Concrete Lawn, 2006
Before the construction of the Parkville campus, this area consisted of a wetland fed by a small stream. Initial development of the campus transformed the wetland into an ornamental lake, which was later filled in and replaced by the concrete and lawn that we see today. The original stream still exists underground, via a pipeline. Short Finned Eels still live in the underground stream and regularly migrate through the pipeline to the sea to breed.
Map of the University of Melbourne from 1896, showing the location of the original Botanic Garden and ornamental lake
It is said that in the early 20th Century, “overly vocal” students were dunked in the lake to quiet them down.