Description

Valley Lake is the former site of Niddrie Quarry, which supplied basalt to pave the roads of Melbourne from the 1940s until it was closed in the 1970s. The quarry remained vacant for several decades until a proposal was made in 1996 to use the quarry as a toxic landfill dump. A concerted community campaign to oppose the landfill for health and environmental reasons launched and was ultimately successful. Characterised by its rugged typography, the site is now home to medium-density housing, parkland connected by pedestrian and bike tracks and a couple of Peregrine falcons. 

What's On

Learn about the transformation of a brownfield site into housing thanks to community action. Hear from Friends of Steele Creek about the campaign to save Niddrie Lake and their ongoing restoration and stewardship of its landscape. Hear about the challenges and opportunities for the Canopi Valley Lake medium-density master plan from architects Bird de la Coeur and visit the latest addition, the Valley Lake Lookout, with McGregor Coxall to experience the stunning views of the dramatic landscape and hear how the site’s industrial past is represented in its design.

The Valley Lake Precinct and Lookout is open to the public 24/7 for self-guided visits.