- Picnic facilities
- Seats
- Drinking fountains
- Public toilets
- Jogging track (The Tan)
- Bookable spaces for events and weddings
The parklands include:
- Royal Botanic Gardens VictoriaOpens in new tab - Melbourne Gardens
- Shrine of RemembranceOpens in new tab Reserve
- Sidney Myer Music BowlOpens in new tab
- Government HouseOpens in new tab
- Alexandra Gardens and Alexandra Park
- Queen Victoria Gardens
- Kings Domain and Kings Domain South.
The Domain Parklands is of historical importance for its associations with the early settlement of Melbourne and the foundation of British colonial administration in Victoria. The parklands include many memorials and statuary which reflect the links with the administration of the colony.
The area was cleared of trees in the early years of Victoria’s colonial history and then the space was converted to parkland during the 1840s. Since then, the area has been further developed with facilities to suit visitors over the years.
Things to do
- Attend a concert at the Sidney Myer Music BowlOpens in new tab. Named after the businessman and philanthropist Sidney Myer, this venue was opened in 1959 by the then Prime Minister Robert Menzies.
- Take a tour of the gardens at Government HouseOpens in new tab (official residence of the Governor of Victoria) and La Trobe's CottageOpens in new tab (Melbourne’s oldest surviving colonial-era building, built in 1839 for an early Governor of Victoria).
- Visit the amazing horticultural collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens MelbourneOpens in new tab and go punting on the lake.
- Pay your respects at the Shrine of RemembranceOpens in new tab, a war memorial incorporating an education and exhibition centre.
- Learn about the many monumentsOpens in new tab, statues and memorials scattered throughout the parklands.
- Walk or jog around the Tan TrackOpens in new tab, Melbourne's iconic 3.8 km loop around the Botanic Gardens, constructed in the early 1900s.
Have a picnic and enjoy a walk through the beautiful parklands.
The north side of the Shrine of Remembrance
View from the Shrine of Remembrance through an avenue of Bhutan cypress and St Kilda Rd to the CBD
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
A lovely view northwards across the Yarra River, Birrarung from Alexandra Gardens
A view of the boatsheds and palms beside the river in Alexandra Gardens
Engineer’s Lawn in Alexandra Gardens is a popular event space
Kings Domain includes lots of open areas for informal games or kicking a ball
Golden elms are planted to the south of the Pioneer Women’s Memorial garden in the Domain Parklands
The rockery and fern gully are a great place to be on a hot summer’s day
Plane trees provide a shady canopy over the footpaths in the Queen Victoria Gardens
The Queen Victoria Gardens rose garden features a wonderful display during the warmer months
The Queen Victoria Memorial built of marble and granite was erected in 1907
The north side of the Shrine of Remembrance
View from the Shrine of Remembrance through an avenue of Bhutan cypress and St Kilda Rd to the CBD
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
A lovely view northwards across the Yarra River, Birrarung from Alexandra Gardens
A view of the boatsheds and palms beside the river in Alexandra Gardens
Engineer’s Lawn in Alexandra Gardens is a popular event space
Kings Domain includes lots of open areas for informal games or kicking a ball
Golden elms are planted to the south of the Pioneer Women’s Memorial garden in the Domain Parklands
The rockery and fern gully are a great place to be on a hot summer’s day
Plane trees provide a shady canopy over the footpaths in the Queen Victoria Gardens
The Queen Victoria Gardens rose garden features a wonderful display during the warmer months
The Queen Victoria Memorial built of marble and granite was erected in 1907
Designations, policies and plans
- The Domain Parklands are classified as a Capital City Open Space in City of Melbourne's Open Space Strategy.
- The Domain Parklands are recognised as being of State Significance and are listed in the Victoria Heritage RegisterOpens in new tab, and are also of National SignificanceOpens in new tab.
- The City of Melbourne Domain Parklands Master Plan (2019) sets out the vision and guides the future management and capital improvements for the whole of Domain Parklands.
How to get there
The Domain Parklands are a short walk from Flinders Street Station or Federation Square across the Yarra River, Birrarung, and Alexandra Avenue along St Kilda Road. You can also take any tram along St Kilda Road.
See PTV Journey PlannerOpens in new tab for public transport information.
Anzac StationOpens in new tab (currently under construction as part of Metro Tunnel) will also provide direct access to the parklands.