Acland Street, Melbourne facts for kids
Acland Street is a famous street in St Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It's a popular spot for people to visit and have fun. Many people come here for its great restaurants and because it's close to the beach.
The street runs from Fitzroy Street to Barkly Street. It was one of the very first streets planned when St Kilda was first mapped out in 1842.
The part of Acland Street closer to Fitzroy Street has many old, beautiful houses. Some of these houses are now apartments or art galleries, like the Linden Gallery. The other end of the street, closer to Barkly Street, is full of shops and cafes. This area is also where the route 96 tram line ends.
Contents
Acland Street's Story
How Acland Street Got Its Name
Acland Street is named after a man called Sir Thomas Dyke Acland. He owned a type of sailing ship called a schooner named Lady of St Kilda. This ship was around from 1834 to 1840.
The street was named by James Ross Lawrence. He used to be the captain of the Lady of St Kilda. In 1842, Lawrence bought the very first piece of land sold in St Kilda. This land was bordered by three roads. He named one of them Acland Street, after his former boss, Thomas Acland. The other two roads became Fitzroy Street and The Esplanade. You can find a special plaque where Acland and Fitzroy Streets meet, marking this historic spot.
From Homes to Shops
In the 1880s, the part of Acland Street that is now busy with shops used to have large houses with big gardens. But in the early 1900s, St Kilda became a popular place for everyone to visit. Electric trams started running to places like Luna Park and down Acland Street. Because of this, the big houses and gardens were replaced by shops in the 1920s and 1930s.
By the 1930s, these shops became a hub for Melbourne's European community. Many people from Europe moved to Melbourne around this time. Acland Street had many shops and restaurants that served this community. For example, the Scheherezade cafe, which opened in 1958, was very famous. It served traditional European foods like borscht and latkes for many years.
Several cake shops also opened during this time. They specialized in delicious European cakes like Kugelhopf and Black Forest Cake. By the 1980s, many people from this community moved to other suburbs. Acland Street then became more of a place for weekend tourists. Today, the remaining cake shops are a reminder of this rich cultural history.
Fun Things to See
At the corner of Acland and Barkly Streets, you'll find an area known as the Village Belle. It's named after the Village Belle Hotel, which is a well-known building there.
Close to Acland Street and Carlisle Street is Luna Park. This is one of Australia's most famous amusement parks. It attracts many visitors, especially in the summer. Almost next door to Luna Park is the Palais Theatre. This is one of Melbourne's grandest and most beautiful theatres.
Also on Acland Street is the St Kilda Army and Navy Club. It was built in 1923. It had a large hall, a cinema, and apartments for retired service members.
Acland Street Today
Today, Acland Street is a vibrant place with many restaurants. You can find all sorts of food, including Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, and Malaysian dishes. There's also a large McDonald's at the corner of Acland and Carlisle Streets.
In 2016, a part of Acland Street was closed to cars. This was between Belford and Barkly Streets. The tram stop was also rebuilt with two new platforms, making it easier for people to get on and off the tram.
Images for kids
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A route 96 tram departs from the Acland Street terminus.
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Another view of the street.
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Acland Street cake shop window.
