Cremorne, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cremorne Melbourne, Victoria
Commercial shopfronts along Church Street
Cremorne Location in Melbourne
Population	2,158 (2021 census)
• Density	3,080/km2 (8,000/sq mi)
Established	10 December 1853 (1853-12-10)
Postcode(s)	3121
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Area	0.7 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Location	2 km (1 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Yarra
State electorate(s)	Richmond
Federal Division(s)	Melbourne
Suburbs around Cremorne: East Melbourne Richmond Richmond Melbourne CBD Cremorne Richmond South Yarra South Yarra South Yarra

Cremorne is a small suburb located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is only about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south-east of Melbourne's city center. Cremorne is part of the City of Yarra local government area. In 2021, about 2,158 people lived here.

This suburb is surrounded by the Yarra River, Punt Road, and Swan and Church Streets. A railway line also runs through the middle of it. Cremorne is quite small, covering only about one square kilometer. Until 1999, it was considered part of the larger suburb of Richmond.

Cremorne has a mix of different buildings and uses. You can see old factories like Bryant and May and Rosella. There's also the famous Nylex Clock. These sit next to old Victorian houses, new townhouses, offices, and small businesses. The suburb gets its name from the Cremorne Gardens. This was a fun amusement park that used to be by the river in the mid-1800s.

History of Cremorne

Lithograph of Cremorne Gardens in 1862

Early Days and Amusement Park

The Cremorne Gardens were a popular amusement park in the 1800s. They were located right by the Yarra River. James Ellis started the gardens in 1853. He had managed similar gardens in London, England.

Later, a man named George Coppin took over and made the gardens even bigger. People would travel by train or boat to visit. They could see wild animals, dancers, and other fun shows. The gardens closed in 1863. The land was then sold for houses and a hospital.

From Factories to Modern Offices

In its early days, Cremorne had many homes. But the areas near the Yarra River became home to factories. These included places that made leather and soap. The Richmond Power Station also opened here in 1891.

During the 1900s, Cremorne became very industrial. Big factories like Bryant and May (which made matches) and Rosella (which made food products) were built. Many smaller factories also moved in. These businesses included clothing makers, mechanics, and printers.

Over time, some older homes in the area needed fixing up. But things started to change in the 1990s. People wanted to live in inner-city areas again. Big factories found it too expensive to operate in the city.

So, the old factories and the power station were changed into office buildings. Companies like Just Jeans, Country Road, Mattel, and John Wiley & Sons opened offices here. Many old Victorian houses were bought and renovated. Today, Cremorne is a mix of old and new homes, offices, art galleries, and cafes. There are still some light industrial businesses too.

Cremorne's Population

In the 2016 census, 2,018 people lived in Cremorne. Most people (69.3%) were born in Australia. About 81.4% of residents spoke only English at home. When asked about religion, 50.0% said they had no religion. Another 17.9% identified as Catholic.

Exploring Cremorne's Streets

Swan Street: Shopping and Food

Swan Street is one of Melbourne's busiest shopping areas. It used to be famous for the Dimmeys department store. Dimmeys sold discounted items. Now, that building is being turned into apartments.

Today, Swan Street has many different restaurants and clearance shops. You can also see beautiful old buildings from the Edwardian and Victorian times. Since the early 2000s, many new cafes and restaurants have opened. Modern apartment buildings have also been built along the street.

Punt Road and Church Street

Punt Road is a very important road in inner Melbourne. It connects the north and south parts of the city. It is busy all day and night. Church Street is known for its many furniture showrooms.

Getting Around Cremorne

Train Travel

Cremorne once had its own railway station from 1859 to 1864. It was called Cremorne station. This station helped people get to the Cremorne Gardens. The railway line from that time now goes all the way to Sandringham.

Cremorne is where two very busy railway lines meet. These lines create a barrier through the suburb. They also separate Cremorne from Richmond to the north. Cremorne has one train station inside its borders called East Richmond.

Trains on the Lilydale, Belgrave, Glen Waverley, and Alamein lines pass through East Richmond. Many of these trains do not stop there. Richmond station is just north of Cremorne. It is one of Melbourne's busiest train stations outside the city center.

Trams and Roads

Both Swan Street and Church Street have regular tram services. Trams are a great way to get around the area.

The Monash Freeway runs along Cremorne's southern border. This makes it hard to get to the Yarra River from the suburb. Cremorne is connected to South Yarra by three bridges. These are the Punt Road Bridge, the Cremorne Railway Bridge, and the Church Street Bridge. The freeway exits at Church Street and Punt Road can get very busy. Balmain Street and Cremorne Street are the main roads within the suburb. Many of the smaller streets are narrow and one-way.