St Kilda Botanic Gardens

Location: 4 Herbert St., St. Kilda

The site of the St Kilda Botanic Gardens was established by the council of the day, in the late 1800s. They petitioned the Department of Lands and Survey to make this segment of land bordered by Dickens Street, Tennyson Street and Blessington Street a Botanic Garden. The gardens were formally established in 1859-60 when a boundary fence was erected.

Registered with Heritage Victoria, the gardens contain approximately 810 mature tree specimens of which eight are registered as significant with the National Trust. This combined with the Alister Clarke Rose Garden, installed in the 1950s, a Sub-Tropical Rainforest Conservatory, Annual Floral Displays and local, indigenous plants provide a valuable collection of plants to study or just enjoy a picnic.

Other popular features include a giant chessboard, duck pond, children's playground, gazebos, children's playground, glasshouse and the fabulous refurbished Eco Centre, featuring sustainable living.

St Kilda Botanic Gardens has a beautiful new water feature in its pond. The fountain sculpture, designed by artists Corey Thomas and Ken Arnold, is a stunning figure of a man standing under an umbrella. He is positioned centrally in the pond, standing on the waterline and leaning forward to his audience.

St Kilda Rainman (as he is known) is an environmentally sensitive aquatic sculpture, spraying water which is pumped through a recycling process powered entirely by the sun. The level of 'rain' falling on Rainman's umbrella is determined by the amount of cloud cover.

Rainman also helps to maintain the pond's ecosystem, with the dual pump pushing water up from the pond into the umbrella, which in turn oxygenates the water, preventing algal blooms.

Anyone for Giant Chess?

The St Kilda Botanic Gardens boast a giant chess set located next to the conservatory and pond, and it's proving to be a big hit with the keen local players. It was designed by Oculus and incorporates architect designed seating, tables and regular sized chessboards for players to bring their own chess pieces. It comes complete with its own shade under the mature Fig and Araucaria trees.

All boards on the tables are available at any time during Garden opening hours for all to enjoy. But if you wish have a 'BIG' game you will need to book. The giant board is available up until 2pm, after which the Chess Club has it booked everyday from 2pm until sunset.

To book the giant set, contact Facilities by emailing ASSIST or on (03) 9209 6777.

The St Kilda Botanic Gardens is open between sunrise and sunset seven days a week and the conservatory is open between 10.30am and 3.30pm week days and 1.00pm and 4.30pm Saturday to Sunday and public holidays.

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