 and 1997 Master Plans have allowed Royal Park to transform, develop and become what it is today. A review strategy of the current process is required for this to continue.
Harrison has been involved in advocacy surrounding the new City of Melbourne Master Plan slated for the park in 2025, supporting the calls of the Royal Park community to greater leverage the designed history of the park as a method to inform a more considered approach.