St Kilda
The most well-known of Melbourne’s beachside suburbs, St Kilda has a laid-back beach town vibe.
Table of Contents
The most well-known of Melbourne’s beachside suburbs, St Kilda has a laid-back beach town vibe.
With its popular beaches, famous attractions like Luna Park and long history closely tied with the city itself, St Kilda is one of Melbourne's most iconic suburbs.
St Kilda has had a checkered history; It was the favoured location for the wealthy during the Victorian era so many grand houses and terraces were built along the hills and waterfront. At the turn of the century, Saint Kilda became Melbourne’s playground with its ballrooms, cinemas and amusement parks. A lot of the grand houses were converted into guest houses. After the war, the area became the red light district and the guest houses became low cost rooming houses. Since the 1960s it has been home to a Melbourne’s bohemian culture including a significant gay presence. Today, the area is far from its former glory, however it shows signs of renewal with the opening of the Pride Centre in 2021.
St Kilda is home to the annual Midsumma gay pride festival. The parade winds its way down Fitzroy Street and celebrations continue in Catani Gardens on the beachfront.
Saint Kilda was once home to Melbourne's biggest gay bar - The Greyhound. This clubbing institution suddenly (and some claim mysteriously) closed its doors in 2017 causing an outpouring of sadness from patrons. It was slated to be replaced with an apartment complex, however, the block remains empty 5 years later.
Attractions
Cultural Venues
Restaurants
Milk The Cow
Milk The Cow
Adorable cheese and wine bar
Mya Tiger
Mya Tiger
A stylish Chinese restaurant
Sister of Soul
Sister of Soul
Very popular plant-based restaurant
Stokehouse
Stokehouse
Upscale Australian restaurant
Businesses
Hares and Hyenas
Queer Business
Hares and Hyenas
Queer Bookstore in the Victorian Pride Centre
Melbourne Star Observer
Queer Business
Melbourne Star Observer
LGBT+ monthly magazine
Hotels
Pictures
Legend
Mostly queer
Mixed queer and straight
Hosts queer events
