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St
Kilda
Bayside, Melbourne
By
Richard Moore
Photos
of St Kilda
 I
have lived in St Kilda for a few years on a couple of occasions
and I can say it is one of my favourite parts of Melbourne.
Nestled
in by the waters of Port Phillip Bay and within a short tram trip
of the Melbourne CBD, St Kilda offers a vibrant slice of life for
locals and visitors alike.
St
Kilda has everything from million dollar homes and sea views to
dodgy areas you don't want to walk around at night; terrific restaurants
and at-the-edge arts to druggies and hookers.
I
love it.
In
the 1960s and 70s St Kilda was not for families, but a gentrification
of the suburb began in the early 1980s and has continued ever since.
St
Kilda is now a cool place to live and it has plenty to offer visitors.
 Its
northern side is along Fitzroy St and there are restaurants galore
offering some very fine dining choices.
A
short walk away is the other St Kilda - Acland St - which is filled
with cool shops, more eateries and fabulous cake shops offering
some of the most amazingly tantalising sweet treats.
In
between you have the iconic Luna Park amusement venue, which is
not showing its 100 years, and offers families some amazing thrills
and rides within its walls.
Next
to Luna Park are the O'Donnell Gardens that feature huge palm trees.
One
of the best things about St Kilda is its historic pier.
There
are few things nicer than wandering down to the pavillion at the
end of the pier for a drink or a meal and enjoying smell of the
sea.
The
views around the Bay are great.
In 2003 the original pier kiosk was set ablaze in an arson attack
but was rebuilt in the exact form with public donations and help
from the Victorian Government.
The
foreshore near the pier has been developed with bars and eateries
that make for a good place to stop and have a bite in any season.
Slightly
away from the water St Kilda has heritage listed Botanical Gardens
near Barkly St.
 And
on Sundays there is an art fair along The Esplanade that features
jewellery, paintings and photos and many other things to peruse.
If
you are in Melbourne it is worth spending half a day in St Kilda
- just to say you have.
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