South Yarra, Victoria

Infobox Australian Place
name = South Yarra

---

caption = Chapel Street in South Yarra
state = vic
type = suburb
lga = City of Stonnington
area = 5
city = Melbourne
est = 1850s
postcode = 3141
pop = 17,992 (2006)Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC21625 | name = South Yarra (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2007-09-29 | quick = on]
propval = $872,750 [ [http://www.domain.com.au/public/suburbprofile.aspx?suburb=South%20Yarra&postcode=3141 South Yarra] accessed 04 July 2008]
fedgov = Higgins, Melbourne Ports
stategov = Prahran
near-nw = Melbourne
near-n = Richmond
near-ne = Cremorne
near-w = Melbourne
near-e = Toorak
near-sw = St Kilda
near-s = Prahran
near-se = Armadale
dist1 = 5 | location1 = Melbourne CBD

South Yarra is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As the name suggests, it is located on the southern bank of the Yarra River. At the 2006 Census, South Yarra had a population of 17,992.

The area east of Punt Road is in the Local Government Area of the City of Stonnington and the area to the west is in the City of Melbourne.

The main shopping region of South Yarra runs along Toorak Road and Chapel Street. Trade along these two arteries are focused on trendy shopping, restaurants, nightclubs and cafe culture. The area of South Yarra centred along Commercial Road is one of Melbourne's gay villages.

South Yarra is also home to some of Melbourne's most prestigious residential addresses. Residential land price records (per square metre) have been set by properties in Domain Road, Walsh Street and Fairlie Court.

Local History

South Yarra was originally inhabited by the Wurundjeri tribe of the Kulin aboriginal nation.

The area was settled by European settlers in the 1830s around the time of the establishment of Melbourne. During the 1840s it became popular with wealthy citizens of Melbourne as a suburban retreat from the town. Several large houses were built and, together with neighbouring Toorak, it maintained its upper-class reputation into the post-Second World War period.

During the 1920s and 1930s many of the large gardens of the older mansions were subdivided and blocks of flats became a feature of the area [cite web|url=http://localhero.biz/article/permatitle/history_of_south_yarra,_victoria/|title=Local history of South Yarra|author="LocalHero"] . From the 1930s the area around Park Street, where large numbers of flats had been built, became a popular neighbourhood for middle-class homosexuals; at that time an illegal subculture in the state of Victoria.

The building of apartment buildings, particularly around South Yarra railway station continued into the 1960s and 1970s and today South Yarra is one of the most densely populated suburbs in Melbourne.

On 12 October 1988, police officers Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were murdered in Walsh Street, South Yarra .

On 8 July 2002 the Salt nightclub in Daly Street was the site of a dispute which resulted in the murder of three men. On 19 September 2005 seven men were found guilty of murder in the Supreme Court of Victoria. The nightclub was particularly notorious for criminal activity and was finally shut down.

Local Landmarks

South Yarra has several local attractions. Perhaps the best known is Chapel Street. The South Yarra section of the famous street is the most fashionable and upmarket end. A major landmark is the The Jam Factory, old factories converted into upmarket shopping centre and cinemas. "The Como Centre" is a large shopping centre on the corner of Toorak and Chapel Streets which combines with an office building, South Yarra's tallest, which houses the headquarters for ATV-10.

The Prahran Market, located in South Yarra, is one of Melbourne's most popular and historic fresh produce markets.

Toorak Road runs off Chapel Street and although not known as well as Toorak Village, is a popular strip that contains a wide range of shops.

There are also several heritage registered buildings in South Yarra including the "Melbourne High School" (1928), the former railway station building (1874) and post office (1893).

Places of Worship

Melbourne Synagogue, which was built in 1929 to the design of Nahum Barnet feature a giant order portico and a great copper dome.

