Chapel Street, Melbourne facts for kids

Chapel Street Precinct

Chapel Street Precinct is a very busy area in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's known as one of Australia's biggest places for shopping, fun, and lifestyle. You can find many shops, cafes, restaurants, and entertainment spots here.

Where is Chapel Street?

Tram on Chapel Street

Chapel Street is a long, straight street. It runs for over 4 kilometers from the Yarra River in the north down to Brighton Road in the south. It goes through several suburbs like South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor, St Kilda, and St Kilda East.

Many main roads cross Chapel Street. These include Toorak Road, Commercial Road, and Dandenong Road. The northern part of Chapel Street, especially north of Dandenong Road, is where most of the action is. This area has over 2,200 shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Getting Around Chapel Street

It's easy to get to and around Chapel Street.

• The Route 78 tram travels along the whole street.
• Other tram routes like 3, 5, 6, 58, 64, and 72 also cross Chapel Street.
• Train stations on the Sandringham railway line are very close. These include South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor, and Balaclava. They are all within 300 meters of the street.

In the past, people used to drive their cool, modified cars up and down Chapel Street. This was a fun thing to do, just driving around without a specific place to go. People called it "Laps of Chaps" or "Chap Laps."

History of Chapel Street

Pran Central Building, Chapel Street, Prahran

The first house on Chapel Street was built around 1849. Back then, the street was called Fitzroy Road. Chapel Street got its name from the first church in Prahran. This church was an Independent (or Congregational) Church. It was built between 1850 and 1852.

The church was known as "The Chapel" by local people. The first minister, Rev William Moss, said that their chapel was the only place of worship in the area for over two years. This is why the main business street got its name, Chapel Street. The chapel closed in 1859 and was later used as a school before being taken down.

One old church building still stands today. It's the Baptist Church, built in the 1850s. It's now an Irish pub called Bridie O’Reilly’s.

For a long time, there was no bridge linking Chapel Street to Church Street in Richmond. People had to use a ferry service to cross the Yarra River until a bridge was built in 1857.

In the 1850s, the area had a lot of clay. This led to many brick-making businesses setting up shop. The last brickworks closed in the 1980s.

By 1888, Chapel Street saw a lot of growth. A permanent tram service was installed, making it easier for people to visit.

From its early days, Chapel Street was a busy trading and shopping street. It had all sorts of businesses like butchers, bakers, and general stores. In the early 1900s, large department stores started appearing. At this time, Chapel Street was almost as popular as Melbourne's city center for shopping!

In the 1970s, Pran Central opened as a big shopping mall. In the 1980s, two other major developments, The Jam Factory and Como Centre, changed the street. The area became known for fancy fashion stores.

Cool Places to See on Chapel Street

JB Hi-Fi building on Chapel Street, Prahran

As you walk south from the Yarra River, here are some interesting spots:

• The Como Centre: This is a large building with offices, shops, a cinema, and a hotel. It's also where the TV station ATV-10 has its main office.
• Capitol Grand: This is a very fancy area with luxury shops and fashion designers. It's a place for people who love high-end brands.
• The Jam Factory: A well-known shopping, cinema, and entertainment complex.
• Prahran Market: Just off Elizabeth Street, this is a fresh food market. It has been in the same spot for over 120 years!
• Commercial Road shopping strip: A lively shopping area.
• Chapel Off Chapel: A popular theatre and art gallery venue.
• Pran Central: At the corner of Commercial Road, this building used to be a historic landmark. Now it's a shopping and living complex with a food court offering many different kinds of food.
• Prahran Square: This is a new public space. It used to be a car park, but now the parking is underground. This helps make Chapel Street even better.
• Greville Street: A small, unique shopping street. It's known for its boutique shops, artists, and independent stores. It has a cool, artistic vibe.
• Prahran Town Hall: This historic building opened in 1861. It's on the corner of Greville Street.
• The Prahran Mission: A community organization that helps people.
• Swinburne University Prahran campus: A university campus located near High Street.
• Melbourne Bowling Club: The very first bowling club in Australia! It started on March 11, 1864.
• Artists Lane:
  

  Artists Lane street art by Resio
  This alley runs next to Chapel Street and is covered in amazing street art. Artists started painting here with permission from the local council. Look for the colorful walls and painted bins!
• Astor Theatre: On the corner of Dandenong Road, this is a beautiful art deco cinema from the 1930s. It can seat over 1,100 people. It's a Heritage Victoria registered building.
• Kingsford Property: Located in the Como Centre.
• St Michael's Grammar School: This school now uses many old buildings in the area.

Sneaker Lane in Windsor, Chapel Street Melbourne

Images for kids

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  Tram on Chapel Street

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  Artists Lane street art by Resio