Forman says farewell

The man who has been central to helping put Southbank’s Eureka Tower on the map is moving onto an exciting new tourism venture in Melbourne’s west.

The now former executive general manager of Eureka Skydeck and Eureka 89 John Forman said farewell to his team late last year after a decorated 14 years working atop Melbourne’s tallest landmark.

Also president of the Yarra River Business Association (YRBA), John’s tireless efforts to promote Southbank and the Yarra River as a key tourist destination of Melbourne has been unwavering.

And while he is moving on from Southbank, his next venture - an immersive foods concept called Grazeland - will also be focused on driving people to Melbourne’s waterways, but this time out west in Spotswood right next door to Scienceworks.

“It was a journey of 14 years, which I’m very proud to have been a part of with the team and it went from strength to strength every year,” he said. “There are some exciting times ahead for the team and I would love to be part of that excitement but I’m moving on.”

John left no stone unturned throughout his journey at Eureka. Whether it was getting Batman and Catwoman to scale the building, organising a 21-metre tightrope walk 300 metres high, suspending a giant King Kong gorilla hand or providing the platform for the world’s highest motorcycle backflip, he leaves a lasting legacy behind.

While he said he was most proud of his team, he said he also took pride in watching how Melbourne and in particular, Southbank, had grown over the years from Eureka Tower, of which he remains a resident.

And in being at the centre of the growth of Melbourne’s west, Grazeland will have a similar focus. Sprawled over 10,000 sqm out of bespoke shipping containers in Spotswood, it will offer food and live entertainment on a scale never seen before in Melbourne.

“It has been a dream for many years. For me to connect Grazeland to the river is paramount and hence why the major focus of getting people to and from will be by water via ferry services.”

Grazeland will launch at the end of March.

For more visit grazeland.melbourne •