Residential architecture

Several large mansions exist in South Yarra. Heritage registered houses include Como House (1847) one of Melbourne's earliest mansions on its large estate managed by the National Trust, "Richmond House" (1859), "Barwon" (1881) and "Airlie". Many others have been lovingly restored or operate as guest houses. "Wavendon" in Walsh Street and "Raveloe" in Domain Road are also notable. Domain Road was the chosen sight for several significant mansions. "Fairbairn" and the next door property, "Poolman House",on the Punt Road corner, are among the largest mansions in South Yarra. "Poolman House" (1865) was owned by the Poolman family from 1921, who donated it to the Church of England in 1956. The property, complete with ballroom, swimming pool and tennis court, was bought from the Church and restored in 1988 by international interior designer Mr John Coote as a family home. "Poolman House" was bought by Mr and Mrs John Matthies in 2000 who currently reside there. "Snainton" in Clowes Street, South Yarra, is a notable example of Federation architecture.

The area also has some notable clusters of terrace house. Park Street features rows of Melbourne's best preserved, richly decorated and highly sought after Victorian terrace houses, some as high as three and four storeys. Domain Road, Toorak Road West (overlooking Fawkner Park) as well as Darling and Caroline Street are also known for their double storey terraces.

A notable area is Alexandra Parade along the Yarra, and in particular the small court known as "Lawson Grove". This area was subject to renewal in the 1920s and 1930s as a kind of medium density village enclave development. As a result, a large number of large apartment buildings were built in a similar Californian influenced art deco style overlooking the river and the area even has its own convenience store in Lawson Grove.

Public space

South Yarra's parks and gardens include part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Fawkner Park (large park bordered by offices on St Kilda Road, private residences off Punt Road, Commercial Road and Toorak Road featuring recreational facilities and grand avenues of trees) and smaller gardens such as the former Greville Botanic Gardens, Como Gardens and the public housing open space.

Transport

South Yarra has two railway stations: 1) South Yarra railway station, on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham lines. It is the junction for the Sandringham line. 2) Hawksburn station, on the Pakenham line, serves the eastern part of the suburb.

Tram routes 8, 72, 78 and 79 also run through South Yarra.

Major bus routes run along Commercial Road and Punt Road.

Education

Melbourne High School is located in South Yarra, and the 1930s gothic main building is a local landmark.
Melbourne Girls Grammar School is also located in South Yarra opposite the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Localities in South Yarra

Hawksburn is a locality in the eastern part of South Yarra bordering Toorak. It is probably best known for its railway station and nearby "Hawksburn Village", a small strip shopping centre on Malvern Road. Many of South Yarra's finest old homes and terraces are situated close to Cromwell Crescent and railway station in the Hawksburn area. The Hawksburn area is a fashionable address, as it is associated with neighbouring Toorak and therefore is home to many Toorak aspirants.

Notable citizens

* Claire Adams, Hollywood silent film actress had her townhouse in Domain Road during 40s, 50s & 60s
* Dennis Allen - reported to be a major drug dealer in the South Yarra area during the 1980s.
* Joseph Anderson (Commandant) - soldier, penal administrator and politician who was a resident of South Yarra in the 1850s.
* Graham Berry - colonial politician, and 11th Premier of Victoria was a general storekeeper in South Yarra in the 1850s.
* Thomas Brentnall - accountant and musician lived at Newnham, Caroline Street, in South Yarra from 1880.
* Norman Brookes - Australian tennis champion who died in South Yarra in 1968.
* Joseph Brown - artist and art collector lived in one of Melbourne's greatest mansions in Caroline Street, South Yarra.
* Rupert Bunny - Australian painter who lived much of his life in France but returned and settled in South Yarra in the 1930s.
* Len Darling - Australian cricketer who was born in South Yarra in 1909.
* Alfred Deakin - second Prime Minister of Australia lived at "Llanarth", in Walsh Street, South Yarra from 1887.
* Major General Herbert Lloyd - Australian soldier was born in South Yarra in 1883.
* Sir Keith Murdoch - resided in Walsh Street South Yarra for many years.
* Vernon Ransford - Australian Test cricketer was born in South Yarra in 1885.
* Gerard Kennedy Tucker - founder of the Brotherhood of St Laurence was born in South Yarra in 1885.

See also

* City of Prahran - the former local government area of which South Yarra was a part.

References

External links