Bridge honours Evan Walker

Southbank’s main pedestrian bridge officially has a name, with City of Melbourne councillors last month ruling in favour of naming it honour of former planning minister Evan Walker.

Dubbed the “father of Southbank,” Evan Walker was a visionary architect and former Labor planning minister who was responsible for shaping Southbank into what is today.

Mr Walker passed away in February aged 79 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The matter went before councillors at its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 28 and was passed unanimously.

Cr Richard Foster said renaming the bridge in honour of Mr Walker was a fitting tribute.

“It’s always good to see someone like Evan Walker being acknowledged in this way,” he said.

“When people have made such a contribution, as Evan Walker did, it’s important that we have a lasting monument to that and a way to acknowledge that contribution.”

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, who first raised the idea on public radio in the wake of Mr Walker’s death in February, said he was delighted with the support for his initiative.

“I would just like to say he was a very urbane, sophisticated and charming person,” he said. “I think we all suffered such a sense of loss when he died in February of this year.”

“Evan, along with people here at the City of Melbourne, Rob Adams and Geoff Lawler and others was the father of Southbank turning it from an industrial precinct into a thriving precinct of today.”

“He was a person that connected people and therefore a bridge I think is a remarkable thing to be named after Evan Walker.”

“I also note the fact that his family is very supportive and grateful for this gesture by the City of Melbourne and I’m delighted to second it.”