Kings Domain facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Kings Domain
Government House in the south-east corner of Kings Domain
Type	Public Park
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Area	36 hectares
Status	Open
Paths	Sealed
Terrain	Undulating hills, Riverbank
Water	Yarra River
Vegetation	Australian Native, Lawns, Non-native traditional gardens
Connecting transport	Tram, Bus, Car
Landmarks	Yarra River, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Shrine of Remembrance, Government House, Indigenous Remains Memorial, Various statues
Facilities	Toilets, Shelters, Seating

Kings Domain is a large area of beautiful parklands in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's a special place that surrounds important buildings like Government House, which is where the Governor of Victoria lives. It also includes the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the Shrine of Remembrance.

This park was created in 1854. It covers about 36 hectares, which is like 36 football fields! You'll find lots of green lawns and paths winding through many different kinds of trees. Some trees are native Australian plants, while others come from different parts of the world. In the past, famous gardeners like Baron Ferdinand von Mueller and William Guilfoyle helped plant many of these trees. As you explore, you'll discover many statues and sculptures, each telling its own unique story.

Kings Domain is part of an even bigger group of parks called the Domain Parklands. These parks are just south-east of Melbourne city, located between St. Kilda Road and the Yarra River. The Domain Parklands include:

Cool Places and Statues to See

Kings Domain is home to many interesting buildings and memorials. Here are some of the most famous ones:

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is an amazing outdoor concert venue. It has a special roof that looks like a giant tent! It opened in 1959 and can hold thousands of people. Many famous concerts and events happen here, making it a popular spot for Melburnians.

Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is one of Australia's largest war memorials. It was built to remember the brave men and women from Victoria who served in World War I. Over time, it became a major memorial for all Australians who served in that war and other conflicts.

Governor La Trobe's Cottage

La Trobe's Cottage is a very old house built in 1839. It was the home of Charles La Trobe, who was the first leader of the Port Phillip area (which later became Victoria). What's cool about this cottage is that it was built from parts that were made in England and then shipped to Australia! It shows us what homes looked like a long time ago. In 1963, the cottage was moved to Kings Domain so more people could visit it.

Government House

Government House, Melbourne is a grand building where the Governor of Victoria works and lives. It was also once used by the Governor-General of Australia. Built between 1871 and 1876, its fancy style shows how rich Victoria became during the Victorian gold rushes.

Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden

The Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden was designed to honor the European women who helped build the colony. It's a beautiful sunken garden with a blue-tiled cave and a small bronze statue of a woman. It opened in 1935.

Memorial for Indigenous People

There is a special Memorial for the remains of indigenous people in the park. It features five painted poles with images of spirit people and the Rainbow Serpent. These poles stand over a granite rock where the bones of 38 Aboriginal people are buried. This memorial honors the Aboriginal people of Victoria, including the local Wurundjeri people, and remembers their long connection to the land. The poles were made in 1995 by Megan Evans and Ray Thomas.

Shrine of Remembrance
Sir John Monash statue
Statue of Sir Thomas Blamey
Statue of "Weary" Dunlop
Statue of Lord Hopetoun, the Marquess of Linlithgow

Sir John Monash Statue

A large bronze statue honors Sir John Monash. He was the Commander in Chief of the Australian Forces during World War I. The statue was unveiled in 1950.

Tilly Aston Memorial

An interesting sculpture with three bronze bells remembers Tilly Aston. She was a blind activist who helped create groups for blind people. The sculpture has her image and text in both regular letters and braille. It was made in 1999.

Sir Thomas Blamey Statue

A statue of Sir Thomas Blamey stands near Government House Drive. He was Australia's first Field Marshal. The statue was created in 1960 and shows his importance in Australian military history.

South African War Memorial

The South African War Memorial is a tall stone pillar with a lion on each corner. It remembers Australians who died in the South African War (also called the Boer War) from 1899 to 1902. It was put up in 1904.

Walker Fountain

The Walker Fountain was given to the city by Ron Walker, a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, in 1981. It's a small lake with many streams of water and lights, making it a pretty sight.

Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Statue

A statue of Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop is made from bronze and even includes metal spikes from the Burma-Thailand Railway. Weary Dunlop was a brave leader and doctor during World War II. He showed great courage while he was a prisoner of war. The steps leading to his statue list the names of other doctors who were also prisoners.

Edith Cavell Bust

An English nurse named Edith Cavell is remembered with a marble statue. She helped English and French prisoners escape during World War I. Sadly, she was caught and executed in 1915. This statue was put up in 1926.

Lord Hopetoun Statue

Near the entrance to Government House Drive, you'll see a bronze statue of Lord Hopetoun, who was the first Governor-General of Australia. The statue was unveiled in 1911.

Aerial perspective of the Sidney Myer Bowl
Victoria Police Memorial
Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial
Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden
La Trobe's Cottage

King George V Memorial

The King George V Memorial is a sculpture made of bronze, granite, and sandstone. It was built to remember King George V and was finished in 1951 after delays from World War II.

Edward George Honey Plaque

A plaque on Birdwood Avenue remembers Edward George Honey. He was a journalist from Melbourne who helped make the Two-minute silence a tradition on Armistice Day. This silence is a moment to remember those who died in wars.

Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial

The Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial honors soldiers who died in World War I. It also celebrates the friendship between Australia and Turkey.

Native Animals

Kings Domain is also home to many native Australian animals! You might spot brush-tailed and ring-tailed possums, tawny frogmouths (a type of bird), different kinds of bats, native water rats (called Rakali), kookaburras, and various waterbirds.

Aboriginal Protest Campsite (2006)

In March 2006, during the Commonwealth Games, a group of Aboriginal activists set up a campsite in Kings Domain. They called themselves "Black GST" and were protesting about the living conditions of Aboriginal people. They also wanted a treaty between the original Indigenous people and the government. The protest drew a lot of attention.

Victorian Heritage List Statement of Significance
Kings Domain Melbourne City Council webpage [1]

Wikinews coverage of the protest

Images for kids

Kings Domain Resting Place
La Trobe's Cottage

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