DESIGN RESEARCH

Note of Credit: The following research components were divided into separate categories, of which members of the group prioritized their research on, however it is not limited to these factors. There were many overlapping points and as such research was ultimately conducted as a group. Here are the prioritized specifications-- Site context (Joo Liew), Grassland conditions (Yangfan Pan), Traditions (Yukyee Chan).

Grassland Conditions in Victoria are mostly understorey, which does not support a typical shrub layer. Scattered shrubs appear in deeper soils, drainage lines or close to rocky outcrops. The ground layer is predominantly perennial, mostly tufted or tussock-forming grasses:

Kangaroo Grass / Tussock Grass / Spear Grass / Wallaby Grass / Windmill Grass

These are the main grasses for which we will account for.

Supporting grasses are including rhizomatous or stoloniferous species (Weeping Grass) and a few annuals (Blown Grass). In most areas the grasses are accompanied by a wide range of perennial and annual herbs: Wood-sorrel, bindweed, sundew, woodruff, everlasting, bidgee-widgee, lobelia, trigger plant, blue devil), sedges (Carex, Schoenus), lilies (mat-rush, chocolate lily, milkmaids, early nancy) and small shrubs (rice-flower, sida, astroloma, peas). Majority of the food eaten by the Indigenous were derived from plants; such as root vegetables, greens, fruits and seeds. Women were often the gatherers whilst men were the hunters.

Roots were typically available all year round an imported foods were replanted. The regular lining of the soil, thinning out the collection of planted clumps and providing fertiliser is still similar to modern day garderning practices. In the southern parts of Australia, akin to the Maoris of New Zealand, the Australians used the long roots (rhizomes) of Bracken Fern, (Pteridium esculentum) from which they chewed or beat out a sticky starch. Native lilies with small tuberous roots which were collected for food Early Nancy (Wurmbea dioica), Chocolate Lily (Dichopogon strictus) and Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellata) for example. Murnong or Yam-daisy (Microseris lanceolata) was a plentiful and favourite food. Along the MurrayDarling river system, cumbungi or Bulrush (Typha spp.) provided much nourishment, as did Water Ribbons (Triglochin procera), and Marsh Club-rush (Bolboschoenus medianus), which has hard walnutsized tubers. Most southern fruits were small, including those of the Heath Family (Epacridaceae) and Dillon Bush (Nitraria billardieri), which bears heavy crops of red fruits which were much liked.

Plantations to Amenities and Benefits

The use of plants by the Indigenous.

Plants were used for many other things besides food. The long leaves of sedges, rushes and lilies were collected to make baskets and mats and soaked and beaten to free the fibres to make string. The bark of trees made buckets, dishes and shields; River Red-gum bark was particularly good for making canoes and old scarred ‘canoe trees’ can still be seen. Some rice-flower shrubs (Pimelea spp.) have strong fibres used by the Aborigines to make fine nets in which to collect Bogong Moths to eat. Medicines also came from plants native mints (Mentha spp.) were remedies for coughs and colds, and the gum from gumtrees, which is rich in tannin, was used for burns.

Native species, have high drought tolerance and low maintenance.

Eucalyptus family (evergreen tree). eg.Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum) but its ability to dry tolerance is average to poor. Where holes have been made by insects in the young branches, sap flows out and dries into hard sugary drops which fall to the ground, hence the name ‘manna’. The wood could be used as shield instalments, and for the design of cutlery such as ‘tarnuk’ bowls.

Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood). Hard and close-grained, the wood of this was often used for shields, and the bark was infused with water for bathing rheumatic joints, with the inner bark used as string for weaving.

Callitris spp. (Native Cypress Pine). Only some have the average ability to resist dry conditions. Aboriginals often used these to make a combined canoe pole and fish spear nearly 4 m long. Its resin was also a cement to fasten barbs to spears. Proteaceae family (Banksia baxteri).

The flower-cones soaked in water in bark or wooden containers to extract the nectar for make sweet drinks. Known by early settlers as ‘honeysuckles’. The local Silver Banksia, Banksia marginata, retained the dry flowers on the cones and was used these as strainers for drinking water.

Themeda triandra, a native grass that could undergo chemical and morphological mechanisms for photosynthesis under hot, dry conditions with low nitrogen. The C4 carbon fixation process enabled conversion of carbon to sugars more than the C3 pathway. Plants such as the Kangaroo grass, with the employed C3 pathway, allows for the Grassland ecosystem for growth options under droughts.

Here as a group, we research on the native Indigenous plants that primarily survived the Australian bushfires that have occurred the past several years. These plants of choice mainly thrive in drought environments, requiring little maintenance. It was important to note if each of these plants had multiple utilities, such as some contributing to filtration and its fibres to weaving, for baskets, bowls and other crafts. Upon investigation, we were able to narrow down our choices of the native plants to be depicted and illustrated into the final image of the Urban Grassland scheme, which was also helpful in deriving colour choice and clarity in the linework for reference so as to portray the details as clearly as visually possible within the drawing.

