Page 381 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

INTRODUCING VIC T ORIA  379

Where to Find the
Parks and Gardens
Alexandra Gardens Map 3 A2.
Carlton Gardens Map 2 D1.
Fawkner Park Map 3 C5.
Fitzroy Gardens Map 2 E2.
Flagstaff Gardens Map 1 A2.
Kings Domain pp402–3.
Princes Park, Royal Parade,
Carlton.
Queen Victoria Gardens
Map 2 D4.
Royal Botanic Gardens
pp402–3.
Treasury Gardens Map 2 E3.
Yarra Park Map 2 F3.

Fawkner Park, named
after Melbourne’s co-founder,
John Pascoe Fawkner, was laid
Ornamental lake in the Royal Botanic Gardens out in 1862 and became a
large sports ground in the
Today, the gardens are home offer very welcome shade in 1890s. Despite a temporary
to more than 8,500 plant the summer heat. The location role as a camp site for the
species (see pp402–3). in the centre of the city makes Armed Services during World
these gardens very popular War II, the 40 ha (100 acres) of
Recreational Gardens with office workers during the park are still used for
and Parks their lunch breaks. The cricket, football, hockey and
gardens also host occasional softball games.
Melburnians are avid community events. Another popular sporting
sports participants as well as Established in 1856, Yarra area with Melburnians is
Parkark
spectators, and many of the P Park is today home to the is today home to the Princes Park. Two sports
city’s gardens offer a range of city’s most well-known pavilions were constructed in
sporting facilities in attractive sports ground, the impressive 1938, as were two playing
surroundings. Melbourne Cricket Ground fields. The park now contains
Flagstaff Gardens take their (see p401), a mecca for cricket a football oval and a large
name from the site’s role as a and football lovers. The wood timber adventure playground,
signalling station from 1840, and bark of the indigenous as well as a jogging track lined
warning of ships arriving in river red gums in the park were with exercise equipment at
the Port of Melbourne. In the once used for canoes and stages along its 3-km (1.8-mile)
1880s, with advances in shields by local Aborigines route. A gravel running track
communication, this role was and many still bear the scars. was also added in 1991.
no longer required and gardens
were laid out on the land
instead. Today the gardens
are used for their recreational
facilities, which include tennis
courts, a children’s playground
and a barbecue area.
The Alexandra Gardens
were designed in 1904 as
a riverside walk along the
Yarra River. Today, as well
as the major thoroughfare
of Alexandra Avenue, there
is an equestrian path, a cycle
path, boat sheds and barbecue
facilities. The Treasury Gardens
were designed in 1867 and
are lined along its avenues
with Moreton Bay Figs, which Cricket match in progress in Fawkner Park