Albert Park and Lake
Albert Park and
Albert Park Lake are situated in the
City of Port Phillip,
Victoria,
Australia, 3 km south of the
Melbourne CBD.
The park encompasses 2.25
km² (555 acres) of parkland including Albert Park Lake and provides numerous ovals, sporting facilities, the Albert Park Public Golf Course, a 5 km walking track around the lake, and the
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. It is bordered by Albert Road, Queens Road, Fitzroy Street and Canterbury Road. Surrounding suburbs include
Albert Park,
Middle Park,
St Kilda,
Melbourne and
South Melbourne.
|
View over Albert Park Lake |
The parkland, Albert Park lake, and Gunn Island, provides a grassy wetlands habitat for over one hundred bird species including
Cattle Egret,
Common Tern,
Eastern Curlew,
Great Egret,
Pomarine Jaeger,
Pelicans and
White-throated Needletail. Native mammals include
Common Bent-wing Bats and
Common Brushtail Possums. Several reptiles and amphibians make their home in the park. A vegetation survey in 1992 found 117 species of plants, a mixture of native and exotic species.
Also within the park is the
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and the
Bob Jane Stadium, home of
South Melbourne FC.
The
Australian Grand Prix is held around the
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit around the lake in March. Every May the
RSPCA holds the
Million Paws Walk to raise needed income for their work with animals.
The Albert Sailing Club holds regular regattas on Saturdays. The Albert Park Yacht club, established in 1871 and the oldest continuing yacht club in Victoria, runs sailing classes over winter months on Albert Park lake and also has competitive sailing on Saturdays.
There are signs of habitation by the
Wurundjeri or
Bunurong peoples in the Albert Park area including the large ancient
River Red Gum Tree, located next to
Junction Oval on the corner of Fitzroy Street and Queens Road,
St Kilda. It is said to be a
corroboree site.
The parkland was temporarily reserved from sale on
22 July,
1862, and in
1864 was proclaimed a public park and named in honour of
Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert. Originally 3.85 km², major excisions occurred in 1875 with the land between St Kilda and Queens Roads being used for housing allotments.
First sporting use of the area occurred in
1857 when the St Kilda Cricket Club obtained permission for an oval at the south end of the park, with the South Melbourne Cricket Club gaining occupancy at the other end in
1862. The St Kilda Bowling Club followed in
1865 and the Middle Park Bowling Club in
1903. Tennis courts constructed in
1889 were the site for major championships, such as the
1908 Davis Cup, until the tennis stadium at
Kooyong was built.
The swampy lagoons were used for boating and in
1871 the Albert Park Boat Club was established. Extensive excavation occurred between 1873 and 1880 to form the lake, with the excavated material and Municipal refuse used for land reclamation. The lake was connected to the
Yarra River in
1890 to allow the addition of fresh water.
A series of protests were organised by the "Save Albert Park group" in 1995 and 1996, against the decision by
Jeff Kennett,
Premier of Victoria, to hold the
Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. The protestors claimed that the race turned a public park into a private playground for much of the year.
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Albert Park - Parks Victoria*
Albert Sailing Club*
Albert Park Yacht Club*
Albert Park History*
Save Albert Park group
