Gasworks: From Chemical Energy to Culture and Community
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About
The former South Melbourne Gasworks site was for millennia a stretch of saltmarsh behind the Yarra delta’s coastal dunes. From 1873 to 1956 the Gasworks produced gas for much of inner Melbourne. Although polluting and disruptive, this industry was generally accepted not least because of the employment it offered.Thanks to a council initiative an independent not-for-profit arts organisation drawn from the local community has renovated the site and programmed public events for almost 40 years. This much-loved community amenity is a centre for the arts, incorporating exhibitions, theatre, and studios as well as regular farmers’ markets. Gasworks Arts Park continues to provide recreation and inspiration for thousands of Melburnians, habitats for birds and a reminder of the industrial achievements of the Victorian era.
In this talk long-time local resident, forester and Landcarer Rob Youl will discuss the historical and social significance of the Gasworks site in South Melbourne.
Location
Emerald Hill Library
195 Bank Street , South Melbourne VIC 3205