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Alexandra Gardens

 

The Alexandra Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens and King's Domain run continuously from the banks of the Yarra along St Kilda Road to the Shrine and beyond. They also border the Botanic Gardens and Government House.

The Alexandra Gardens were created in the late 1860s from land reclaimed from the re-routing of the Yarra River. The gardens were reconstructed and laid out in their current form in 1904 and quickly became a focus for weekend recreation and promenading. The section of the Yarra with the Alexandra Gardens on one side and Birrarung Marr on the other are among the most picturesque and most often depicted areas of the city. The Alexandra Gardens are best known to the locals for the rowing sheds and as the venue for Moomba and similar festivities. For refreshments you can wander a little further upstream to one of Melbourne's favourite barbecue spots, sit on the grass and enjoy a burnt snag while the river flows slowly by. Or, if you prefer, you can wander a little further downstream and sip your cafe latte at Southgate complex while the river still flows slowly by. The Yarra is in no hurry, so why should you be?

Alexandra GardensThe Henly-on-Yarra regatta has been held here annually since the reconstructed park opened in 1904, and it was on this stretch of the Yarra that the oarsome foursome trained. The small judges box built on the riverbank in the 1930s at the finishing line of the regatta can still be seen, as well as a war memorial for oarsmen who were killed in WW1. The Riverslide Skate Park attracts hundreds of skateboarders every day, and at the base of Princes Bridge you can hire a bike and ride for many kilometres along the bike paths which follow the river.

The Alexandra Gardens are really much more park than gardens, but you can still see the star bed which formed part of the original design and the Canary Island Date Palms planted soon after.

The Alexandra Gardens, along with Birrarung Marr on the opposite bank of the river, are usually the central to the Moomba Festival and fireworks displays for such events as New Year's Eve.

Riverslide Skate Park

Riverslide is the largest & best-appointed Skate Park in inner Melbourne. Featuring an 1800sqm skating surface & a caf�, it�s a must for any interested skaters. Located within a five-min walk from Flinders St Station, it�s situated in the picturesque Alexandra Gardens. Supervision & first aid assistance is provided on site during peak periods.

Free
(Mel ref 2F J7)
Enquiries: 9663 0495

 

Some forthcoming events at Alexandra Gardens:

Moomba Festival

Melbourne's long running community festival featuring rides, activities and entertainment in Birrarung Marr and the Alexandra Gardens. The Moomba fireworks will occur from 9.30 to 9.45pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights and the best viewing points can be had on the banks of the Yarra in Birrarung Marr or the Alexandra Gardens.




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