Walking with water: Reframing drained waterways in Melbourne

Abstract

This paper examines the transformation of Melbourne’s waterways through urbanisation and colonisation, drawing on Indigenous paradigms of relationality to propose alternative frameworks for understanding and managing water. It challenges modernist water management practices that separate natural and urban systems, advocating for approaches that respect water as a relational and agentic entity. The study incorporates Indigenous methodologies and decolonial practices such as deep listening, walking, and yarning to explore the historical and cultural narratives of buried waterways. Using the Rippon Lea Estate as a case study, the research demonstrates how relational design, and augmented reality can reconnect urban communities with hidden waterways. The paper introduces three perspectives: water as a relational entity, the agency of water, and the reframing of drained waterways as active, though shadowed, contributors to the urban environment. These perspectives foster a holistic understanding of water that integrates Indigenous knowledge, promoting equity, sustainability, and a co-becoming relationship with water in urban landscapes. By engaging with water’s cultural, spiritual, and ecological dimensions, the study reimagines urban design and water governance for a future shaped by reciprocity and care.