In the Grassland Ecosystem, the scheme will enable reintroduction of habitat characteristics that cater for smaller endangered species that have been left vulnerable to destruction due to fire disasters, deforestation and most dominantly, urbanization.

The mammalian fauna is sparse in Grassland and consists primarily of large grazers (kangaroos), some small to medium-sized groundfeeding marsupials (bandicoots, dunnarts), occasional arboreal species (possums) and bats. Most native birds are common species of grasslands and grassy woodlands (magpies, lapwings, raven, swallows, wagtails, ibis, falcons, kites, kestrel, pigeons, thornbills, treecreepers, whistlers, honeyeaters, rosellas, parrots, pipits, robins, pardalotes, corellas, Galahs, finches). Reptilian species are mostly small ground-dwelling or burrowing skinks and legless lizards, with occasional snakes (Eastern Brown and Tiger Snakes are most common). Frogs are uncommon.

Less than 5% of natural Temperate Grassland and Eucalpyt Woodland remains in Victoria. Currently threatened by clearing and mismanagement. It provides habitat for threatened species such as the matted flax lily and striped legless lizard. The Eucalyptus microcarpa occurs naturally in drier sites, with spear and wallaby grasses more prominent in related areas.

Traditional Indigenous Management of the Environment

Aboriginal fire management had 3 major benefits: to encourage native grasses to regenerate and produce new feed, to clean the country to make land accessible and promote biodiversity conservation. Indigenous selected specific sites and dates to burn with consideration of local conditions, season, plants and animals. These were noted as ecological calendars, knowledge frameworks to which burning of selected areas. Indigenous in Victoria typically burned selected areas of the plains during fall to encourage fresh grass for the coming spring. This also forced animals into foothills which ensured food supply for those who moved there during winter.

The following reference is from the research paper by Prober, 2011. Food and the sustainable practice of indigenous people:

Indigenous people lived by not only hunting and gathering, but also fishing. Women gathered vegetables, roots, herbs, nuts, eggs and honey, and small land animals such as snakes. Men hunted large animals such as birds, small marsupials, kangaroos and emu. They organized in a group to hunt large land animals such as kangaroos and emu. People of the Kulin nation had a different method to hunt emu with a 12 inches long hollow hunting tool that made the same sound as birds to attract emus. They would also leave enough roots of plants in the ground for the next season during harvesting. This was sustainable practice to ensure the continuity of food sources for the tribes.

Agricultural methods that were employed consequent in having temporary dwellings. The organization of the landscape and usage of fire assisted in food and resource gathering. Land was not completely forested in indigenous land management traditionally, as an open forest encouraged animals for hunting, to gather in areas where renewed grass was harvested more easily, due to fire management.

In the reports by Moreland City Council and the Whittlesea council reports regarding sustainability conservation and environmental management, pest management would also be required in order to prevent the newly introduced habitat characteristics from repeating the same mistake of being ruined by design. Thus the Urban Grassland project scheme could be more specialised to catering for specified smaller species of animals.

The Urban Grassland scheme also refers to the following adaptations in a smaller aspect of habitat reintroduction, to attracting the more vulnerable wildlife and offering a place of care for these species. It is important to note that despite the integration of human activities, reducing the already compromised road system within this area would greatly benefit the building of habitat-related zones for both the wildlife and human population to provide opportunity to thrive, in a more ‘natural’ environment. The following are excerpts from the Moreland City Council report for Sustainability and Conservation.

Locality of Brunswick and Brunswick east is approx. 791 hectares. With strategic urban planning, there is currently a movement to coordinate land provision, urban buffers, moving transport away from operations of commercial and residential activities. The designated site area is mostly heritage parks, health services and industrial activities.

Existing issues: • Expansive vacant space in the Brunswick Activity Centre • Lack of transport and access to the area and industrial manufacturing areas. • Mismatch between residents and job types available in the area. • Urban economic planning concerns to add to overall activity levels by encouraging more advanced business services. • More open space for introducing nature-preferred (hence the parks, however there is a need to introduce more). • Area for a well-located youth space to become a new youth destination. • Need for buildings to minimize environmental impact and for new buildings to adopt efficient use of energy, water and materials. • Some places recommended for heritage overlay but not yet protected. • Limited recreational services for young people and elderly, including health, housing and non-commercial entertainment.

Housing types: Mansions (entrepreneurs), Worker cottagers, apartments and medium-density townhouses.

