Albert Park is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south of Melbourne's Central Business District. The suburb is named after Albert Park, a large lakeside urban park located within the City of Port Phillip local government area. Albert Park recorded a population of 6,044 at the 2021 census.

Albert Park was used as a garbage dump, a military camp and for recreation before the artificial lake was built. In 1854 a land-subdivision survey was done from Park Street, South Melbourne, to the northern edge of the parkland (Albert Road). St Vincent Gardens were laid out and the surrounding streets home to the city's most successful citizens. Street names commemorated Trafalgar and Crimean War personalities.

left|thumb|[[St Vincent Gardens in 1878, Rochester Terrace is in the background]]

right|thumb|Kerferd Road Pier (1905)

Heritage Victoria notes that Albert Park's St Vincent Gardens "is historically important as the premier 'square' development in Victoria based on similar models in London. It is significant as the largest development of its type in Victoria and for its unusual development as gardens rather than the more usual small park" and "was first laid out in 1854 or 55, probably by Andrew Clarke, the Surveyor-General of Victoria. The current layout is the work of Clement Hodgkinson, the noted surveyor, engineer and topographer, who adapted the design in 1857 to allow for its intersection by the St Kilda railway line. The precinct, which in its original configuration extended from Park Street in the north to Bridport Street in the south and from Howe Crescent in the east to Nelson Road and Cardigan Street in the west, was designed to emulate similar 'square' developments in London, although on a grander scale. The main streets were named after British naval heroes. The development of the special character of St Vincent Place has been characterised, since the first land sales in the 1860s, by a variety of housing stock, which has included quality row and detached houses and by the gardens which, although they have been continuously developed, remain faithful to the initial landscape concept."

St Vincent's is a garden of significant mature tree specimens. It is registered with the National Trust and is locally significant for the social focus the gardens provide to the neighbourhood. Activities in the park range from relaxing walks, siestas to organised sports competition. The Albert Park Lawn Bowls Club was established in 1873 and the Tennis Club established 1883, on the site of an earlier croquet ground.

Geography

Albert Park features part of the massive Albert Park and Lake (formerly South Park in the 19th century until it was also renamed after Prince Albert) and is located nearby. It is a significant state park managed by Parks Victoria. It is also known as the site of the Albert Park Circuit.

Commercial centres

thumb|Shops and terrace houses along commercial Bridport Street

Commercial centres include Bridport Street, with its cafes and shops and Victoria Avenue, known for its cafes, delicatessens and boutiques.

Beach areas

Albert Park has a long beach frontage, with several distinctive features, including many grand buildings (such as the Victoria Hotel, a grand hotel and former coffee palace, now café bar, built in 1887) and Victorian terrace homes; Kerferd Kiosk, an iconic Edwardian bathing pavilion and Kerferd Pier, which terminates Kerferd Road and is a jetty onto Port Phillip, used for fishing by many and sharks have occasionally been found around it.

Albert Park and Lake

The lake is popular with strollers, runners and cyclists. Dozens of small yachts sail around the lake on sunny days. Only the north eastern part of the park and lake is actually in the suburb, the rest is in the neighbouring suburbs of South Melbourne, Melbourne, Middle Park and St Kilda.

Demographics

At the , Albert Park had a population of 6,044. 69.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 5.3%, Greece 3.5% and New Zealand 2.1%. 78.2% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Greek at 7.3%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 46.4% and Catholic 19.0%.

Notable residents

  • Hilda and Laurel Armstrong – 'The Vegemite Girls', sisters who coined the name of the iconic Australian food spread in 1923
  • Mae Busch (1891–1946) – actress, co-star in the films of famous Hollywood comedy duo Laurel and Hardy
  • Roy Cazaly (1893–1963) – Australian rules football legend [birthplace]
  • Noel Jack Counihan (1913–1986) – artist and revolutionary, made social realist art in response to the political and social issues of his times
  • John Danks (1828–1902) – businessman, manufacturer, councillor, benefactor; Danks Street named after him
  • Private Edward "Eddie" Leonski [US Army] (1917–1942) – infamous serial killer; during World War II was stationed in Melbourne and murdered three women. Was hanged for the crimes on 9 November 1942. His first victim, Ivy McLeod, was found beaten and strangled in a doorway in Albert Park, killed by Leonski after he drank whisky all morning and afternoon at the Bleak House Hotel (aka Beach House Hotel)
  • Walter Lindrum (1898–1960) – world-famous billiards player, regarded as the greatest ever to play the game
  • Likely Herman "Like" McBrien (1892–1956) – leading Australian Rules football administrator and politician
  • Ernest McIntyre (1921–2003) – Australian rules footballer [birthplace]
  • Allan McLean (1840–1911) – pastoralist, station agent, politician; 19th Premier of Victoria in 1899; elected to the first Commonwealth Parliament in 1901
  • Albert Monk (1900–1975) – union and labour leader; during World War Two was concurrent president of the ACTU & Trades Hall Council & ALP Victorian branch; seminally influenced the growth of the ACTU as Australia's peak trade union organization. His house was in Kerferd Road
  • King O'Malley (1858–1953) – politician, influential in the establishment of the Commonwealth Bank and the selection of Canberra as the national capital
  • Alex Lahey, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was born and raised in Albert Park

See also

  • City of South Melbourne – Albert Park was previously within this former local government area.

References

  • Barnard, Jill and Keating, Jenny, "People's Playground: A History of the Albert Park", Chandos Publishing, 1996.
  • Melway, 29th Edition, Ausway Publishing, 2001.
  • Albert Park Yacht Club
  • Albert Park (The Park)
  • St Vincent Gardens
  • Albert Park Primary School
  • Albert Park Bowls Club
  • REIV Albert Park Market Insights, Auction & Private Sale Results