Re-imagining our regional towns:A case study of Bairnsdale

Tim Biles, Message Consultants AustraliaUrban Design Conference, Melbourne, 2012

reimaginingbairnsdale.com

Regional context

Gippsland Lakes

Bairnsdale

Reduction in public life in the core

Attachment to the motor car

Public spaces remain largely vacant after 5pm

Diversity and authenticity vs. standardisation

Meeting the challenges

Roads & carparks

Buildings

Open spaces & footpaths

Main St gardensNicholson St MallLibrary

Catalyst projects

Main Street Gardens

Main Street gardens

Main Street gardens

Nicholson Street Mall

Nicholson Street Mall

Bairnsdale Library

New library design by NOW Architects

Extending the walkability through connections

Existing links

Desired links

Through-shop links

Linking key assets

Bairnsdale Railway Station

The grand boulevard

City grid comparison

Perimeter block path vs mid block path

200m

90m

200m

90m

Campbells Centreway Arcade

Paper Chase outdoor café

Rear of Paper Chase bookshop & café (facing lane)

Laneway access to Nicholson St and river beyond

Loss of connection to the river

Mitchell River

Encouraging new approaches to activity - busking

Outdoor concerts

Temporary space – Joost cafe

Temporary use - Section 8 bar, Melbourne

“…After the assistant Surveyor’s provision of ample

tempting space [in Main St], one can wrongly

suspect the town of perpetual poverty, and uneasily

of poverty of imagination.

Generations of citizens seem to have missed a

point and misused a heritage and an

opportunity.” (Hal Porter)