Existing road conditions: Unsuitable for large freight vehicles, but has access to City Link.

attempt to be an iconic landmark strategic placement of shops, amenities

Demographic: 27.3% residents 25-34 years of age, with lower proportions of children, middle-aged and elderly. Approximately 30% of residents are overseas-born.

community collaboration generate ecological framework promote restoration

Other strategies the Urban Grassland can integrate with direct reference to the current Urban Planning Scheme are: • Allow the community in the site to cope with holistic challenges including climate change, industrial re-action, introducing ‘life’ and activity back into the area. • Restoring street enhancement and access ways. • Build community support for cultural activities associated with the site history and the demographic, such as gardening, arts and crafts, cooking, stalled festivals etc. • Preservation of the existing nature strips as well as reintroducing native plantations back into the city, to restore flora and fauna populations over the long-term. • Create a place for restoration of the indigenous vegetation with no recreational facility coverage in order to integrate flora and fauna populations. • Promote intensification in strategic locations such as transport and retail stations, to enhance human amenities and increase quality of this public open realm. Associated folklore within the specified vicinity is the Tangurung story of Bundjil. In which, the Crow created the mountains, rivers, flora and fauna as well as respective laws for humans to abide by. Waang the Crow, on the other hand, was known for bringing fire to mankind, both the symbol of sun and life, and also a means to an ‘end’, as interpreted in other cultures in modern-day societal views.

Boundary map of the Wurundjeri Nation (Melbourne Planning, Culture Heritage Council Victoria). From this, we have to discern which parts of the city are most beneficial to depict-- low rise or high rise, building typologies within the boundary area etc.

The Tanderrum (country ceremony) was an event to celebrate and bring gifts for the hosts, signifying cleansing and respect for the Wurundjeri. The Yarra River i.e. Birrarung, contained mostly fish, eel and duyang as the main food source. The environment was looked after and nourished through the extensive gardening prowess of the people, as they believed it was human responsibility to Care for the Country.

<1838 Eucalypt tree area, previously hunting grounds for Aboriginals, not for long-term stay.

Road ways measured out and planned by Robert Hoddle and assistant Darke, in block of 1.5 miles long and 0.25 miles width.

Land was sold separately and distributed to several buyers. The Wesleyan Chapel was built on land donated by Thomas Wilkinson. Hotels and main roads, along with a cattle farm, was established by William Lobb.

1839

1840s

1850 Retail shops and butcheries opened on the south-west corner of Sydney Road and Albert Street, quickly bringing in human amenity-based traffic and although the shop retired in the 90s, retail growth was encouraged.

1851 Gold Rush. The site (vicinity of Brunswick) was devoted to the goldfields. Shops and hotels opened specifically to accommodate for incoming flux of international and local workers.

1860s Extensive public parklands, later known as the Royal Park. The site was reserved for public amenities initially but was reduced in size in order to provide more land for residential development for colonies and Gold Rush worker accommodation. Part of the land was then set aside, reserved for scientific purposes and exploration, such as the Experimental Farm (1858), and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria (1861).

Industrial evolution to create more employment opportunities. Quarries were filled and converted to parks and reserves. It also served as an amenity area for parades and military purposes, as well as public health and welfare. It has been preserved, relatively unchanged since 1876 due to its extensive use and to conserve the natural beauty of the park. In 2010, the City of Melbourne incorporated it into the Master Plan, of which urban development schemes would help to preserve and develop this natural landscape closer to the city centre.

1890s

Major water filtration & treatment plants within Urban Melbourne: • The primary water plant, Winneke: coagulation, clarification, main filtration and correction. Fully treated water. • Tarago Water treatment plant: pre-dosing, coagulation, Air flotation and filtration, fluoridation and chlorination. Drinking water. • Victorian Desalination Plant: seawater filtration from the Bass

Strait.

The above are confirmed to be major treatment plants that mainly serve the urban central parts of Melbourne city. From this we were able to realize the different sub functions within the water filtration process, and drew systems accordingly to convey the notion that these aspects could be installed and working alongside each other. This further helped improve the depth of the project, adding yet another layer of complexity to the ‘life cycle’ of the Urban Grassland.

Food crops

Water & irrigation Solar & energy

People H2 for mobility

Crops & harvest

Undertaking historical research on the site helped in regards to realizing this part of the city was once rich with gold and industrialised action. In a sense, the project attempts to encapsulate this factor contributing to economic boom, but in a more naturally desired process, which would rely on plantations, gardening and symbiotic care of the community towards these new grasslands.

Reusing nutrients for nature, an urban water cycle management system was required. Storm and grey water systems were incorporated as the demand and supply of water for areas in Melbourne varies every year and also throughout the year. Where there is insufficient rain, these systems will be required to maintain the hydro environment necessary to sustain native grass growth especially.

A filtration mechanism was also necessary. In which we were able to find the Silver Banksia plant and its related familial species, could potentially act as strainers and filters. Whilst it is mostly used at a small scale to filter drinking water in a traditional sense, we questioned if this could be implemented to a medium scale mechanic. This was then drawn as part of the filters, incorporating both artificial and natural in the same scheme, mutually working to benefit each other’s systems. From this we could deduce that, from the varying plant conditions, we could form a large scaled grassland expanse to which could make use of the slight access to the sea from the Brunswick vicinity as well as most of the land that is currently left vacant.

The issues that were part of the Urban Planning Scheme that were also addressed, as a result of this was taking full advantage of the land at hand, and ‘repairing’ it so as to allow nature (flora and fauna) to re-inhabit the urban site.