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                    Alexandra Gardens

                    Elevated view of Alexandra Gardens looking east, showing a row of palm trees, path and boat sheds along the river.
                    Alexandra Gardens is part of the Domain Parklands. Situated in an area beside the Yarra River, the gardens' key features include the line of historic rowing boathouses facing the river, and Riverslide Skate Park.

                    ​​​​​Alexandra Gardens is located south of Princes Bridge and east of St Kilda Road, with Alexandra Avenue at the southern border. This area beside the Yarra River, Birrarung, was part of a network of swamps and lagoons linked to course of the river. 

                    From 1896, under the guidance of engineer Carlo Catani, a new channel to straighten the river was created and the swamps and lagoons were filled with spoil from the channel works. The gardens were then created and completed in time for a Royal visit by the Duke of York in May 1901. The gardens are named after Alexandra of Denmark, the wife of King Edward VII.

                    Notable features are the line of rowing boathouses facing the river and Riverslide Skate Park, the only supervised skate park in Melbourne. The gardens’ palms, ornamental shrubs, rockeries and tree-lined avenues and lawns make this a delightful place to go for a walk, and provide a setting for a wide variety of major events throughout the year. 

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                    Photo gallery

                    People walking on a footpath in Alexandra Gardens with adjacent grassland,  garden beds with flowers, shrubs and grasses, and mature trees.View from Alexandra Gardens towards the CBD, with palm trees on grassland in the foreground.View from Alexandra Gardens towards the CBD, next to the Yarra River. In the foreground is a park bench, between two palm trees and on a narrow strip of grass alongside the river.Alexandra Gardens: elevated view of the gardens from a bridge showing a row of five palm trees next to the Yarra River, with the historic boat sheds in the middle distance and sports stadium in the backgroundView of open grassland in Alexandra Gardens with a range of trees in the middle distance, and CBD buildings (including Eureka Tower and Arts Centre spire) in the background.Detail of trees and garden beds , backlit by the sun.

                    Things to do

                    • Go skating, scooting or rollerblading at Riverslide Skate Park.
                    • Take the shared path link on the south side of the gardens to join the Capital City Trail (PDF 355 KB).
                    • Admire the horticultural features, such as the star-shaped garden bed in the centre of the gardens, designed to represent the Federation of Australia.
                    • Enjoy walking, informal recreation activities, picnics, and watching boats on the river. 
                    • Attend a major event, such as Moomba Festival, Midsumma Festival, New Year's Eve or a fun run.

                    Facilities

                    • Toilets (disabled access provision)
                    • Riverslide Kiosk 
                    • Drinking fountains, seats, accessible paths
                    • Alexandra Park barbecues beside the Yarra (between 300 m and 900 m south-east).
                    • Some designated shared paths
                    • Bookable event spaces

                    Designations, policies and plans

                    How to get there

                    ​Walk south from Flinders Street Station or Federation Square across the Yarra River. The entrance is opposite Hamer Hall.

                    See PTV journey planner for public transport information.

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                    Map of Alexandra Gardens
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