Author(s): Middle Park History Group

Australian Studies

The first of a series of books on the history of Albert Park. 

From swampy land and a military reserve, Albert Park has grown into a desirable bayside suburb centred on St Vincent Place. This first volume on the history of Albert Park explores the environment and Aboriginal inhabitants before European settlement, design and significance of St Vincent Gardens, the buildings of St Vincent Place, their many notable residents, the outdoor cinemas, the sea baths and the foreshore.

Down at the foreshore, controls on bathing from the beach led to the establishment of sea baths in the nineteenth century, and entertainment and refreshment venues soon followed. Beaconsfield Parade and Kerferd Rd pier developed as popular promenades. As bathing regulations relaxed and people flocked to the beach and dressing sheds, beach shelters and other infrastructure sprang up. Today, much of this has been removed leaving a wide expanse of sand on which to relax.