St Kilda is Melbourne’s best known urban seaside resort. It is located 5km south east of the Melbourne CBD and is a vibrant cosmopolitan urban village by the bay. The area boasts a rich history full of contradiction since its first permanent white settlement around 1840.
Like many inner urban villages around the world, in the last 15 years or so there has been a huge pressure on St Kilda to be “developed” by investors who have greed in their eyes and little understanding of the delicate cosmopolitan cultural balance that had grown in the area’s 150 year history.
Esplanade Alliance is a community action group interested in the planning and development of the Upper Esplanade (that “one sweet boulevard” – Paul Kelly) and the St Kilda foreshore. In recent years Esplanade Alliance has conducted campaigns to protect the Esplanade Hotel and St Kilda Sea Baths. The Alliance participated in all stages of the foreshore planning consultation process and continues to monitor closely implementation of the foreshore up-grade.
Read more about the Esplanade Alliance Vision for the Foreshore.
The triangle site, nestled between Luna Park, the Upper Esplanade and the Sea Baths, is probably Melbourne’s highest value Crown land – land not yet allocated to private use. It is public land, owned by the people of Victoria and managed on their behalf by state and local governments.
A decision in early 2008 to develop the site as a regional shopping centre and nightclub precinct is totally opposed by Esplanade Alliance. The Alliance is working actively to overturn the decision and to replace Port Phillip councillors who supported it.
Read more about the views of Esplanade Alliance on this critical issue for all Melbournians
If you wish to be kept up-to-date with developments please sends us your details using the Contact Form.
This webpage is maintained by Cyndy Vogelsang on behalf of the Esplanade Alliance