The removal of the redundant Bromfield Street Weir in May 2024 on the lower Merri River in Warrnambool, Victoria, marked a significant achievement in river restoration. The bluestone weir, a stranded asset with a legacy of significant eco-hydrological disturbance on high-value environmental areas, was one of 20 high-priority fish barriers identified across Victoria. With the objective being the removal of a 120-year-old feature of European settlement, this was as much a feat of community and stakeholder management, as it was of environmentally sensitive engineering. The process of managing community attitudes was guided by a proactive project communication and engagement plan with extensive community consultation. Whilst removal of this first and most significant barrier to fish migration on the Merri River and restoring hydrodynamics in the estuary, was an ecological no-brainer, it was not an easy sell to generations of locals who had learnt to swim and fish at the site. The need for time and diligence in gaining regulatory approvals in such a process is also addressed. Demolition of the weir enabled fish passage between estuarine and freshwater environments and opened a large section of the Merri River catchment. Additionally, the project resolved an unsafe portage point, improving recreational opportunities for popular activities like flatwater paddling, rowing, fishing, and canoeing. The removal has supported native species, including diadromous fish such as Estuary Perch, Australian Grayling, and Tupong. Aligned with the Rivers of Warrnambool Flagship Waterway Project, this project can serve as a case study for the importance of community and stakeholder engagement when removing historic barriers to fish passage, to enhance biodiversity and recreation in a catchment.