Nina Taylor MP officially opens the Fishermans Bend Circular Design Collective
Earlier this week Nina Taylor MP for Albert Park officially launched the Fishermans Bend Circular Design Collective, representing both the Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks, and Minister for Precincts, Harriet Shing.
Image Details, from left to right: Marcus Westbury (FB IDEAs), Tania Quick (Fishermans Bend Taskforce, Department of Transport and Planning), Nina Taylor MP, Councillor Andrew Rowse (City of Melbourne), Kate Spencer (FB IDEAs), Shawna Fam (Gamuda Land Australia) and Randall Tong (Gamuda Land Australia), standing in front of the artwork created by Oli Ruskidd and Chehehe.
Photography by Dre Chez Photography
The launch represented everything the Circular Design Collective aims to achieve - showcasing creativity, sustainability, collaboration and community all in one place. The space was a buzz with vibrant conversations, new connections being made and live demonstrations by the Innovators in Residence. It was great to welcome Councillor Andrew Rowse from the City of Melbourne, along with 100+ other passionate supporters, partners and collaborators from the Fishermans Bend ecosystem to this vibrant creative space.
Located in the heart of the Montague Precinct of the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area, the Fishermans Bend Circular Design Collective aims to reflect the future vision for Fishermans Bend — that it will be a place defined by environmental sustainability, liveability, connectivity, diversity and innovation. Demonstrating our commitment to foster innovation and collaboration in Fishermans Bend, we have partnered with Gamuda Land Australia to make this underutilised warehouse space available for a curated a mix of startups, designers and creative practitioners working on circular economy initiatives to co-locate and deliver a range of public facing outcomes at the site.
As Nina Taylor said in her speech, “This work aligns with the Victorian Government’s commitment to building cleaner, greener, more resilient communities, and utilising creativity and creative thinking to help tackle the challenges we face. Fishermans Bend has an integral role to play in Melbourne’s growth story and what it means for our future as a city of global opportunity, renowned liveability, and a city that is diverse, inclusive and accessible to all.
Nina also remarked, “This is more than a showcase. It’s a call to action. A living, evolving example of circular economy thinking in practice. Circular design isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential to the kind of future we’re building. One where sustainability and economic opportunity go hand-in-hand.”
Throughout the night, the Innovators in Residence showcased their work.
(RE)Maker, No Bull Cause and After all showcased their innovative approaches to reusing textile waste - from the “wetsuit walls” that define the space, to the display of unwanted textiles by After (and the boxes that show the volumne of waste they receive) to the upcycled fashion items for sale by No Bull Cause.
Lousy Ink and Dodgy Paper had the new “Pulpomatic” set up on display, along with the sustainable art supplies they make using repurposing ink from discarded printer cartridges and recycling paper offcuts. It was exciting to see the large recycled paper sheets on display - soon to be turned into an exhibition of artworks using Lousy Inks in collaboration with 10 local artists in the space.
Precious Plastic Melbourne were also demonstrating how they trash into treasure and create one-of-a-kind pieces such as mini-pot plants, pens, combs from everyday plastic waste.
PowerMOVE gave a taste of the human-powered dancefloor soon to be tested in the space, with a demonstration of the piezoelectric tiles they are using. The theme of human powered energy was also complimented by The Little Projection Company’s Pedal Power set up which was used to power the projections and sound for the event.
Also part of the launch were three fabulous Fishermans Bend locals - CBCo Brewery and Susuro Urban Winery & Bar ran a popup bar and Devour It Catering provided delicious grazing platters.
MEET OUR INNOVATORS IN RESIDENCE
Top Row (from left to right): Yesha Patel and Nehal Jain from After; Oli Reade from Lousy Ink and Roger Wilkie from Dodgy Paper; Bill Verhagen and Piers Mossuto from Precious Plastic Melbourne.
Botton Row (from left to right): Linda Catalano from QuietRIOT leading the PowerMOVE project; Sofia Colabella, Katie Skillington and Hannah Hopkins from the [RE]Maker Project team ((Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne); Felix Toohey from No Bull Cause.
GET INVOLVED
There are plenty of ways to get involved and participate in events coming up. Here is some of what’s coming up at the Fishermans Bend Circular Design Collective:
From Waste to Worth – Exhibition
Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 May
Presented by After, as part of Circular Threads project, this exhibition will include a showcase of fashion, furniture, and object design reimagining Australia’s textile waste as a creative resource.
No Bull Cause - PopUp Retail
Saturday 24 May, Saturday 7 June
Presented by No Bull Cause, as part of Residency Project, these retail pop ups offer an opportunity to see and purchase unique upcycled and reimagined fashion products made by No Bull Cause at the Fishermans Bend Circular Design Collective. You can purchase No Bull Cause clothing, or drop/ pick up your unwanted or reimagined clothing.
No Bull Cause x Ctrl Plus Silk Screen Workshop
Saturday 7 June
This interactive workshop is presented by No Bull Cause in collaboration with RMIT’s Communication design club. See how No Bull prints their designs. You can bring your own, previously unwanted clothes in and choose your own composition to be printed onto their clothes to turn unwanted clothes to one-off designs.
No Bull Cause Think Tank
Saturday 7 June
Join No Bull Cause for a monthly think-tank to reimagine waste and circular products using waste from Fishermans Bend. The culmination of 3 monthly sessions will be a product launch of new products designed through these sessions. Participants can expect a power hour of brainstorming culminating in a collection of ideas that will be narrowed down into a single concept which will be developed.
Precious Plastic Melbourne - School Holiday Workshops
Thursday 10 and 17 July
Join Precious Plastics Melbourne for some school holiday fun and learn how to become a changemaker in the fight against plastic waste. In this hands-on drop-in workshop, participants will engage with Precious Plastic’s innovative micro-recycling equipment, gaining a practical understanding of plastics recycling while creating their own recycled item to take home.
Weaving Three Stories - Emu Feather Flower Making Workshop
Saturday 26 July
Weaving Three Stories returns for its third workshop in Fishermans Bend, led by First Peoples to foster intercultural connection through storytelling and creative practice. Join this hands-on emu feather flower-making session alongside art, ceremony, and shared reflections on caring for Country.
