St Kilda, Melbourne — Victoria

St Kilda is a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Situated on the northern edge of the Port Phillip, it was named after the ship ‘The Lady of St Kilda,’ in turn named after an island in Scotland.

Most of the suburb’s main attractions are located along its foreshore. An example of which is the Luna Park, an amusement park located The Esplanade. The park was established in 1912 and features the now heritage-listed roller coaster called the Scenic Railway, the Mr. Moon gateway, and a carousel that operated since 1913.

Another well-known landmark of the suburb is the St Kilda Pier, which is sheltered by a long breakwater. At the end of the pier is the St Kilda Pavilion, a kiosk that was built in 1904 and listed on the Victoria Heritage Register. The breakwater is also home to a colony of Little Penguins.

The beach fronting the suburb often gets crowded during the summer months, with most of the visitors coming over to go swimming and sunbathing. The parkland behind the beach is ideal for picnics and barbecues.

There area also several heritage buildings within St Kilda. In fact, the three main theaters of the suburb are all listed on the state heritage registry. The Palais Theatre is located along The Esplanade and was constructed in 1927 to become the popular venue for musical performances and concerts it is at the present. The National Theatre is a venue for performing arts that was constructed in 1920. It is situated on the corner of Carlisle and Barkly Streets. The Art Deco-styled Astor Theatre is situated on Chapel Street and is a cinema housing the largest screen in the southern hemisphere.

St Kilda was once the favorite getaway of prominent families in Melbourne and this is manifested in the numerous mansions and Victorian terrace houses that can be found along its streets. Included in the list of these notable residences are the Eildon Mansion on Grey Street, the Hewison House on Chapel Street, Myrnong Hall on Acland Street, The Priory on Alma Road, and the Marion Terrace on Burnett Street. Some of the large houses in the area become subdivided into apartments during the two World Wars.

St Kilda also has several outdoor attractions to offer. One is the St Kilda Botanic Gardens located along Blessington Street. The gardens feature a conservatory, a lake, a rose garden, and an Eco Centre building. Catani Gardens is another attraction located between St Kilda Beach and the Marine Parade. It features a war memorial and a statue of Captain Cook. Several war memorials are also located within the Alfred Square, which is situated along The Esplanade. The extensive Albert Park is a public space that runs through several suburbs in the area, including St Kilda.

St Kilda is also the location of the Corroboree Tree, a red gum tree located along Queens Road and is identified as the site of Aboriginal ceremonies before the European settlers came.

Along Alma Road is the Jewish Museum, which features items related to the Jewish community and their contribution to the city in general.

For those interested in contemporary art, there is the Linden—Centre for Contemporary Arts. This establishment, located along Ackland Street, aims to support and promote the works of contemporary artists from all over the country.