Alfred Square, St Kilda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alfred Square, St. Kilda, Melbourne |
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Albert Square Park, St Kilda July2014 taken from Novotel Hotel
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Alfred Square is a lovely park in St. Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It's right next to The Esplanade, a famous road along the beach. The park has low stone walls and paths for walking. It's special because it holds memorials for soldiers who fought in the South Africa (Boer) War and for brave soldiers who received the Victoria Cross medal. There's also a plaque marking the spot of the very first building in St. Kilda!
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History of Alfred Square
In the early 1800s, this park area had a different name. People called it Custom House Reserve or "Custom Reserve."
Around 1861, the reserve had a bowling green where people played. There was also a very tall flagpole. The local council would fly the British flag there on special days and holidays.
How Alfred Square Got Its Name
In 1868, Prince Alfred was going to visit Australia. He was the second son of Queen Victoria, the Queen of the United Kingdom. To honor him, many places, including this park, were renamed.
In 1867, the St. Kilda Council agreed to an offer from two local people. They wanted to put up a huge 100-foot-tall flagpole in the Custom House Reserve. They called it the Prince Alfred Flagstaff. The council also agreed to rename the area "Alfred Reserve."
Prince Alfred first stepped onto land in Victoria, Australia, right in St. Kilda. The flagpole was decorated with flags to celebrate his arrival.
In July 1868, the government officially set aside this land for public use. The park was then called Prince Albert Square. People often shortened its name to "Alfred Square."
In 1873, the St. Kilda Council thought about improving the park. They wanted to build a low wall around it with nice iron fences and gates. They also planned to level the ground and plant trees. However, the estimated cost of £1,000 was too much for the council at the time, so the work wasn't done.
South Africa (Boer) War Memorial
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In 1900, people in St. Kilda gathered to wish good luck to 77 young soldiers. These soldiers had joined the Victorian Bushmen's Corps. They were going to fight in the Second Boer War in South Africa, which lasted from 1899 to 1902.
In 1905, the Mayor of St. Kilda asked for a memorial to honor these soldiers. People raised £250 through events and donations. A man named Arthur Peck designed the memorial for free.
The memorial is made of brick and covered with special glazed tiles called faience. The corners look like gum tree trunks with leaves and cones. A golden cross sits at the top, standing out from the green color of the memorial.
One part of the memorial lists the names of seven soldiers from St. Kilda who died in the war. Two other parts list the names of 58 soldiers who fought and returned home. The fourth part shows a soldier dressed in Australian khaki, looking out towards the sea.
The memorial was officially revealed on March 12, 1905. The Victorian Governor, Sir Reginald Arthur James Talbot, did the honors. Soldiers and musicians were there, playing music and singing. After the Governor's speech, he removed the flag covering the memorial. Buglers played "Last Post," a special tune for soldiers.
Victoria Cross Monument
In 1985, a monument called the Victoria Cross Monument was put up in the park. It was dedicated "In memory of all Australians who died in war so that we may have peace."
The monument shows a white sculpture of a soldier holding a rifle above his head. Peter Schipperheyn designed it. It lists the names of very brave soldiers from St. Kilda who received the Victoria Cross medal. This medal is the highest award for bravery in battle. It also lists the names of conflicts and how many St. Kilda soldiers died in them.
Site of the First Building in St. Kilda
On the north side of the park, there's a special plaque. It's set into a volcanic rock. The City of St. Kilda put it there to mark the spot of the first recorded building in St. Kilda. The plaque says it was a "stockman's hut built around 1840 by Captain Benjamin Baxter."
In 1842, the first government map of St. Kilda showed a hut at the southwest corner of this reserve. This hut was likely used by a stockman. He probably worked for George Thomas and John Enscoe, who were shipping agents in Melbourne. The hut was probably first built when Baxter was leasing the land.
Gallery
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Alfred Square with the South African War Memorial in the front
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The South African War Memorial from the North Side
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The South African War Memorial from the East Side
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The South African War Memorial in Alfred Square in 1931
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The South African War Memorial in Alfred Square from the southwest
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The Victoria Cross Monument from the northwest
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