Nicholson Street, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Nicholson Street is a street in inner Melbourne
. It is named after William Nicholson
, then member of the Legislative Council
, and later Premier of Victoria
from 1859 to 1860.
. At its southernmost end, it connects to Spring Street
near Bourke Street
. Between Victoria Parade
and Alexandra Parade, it forms the boundary between Carlton
and Fitzroy
; between Alexandra Parade and Brunswick Road, it forms the boundary between Carlton North
and Fitzroy North
; north of Brunswick Road, its remaining length is in Brunswick East
. Nicholson Street merges into Albion Street, Brunswick East, just north of its intersection with Blyth Street. Tram route 96
, which enters Nicholson Street at the city end and terminates near Blyth Street, runs along virtually the entire length of the street.
Nicholson Street, Brunswick East, is often confused with nearby Nicholson Street, Coburg
, which also runs north to south. Nicholson Street, Coburg, is a continuation of Holmes Street, which is itself a continuation of Lygon Street
.
. It initially ended at Brunswick Road. Residents to the north of Brunswick Road had to travel west to Sydney Road
in order to travel into Melbourne, adding several miles to the journey. These residents began a public campaign to have Nicholson Street extended to the north. Two land owners sold their land at inflated prices in order for the extension to go ahead, which happened in 1868.
and the Princess Theatre
at its southern terminus. Just to the north lie the Royal Exhibition Building
and the Melbourne Museum
, both in Carlton Gardens
, and St Vincent's Hospital
. Further north in Brunswick East, at the corner of Blyth Street, Melbourne alternative radio station 3RRR
makes its home.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. It is named after William Nicholson
William Nicholson (Australian politician)
William Nicholson was an Australian colonial politician who became the third Premier of Victoria. He is remembered for having been called the "father of the ballot" due to his responsibility in introducing the secret ballot in Victoria.Nicholson was born in Whitehaven, Cumberland, the son of an...
, then member of the Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
, and later Premier of Victoria
Premiers of Victoria
The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the political party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly....
from 1859 to 1860.
Geography
Nicholson Street runs north-south through inner northern MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. At its southernmost end, it connects to Spring Street
Spring Street, Melbourne
Spring Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly north-south, and is the easternmost street in the Hoddle Grid. The street travels from Flinders Street in the south, to La Trobe Street and the Carlton Gardens in the north...
near Bourke Street
Bourke Street, Melbourne
Bourke Street is one of Melbourne's best known streets. Historically been regarded as Melbourne's "second street", with the main street being Collins Street and "busier than Bourke Street" is a popular catchphrase. Bourke Street has traditionally been Melbourne's entertainment hub...
. Between Victoria Parade
Victoria Street, Melbourne
Victoria Street is one of the major thoroughfares of inner Melbourne. Running east to west, Victoria Street touches the Hoddle Grid at the intersection of La Trobe Street and Spring Street, opposite the Carlton Gardens. It runs from its terminus at the intersection of Munster Terrace in North...
and Alexandra Parade, it forms the boundary between Carlton
Carlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
and Fitzroy
Fitzroy, Victoria
Fitzroy is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra. Its borders are Alexandra Parade , Victoria Parade , Smith Street and Nicholson Street. Fitzroy is Melbourne's...
; between Alexandra Parade and Brunswick Road, it forms the boundary between Carlton North
Carlton North, Victoria
Carlton North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Melbourne and Yarra...
and Fitzroy North
Fitzroy North, Victoria
Fitzroy North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Yarra and Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Fitzroy North had a population of 11,069....
; north of Brunswick Road, its remaining length is in Brunswick East
Brunswick East, Victoria
Brunswick East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Brunswick East had a population of 7,410....
. Nicholson Street merges into Albion Street, Brunswick East, just north of its intersection with Blyth Street. Tram route 96
Melbourne tram route 96
Melbourne tram route 96 is a public transport tram and light rail route in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.It is one of Melbourne's busiest tram route carrying 39,700 passengers a day with a frequency of every 10 minutes or less during peak...
, which enters Nicholson Street at the city end and terminates near Blyth Street, runs along virtually the entire length of the street.
Nicholson Street, Brunswick East, is often confused with nearby Nicholson Street, Coburg
Coburg, Victoria
Coburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin...
, which also runs north to south. Nicholson Street, Coburg, is a continuation of Holmes Street, which is itself a continuation of Lygon Street
Lygon Street, Melbourne
Lygon Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, Australia running through the suburbs of Carlton, Carlton North, Princes Hill and Brunswick East. Lygon Street's name has become synonymous with Italian restaurants and cafés located in the Carlton part of the street...
.
Route
Nicholson Street runs from Spring Street in the city, and heads in a north-northeasterly direction for approximately 5 km, before it runs through a series of 3 bends for 500m before merging into Albion Street in Brunswick East, to the north.History
Nicholson Street was built in 1854 to provide a road from Melbourne to the stone quarries of Brunswick EastBrunswick East, Victoria
Brunswick East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Brunswick East had a population of 7,410....
. It initially ended at Brunswick Road. Residents to the north of Brunswick Road had to travel west to Sydney Road
Sydney Road, Melbourne
Sydney Road is a major urban arterial in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Geography:...
in order to travel into Melbourne, adding several miles to the journey. These residents began a public campaign to have Nicholson Street extended to the north. Two land owners sold their land at inflated prices in order for the extension to go ahead, which happened in 1868.
Landmarks
Several Melbourne landmarks are located on Nicholson Street, including Parliament HouseParliament House, Melbourne
Parliament House in Melbourne, located at Spring Street in East Melbourne at the edge of the Melbourne city centre, has been the seat of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia, since 1855 .- History :In 1851, even before the colony of Victoria acquired full parliamentary self-government, Governor...
and the Princess Theatre
Princess Theatre, Melbourne
The Princess Theatre is a 1488-seat theatre in Melbourne, Australia.It is listed by the National Trust of Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register.-History:...
at its southern terminus. Just to the north lie the Royal Exhibition Building
Royal Exhibition Building
The Royal Exhibition Building is a World Heritage Site-listed building in Melbourne, Australia, completed in 1880. It is located at 9 Nicholson Street in the Carlton Gardens, flanked by Victoria, Nicholson, Carlton and Rathdowne Streets, at the north-eastern edge of the central business district...
and the Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum is located in the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Australia, adjacent the Royal Exhibition Building.It is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a venue of Museum Victoria, which also operates the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks Museum.The museum has seven main...
, both in Carlton Gardens
Carlton Gardens, Melbourne
The Carlton Gardens is a World Heritage Site located on the northeastern edge of the Central Business District in the suburb of Carlton, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, and St Vincent's Hospital
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne is the major hospital in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia.It is operated by the St Vincent's Health service, previously known as the Sisters of Charity Health Service, Melbourne...
. Further north in Brunswick East, at the corner of Blyth Street, Melbourne alternative radio station 3RRR
3RRR
3RRR is a popular Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne. It is the largest per capita subscribed radio station in the world....
makes its home.