Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
The Alexandra Gardens are located on the south bank of the Yarra River, opposite Federation Square
and the Melbourne Central Business District, in Victoria
, Australia
. The Gardens are bounded by the Yarra River to the north, Princes and Swan street bridges, with Queen Victoria Gardens
and Kings Domain across Alexandra Avenue to the south. The gardens are part of the Domain parklands which stretch to the Royal Botanic Gardens
and were first laid out in 1901, under the direction of Carlo Catani
, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. They are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
due to their historical and archaeological significance.
Alexandra Gardens are part of a larger group of parklands directly south-east of the city, between St. Kilda Road and the Yarra River
known as the Domain Parklands, which includes;
of Melbourne in 1835, the area of the gardens were used for timber cutting, cattle grazing and as a brickmakers’ field. Regular flooding occurred, until a new channel for the Yarra River was dug from 1896 to 1900 to straighten and widen the river. The spoil was used to fill the swampy lagoons and brickmakers pits and raise the height of the river bank where Alexandra Gardens now stands. Landscaping occurred immediately, and the gardens were planned and laid out for the visit of the Duke of York
in May 1901.
under Princes bridge. Vehicular access is provided by Boathouse drive from Alexandra avenue. Next to Princes bridge bicycles are available for hire to explore the Capital City Trail
along the river. Also the prominent, The Around the Bay in a Day cycling event has its finish line at the Gardens.
A skate park opened in 2001 in the gardens, with a cafe and first aid station, close to some distinctive Canary Island Palms
which were planted in 1911.
Club boathouse
s nestle in the gardens, including the Mercantile Rowing Club
. You will often see rowing coaches cycling along the bike path megaphone in hand, giving instructions to their rowing crew. The Olympic
champions, the Oarsome Foursome
, were known to train along the Yarra river.
The annual Henley-on-Yarra regatta was held from 1904, every spring just before Melbourne Cup
day. For a day and a night Melburnians flocked to the Yarra to watch this sporting event, with attendances peaking at 300,000 in 1925. After World War II, the event declined in significance, however the annual Australian Henley Rowing Regatta still occurs as an amateur event in December, with recent attempts to increase its popularity.
Past the boathouses are lawns with electric barbecues, which are popular spots for picnics and office parties around Christmas time. As well as lawns fronting the Yarra river, the gardens contain: a star shaped garden bed representing the Federation of Australia; many mature trees including elms and an avenue of planes and oak trees along Boathouse Drive; ornamental flower beds.
Federation Square
Federation Square is a civic centre and cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and the Melbourne Central Business District, in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Gardens are bounded by the Yarra River to the north, Princes and Swan street bridges, with Queen Victoria Gardens
Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne
The Queen Victoria Gardens are Melbourne's memorial to Queen Victoria. Located on 4.8 hectares opposite the Victorian Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria, bounded by St Kilda Road, Alexandra Avenue and Linlithgow Avenue....
and Kings Domain across Alexandra Avenue to the south. The gardens are part of the Domain parklands which stretch to the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are internationally renowned botanical gardens located near the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on the south bank of the Yarra River. They are 38 hectares of landscaped gardens consisting of a mix of native and non-native vegetation including over...
and were first laid out in 1901, under the direction of Carlo Catani
Carlo Catani
Carlo Giorgio Domenico Enrico Catani was a civil engineer who worked in Australia for the Victorian Government for the majority of his career.He oversaw many projects, including:*the draining of the Koo-Wee-Rup swamp...
, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. They are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
due to their historical and archaeological significance.
Alexandra Gardens are part of a larger group of parklands directly south-east of the city, between St. Kilda Road and the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
known as the Domain Parklands, which includes;
- The Royal Botanic GardensRoyal Botanic Gardens, MelbourneThe Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are internationally renowned botanical gardens located near the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on the south bank of the Yarra River. They are 38 hectares of landscaped gardens consisting of a mix of native and non-native vegetation including over...
- Kings Domain
- Alexandra Gardens
- Queen Victoria GardensQueen Victoria Gardens, MelbourneThe Queen Victoria Gardens are Melbourne's memorial to Queen Victoria. Located on 4.8 hectares opposite the Victorian Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria, bounded by St Kilda Road, Alexandra Avenue and Linlithgow Avenue....
History
From the time of European settlementHistory of Melbourne
The history of Melbourne details the city's growth from a fledging settlement into a modern commercial and financial centre as Australia's second largest city.-Pre-European settlement:...
of Melbourne in 1835, the area of the gardens were used for timber cutting, cattle grazing and as a brickmakers’ field. Regular flooding occurred, until a new channel for the Yarra River was dug from 1896 to 1900 to straighten and widen the river. The spoil was used to fill the swampy lagoons and brickmakers pits and raise the height of the river bank where Alexandra Gardens now stands. Landscaping occurred immediately, and the gardens were planned and laid out for the visit of the Duke of York
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
in May 1901.
Cycling and skating
Pedestrian and cycle access to the gardens is via steps or a ramp from Princes Bridge, or along the promenade from SouthbankSouthbank, Victoria
Southbank is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located direct south of the Yarra River opposite Melbourne's Hoddle Grid. The northernmost area is considered part of the Central Business District and Central Activities District of the city. Its Local Government Area are the...
under Princes bridge. Vehicular access is provided by Boathouse drive from Alexandra avenue. Next to Princes bridge bicycles are available for hire to explore the Capital City Trail
Capital City Trail
The Capital City Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which circles the Melbourne city centre and some inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
along the river. Also the prominent, The Around the Bay in a Day cycling event has its finish line at the Gardens.
A skate park opened in 2001 in the gardens, with a cafe and first aid station, close to some distinctive Canary Island Palms
Canary Island Date Palm
Phoenix canariensis is a species in the palm family Arecaceae, native to the Canary Islands. It is a relative of Phoenix dactylifera, the true date palm....
which were planted in 1911.
Rowing clubs
Alongside the Yarra River numerous RowingSport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
Club boathouse
Boathouse
A boathouse is a building especially designed for the storage of boats, normally smaller craft for sports or leisure use. These are typically located on open water, such as on a river. Often the boats stored are rowing boats...
s nestle in the gardens, including the Mercantile Rowing Club
Mercantile Rowing Club
The Mercantile Rowing Club is based in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1880, club members have included a number of top rowers, including members of Australia's Oarsome Foursome — Mike McKay, James Tomkins, Andrew Cooper and Drew Ginn, and Beijing Olympic Gold Medallist David Crawshay.The current...
. You will often see rowing coaches cycling along the bike path megaphone in hand, giving instructions to their rowing crew. The Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champions, the Oarsome Foursome
Oarsome Foursome
The Oarsome Foursome is the nickname for an Australian rowing crew who competed between 1990 and 1998 - winning two Olympic gold medals in the coxless fours.The original crew was Nick Green, James Tomkins, Mike McKay, and Sam Patten...
, were known to train along the Yarra river.
The annual Henley-on-Yarra regatta was held from 1904, every spring just before Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
day. For a day and a night Melburnians flocked to the Yarra to watch this sporting event, with attendances peaking at 300,000 in 1925. After World War II, the event declined in significance, however the annual Australian Henley Rowing Regatta still occurs as an amateur event in December, with recent attempts to increase its popularity.
Past the boathouses are lawns with electric barbecues, which are popular spots for picnics and office parties around Christmas time. As well as lawns fronting the Yarra river, the gardens contain: a star shaped garden bed representing the Federation of Australia; many mature trees including elms and an avenue of planes and oak trees along Boathouse Drive; ornamental flower beds.