Maitland Riverlink |2013-2018

Maitland, New South Wales, Australia

Landscape Architects: McGregor Coxall, McGregor Coxal with CHROFI, Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Client: Maitland City Council, Maitland, New South Wales, Australia
Photographers: Simon Wood

The recent opening of the Riverlink Building marks the final chapter in a ten-year urban regeneration plan for the High Street of Maitland, now called the Levee. In 2013 the city centre was a posterchild for regional urban blight but has been transformed through deployment of inter disciplinary urban design strategies into an active community and civic heart with a renewed place economy. In 2012 McGregor Coxall was engaged to prepare a regeneration masterplan for High Street to bring back vehicles and create a shared ‘complete street’ environment. Branded The Levee, The plan set out design strategies to invigorate local place economy by repositioning central Maitland as a leisure-based retail centre supported by a night-time economy of local produce & Hunter Valley wine. The plan proposed a major renovation of the street layout by conserving heritage, reintroducing vehicles, encouraging outdoor dining, improving environmental conditions and modernising the character of the street. McGregor Coxall custom designed all the street furniture to manage vehicle movement without needing kerbs and to suit the human comfort conditions of a complete street. The masterplan also proposed a new landmark public building that would connect the river to High Street and encourage activation of the Riverwalk.