Page 409 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

MELBOURNE  407

mAlbert Park
Canterbury Rd, Albert St & Lakeside
Drive. Map 5 B3. v 1, 12, 96.
Encompassing the remains of
a former natural swampland,
Albert Park Lake is the attractive
centrepiece of a 225-ha (555-
acre) parkland which includes
sporting fields, a public golf
course and many other
recreational facilities. However,
it is now predominantly known
View of Albert Park Lake and its wetlands as the site of the annual
Australian Formula One Grand
vEureka Tower nFitzroy and Prix, which covers a 5,260-m
Acland Streets (5,754-yd) circuit around the
7 Riverside Quay. Map 1 C4.
Tel (03) 9693 8888. Open 10am– St Kilda. Map 5 B5. v 12, 16, 96. lake (see p46). Apart from the
10pm daily. & for Skydeck. 7 @ 246, 600, 623, 606. g St Kilda Pier. Grand Prix, the park is used for a
∑ eurekaskydeck.com.au variety of purposes. The popular
Situated 6 km (4 miles) south Melbourne Sports and Aquatic
This 300-m (985-ft) tower of the city centre, St Kilda Centre is located here. Wetlands
was named after the Eureka has long been the most have also been developed to
Stockade, a rebellion that took popular seaside suburb of promote a diverse wildlife.
place during the Victoria gold Melbourne. During the Sailing here is another popular
rush (see p438). The skyscraper’s boom-time era of the 1850s activity, whether by small yacht,
gold crown and gold-plated (see pp58–9), the suburb was rowing boat or model boat.
windows refer back to this era. inhabited by many wealthy A large, ancient river red
The Skydeck on the 88th floor families. Other well-off gum tree standing in the centre
has numerous viewfinders and Victorians would holiday in of the park is also reputed to
a glass cube called “The Edge”, St Kilda during the summer. have been the site of many
which slides out 3 m (10 ft) St Kilda Pier, still a magnet for Aboriginal corroborees (festive
from the side of the building visitors, was erected in 1859. night dances).
with visitors inside. Today St Kilda is densely
populated, with many Art
bNational Gallery Deco apartment blocks. The ,Chapel Street
neighbourhood’s main streets
of Victoria are Fitzroy and Acland. The South Yarra, Prahran and Windsor.
Map 6 E3. £ South Yarra, Prahan.
latter, renowned as a district
180 St Kilda Rd and Federation v 6, 8, 78.
Square. Map 2 D4. Tel (03) 8620 of Jewish delicatessens and
2222. Open 10am–5pm daily. cake shops, is packed with Chapel Street, Melbourne’s
Closed Good Fri, 25 Apr, 25 Dec. visitors on Sundays. Fitzroy most fashionable street, is lined
7 8 = Street is filled with upmarket with shops selling local and
∑ ngv.vic.gov.au restaurants and shops. international fashion designs.
Rejuvenated in the 1980s, the A youthful clientele swarms
The first public art gallery in beachside esplanade attracts the street at weekends.
Australia, the National Gallery crowds to its busy arts and Up-market restaurants and
of Victoria opened in 1861 crafts market each Sunday. cafés abound and the nearby
and housed the original State Prahran Market sells the best
Museum. The gallery moved to in fresh, delicatessen produce.
St Kilda Rd in 1968 and contains Founded in 1891, the market
the largest and widest-ranging also contains excellent Greek
art collection in the country. and Italian delicatessens that
Its most significant bequest arrived in Melbourne during
was from Melbourne the post-WWII migrant boom.
entrepreneur Alfred Felton Crossing Chapel Street is
in 1904. Its collections of Old Toorak Road, whose “village”
Masters and contemporary is patronized by Melbourne’s
Australian art are outstanding. wealthiest community. More
The international collection is akin to the bohemian area of
at 180 St Kilda Road (see p404); Brunswick Street (see p400) is
the Australian collection is Greville Street to the west,
at the Ian Potter Centre in Melbourne tram running along the St Kilda with its cafés, bars and chic
Federation Square (see p406). Beach route No.16 second-hand shops.