Alexandra Gardens
The Alexandra Gardens sit on the edge of the Yarra River at the foot of Princes Bridge, just across from the CBD. These beautiful and historic gardens are part of the Domain parklands and were first laid out in 1904.
Full-screen picture of Alexandra Gardens
Map of park - Click here
Toilet - Yes
Playground - No
Sportsfields - No
Barbecue - No
Melway Ref - 2F J7
Size - 5.219ha
Dog off-leash area - No
Running/Bike track - Yes
historic rowing boathouses:
ornamental gardens with palms and shrub borders;
extensive lawns with mature trees lining paths and roadways;
star-shaped garden bed, designed to represent the Federation of Aus tralia; and
numerous major events including Melbourne Moomba Waterfest in March each year.
visit Riverslide Skate Park;
picnic on Henley and Engineer’s Lawns;
ride the bike path (part of the Yarra River Trail); and
watch rowing events (location of finish line and judges box).
The Gardens have many mature trees including elms and, along Boathouse Drive, an avenue of planes and oak trees. The distinctive Canary Island Palms adjacent to the Skate Park are almost as old as the Gardens themselves.
Alexandra Gardens form the beginning of a large area of parkland that extends over Alexandra Avenue into the Queen Victoria Gardens and the Kings Domain.
The Domain Parklands Master Plan was approved by Council in 1997. It guides the long-term development of the parklands. Recommendations of the Plan include:
- the restoration of the historic setting and vista to Government House;
- restoration of the historic role of the Domain as an arboretum, including the coordination of plantings with the Royal Botanic Gardens collection policies; and
- planting additional Australian trees to reinforce the Shrine of Remembrance vistas.
Access into the Gardens:
From St Kilda Road, down a short steep grade, which levels out as you get into the park.
From the Southbank precinct under Princes Bridge to Jeffries Parade and a small step up into the park. Jeffries Parade is closed to through traffic but there are no dedicated disabled parking spaces.
Accessible male and female toilets are provided with a ramp up at 9% to the female toilet. There is a step down to get to the path leading to the toilets.
Alexandra Gardens topography is essentially flat except for the rise up to St Kilda Road. Paths are bitumen, the north path joins the footpath at Jeffries Parade.
 Settlement
From the earliest days of European settlement in the 1830s, Alexandra Gardens was used for timber cutting, cattle grazing and as a brickmakers’ field.
The establishment of the Gardens
The area was subject to regular flooding until a new channel was excavated at the turn of the 20th century to widen and straighten the Yarra River. Excavated material was used to raise the height of the riverbank and fill the lagoons created by the old brickmaking works.
Following this work, in 1904 the Alexandra Gardens were laid out as an ornamental garden.
Their design was chiefly the work of Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. The Henley Lawn, surrounded by distinctive Canary Island palms, was laid out in 1911.
Rowing
Boatsheds started appearing early in the 20th century and in 1904 the first Henley-on-Yarra regatta was held, quickly becoming one of the most popular events in Melbourne and drawing huge crowds to both banks of the river. The Oarsmen’s Memorial Judges Box is sited in the Gardens near the finish line of the regatta and was built in 1930 to commemorate the oarsmen who served in World War 1.
Alexandra Avenue
 Prior to the realignment of Alexandra Avenue, it was a parkland boulevard featuring four separated lanes, representing an equestrian track, a carriage drive banned from commercial traffic, a bicycle path and a pedestrian path. Each lane was separated by a row of trees: Elms; London Planes; English Oak; and Silver Poplar. While the boulevard no longer exists, remnants of these rows are still visible, showing the original alignment of Alexandra Avenue along the Yarra River.
The Gardens today
The Gardens are just as popular today as they always were, with water sports, walkers and a range of events, including the Melbourne Moomba Waterfest, held every March since the late 1950s.
In the early mornings, you will often see rowers gliding by.
The Riverslide Skate Park opened in 2001 on the site of a former depot and has great facilities for skaters of all ages and abilities as well as first aid, a café and supervisory staff.
Public transport
Starting point: Federation Square (Melbourne)
Take tram (3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72) from Swanston Street
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