St Kilda is one of the famous suburbs of Melbourne, lying at about 6 km south of the central business district of the city of Melbourne. When a schooner named ‘Lady of St Kilda’ moored in this beach in 1841, one of the early settlers, Lieutenant James Lawrence named this area St Kilda. Several palatial mansions were built along the waterfront and the hills of St Kilda by the elite settlers of Melbourne. In the beginning of the twentieth century, St Kilda became to Melbourne like Coney Island to New York. After the Second World War, St Kilda became the red-light district for Melbourne. Since then, the bohemian atmosphere continued with aspiring musicians, artists, LGBT groups, and other subcultures like punks inhabiting this lovely St Kilda beach area. In recent years, there had been some changes in this area after trouble-making groups were pushed out of St Kilda, making it one of the most famous tourist attractions for Melbourne.
St Kilda attractions include the palm lined walk along the Esplanade, beach front cafes, restaurants, bars and of course the beach and the early Luna Park amusement complex with its huge laughing face. The Sunday St Kilda Esplanade markets attract a large number of stall holders offering a range of crafted products and food stuffs. Within such easy reach of the city of Melbourne and excellent accommodation choices, plus the famous St Kilda beach, St Kilda is a popular Melbourne holiday accommodation destination. Local day visitors wander the streets and shops and international tourists slowly turning themselves into a brighter shade of lobster red as the bake themselves on the white sandy St Kilda beaches.
The St Kilda Pier, which ends at the St Kilda Pavilion, is an historic Edwardian building which stretches along a long breakwater. The breakwater shelters the harbour of St Kilda and a Fairy Penguin colony is an awesome sight for tourists here. Sunbathers and swimmers love the gentle bay with mild waves. A ferry service runs from the St Kilda Pier to Williamstown. Acland Street is the main shopping and restaurant area in St Kilda Melbourne, with several cafes and cake shops. The St Kilda Town Hall is a brutalist design by the famous architect Enrico Taglietti. The impressive building had been designed to open in a unique fashion like a book and it was finished in 1973.
Accommodation in St Kilda keenly sought after as it provides easy access to the centre of Melbourne and all its attractions and the relaxed beach atmosphere that only St Kilda hotels can offer. The ‘Espy’ or Esplanade Hotel as it is occasionally called by non locals was built in 1878 and has undergone several renovations since. Built in 1887 the George Hotel was later converted into studio apartments. Backpacker hostels and accommodation are also popular in St Kilda and the St Kilda Coffee Palace which was built in the 1870s is today one of those very busy hostels. Built in 1940 the Prince of Wales Hotel is now a popular Melbourne music venue.
Today there are an increasing number of hotels in St Kilda including such well known brands as The Bayside, Quest St Kilda Bayside Inn, Best Western Easystay Novotel Melbourne, Cosmopolitan Hotel, The Prince Hotel, Quest Kimberley, Oslo Hotel, Olembia Guesthouse, St Kilda Beach, Easystay At Carlisle, Royal Albert Apartments, Charnwood Motor Inn and Eildon Mansion. Prices for St Kilda accommodation vary considerably but are often marginally cheaper than for the Melbourne accommodation offered in the central business district of Melbourne.
Learn more about Melbourne Beach Accommodation. Stop by Jasmine Zahara’s site where you can find out all about St Kilda Hotels and booking online.
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