St Kilda Kiosk, 1950St Kilda is a seaside suburb of Melbourne that was one of the first towns established back in the 1850's. It was a popluar place to want to live because it gave the immigrants that came to live here in Australia relief from the harsh dry conditions they came to know. The seaside breezes that came in during the afternoons on a hot Summer's day being the big drawcard.
During the Depression of the 1890s, however, St Kilda began to decline. The seaside area became an entertainment precinct for Melbourne's working classes after a tramline was extended south from the Melbourne central city area, and the wealthy people moved further south to more exclusive suburbs such as Brighton.
During the 1880's St Kilda became a buzzing area of construction, lots of palatial mansions and hotels being formed by stonemasons. This was especially in an area that was called St Kilda Hill, and in seaside streets, that we know today as Fitzroy, Acland and Grey Streets. The lower areas of St Kilda were not as affluent in nature.
During the Depression of the 1890s, however, St Kilda began to decline. The seaside area became an entertainment precinct for Melbourne's working classes after a tramline was extended south from the Melbourne central city area, and the wealthy people moved further south to more exclusive suburbs such as Brighton.
An Italian Engineer named Carlo Catani developed many of the wonderful adornments that we can see today along the foreshore of St Kilda and he began his construction of these back in 1906. Luna Park, Palais Theatre ( where I went to my first concert to see Fergal Sharkey), St Moritz Ice Rink (destroyed by fire) and many other landmarks such as gardens with arches that the community can enjoy even now.
These developments attracted the people of Melbourne and even tourists to come enjoy the seaside towns many festivities and would become a place to make wonderful childhood memories. My own Grandparents grew up in St Kilda together in the early 1930's and many a fond memory of Luna Park and endless Summers spent at the beach are enjoyable to recount still. As my Pa said, "There was no money because of the depression, swimming was free, so it is what we did".
Despite migrationary trends, St Kilda retains a large Jewish population. The legacy of Jewish people in the area is evidenced in the large number of synagogues in the area and the Jewish Museum of Australia, the only one of its kind in the country, which is located in Alma Street.
St Kilda has a very unique arts culture, aswell as attrracting famous artists to its wonderful venues. Many festivals are held throughout the year. St Kilda Festival, Gay Pride March, Melbourne's Midsumma Festival, Melbourne Underground Festival, just to name a few. Of course, I cannot go on without mentioning the wonderful Esplanade Market held every Sunday.
St Kilda is located only 7 kilometres from the CBD. It is a great place to stay. Try out a Bed and Breakfast, or one of many Hotels. Access into town by tram makes it easy to get about and see everything without lifting a foot off the ground.
There is something for everyone 24/7 in the seaside place of St Kilda.
