Located on the former Caltex lubricant production facility site, the 2.5ha park occupies the Birchgrove Peninsula in Sydney’s inner western harbour suburb of Balmain. The site, owned by Caltex from the 1920’s until 2002, has a rich history, from the privately owned residence ’Menevia’ of the 1860’s, to a ship ballast quarry. The design concept aims to reflect our cultural shift in seeing sites of this nature not a resource to be drawn from, but as an asset to be respected. The design reconciles the layers of history with a new direction where recycled materials are used in innovative ways to create a park of unique quality. This environmental approach is further underpinned by site-wide stormwater filtration though the use of bioswales, and wind turbines for on-site energy production. As lead consultant, McGregor Coxall oversaw the design development and construction documentation and will be supervising the construction.
