City of Port Phillip

About the area

Key Statistics

Location

The City of Port Phillip is located in Melbourne’s inner-southern suburbs, between 2 and 8 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. The City of Port Phillip is bounded by the City of Melbourne and the City of Stonnington in the north, the City of Glen Eira in the east, the City of Bayside in the south, and Port Phillip Bay and the City of Melbourne in the west.

Included Areas

The City of Port Phillip includes the suburbs of Albert Park, Balaclava, Elwood, Melbourne (part), Middle Park, Port Melbourne (part), Ripponlea, South Melbourne, Southbank (part), St Kilda, St Kilda East (part), St Kilda West and Windsor (part).

Land Use

The City of Port Phillip is a residential and commercial area, with substantial industrial and office land use. The City contains significant parks, gardens and foreshores. The southern and eastern areas are generally residential in nature, while the central part of the City is dominated by Albert Park. The northern and western areas are dominated by employment uses and commercial areas, including shopping and lifestyle strips along several of the main roads. The City encompasses a total land area of 21 square kilometres.

Name Origin

The City of Port Phillip is named after Port Phillip Bay, which was named after Governor Arthur Phillip.

Indigenous Meaning

The original inhabitants of the City of Port Phillip were the Yalukut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung Aboriginal people.

Settlement

European settlement dates from the 1840s, with development initially around the current centres of St Kilda, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne. Growth accelerated after the 1850s, spurred by increased accessibility. Expansion continued throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, with most of the City built out by WWI. Some growth took place in the interwar period, particularly in Port Melbourne. Significant development occurred during the post-war years, when many migrants moved into the area and public housing estates were built. Rapid growth took place during the 1960s, aided by the construction of many flats and apartments. Growth continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, as many industrial sites and surplus government and utility land were converted into residential use. Substantial population continued from the early 2000s, with most of this growth in the suburbs of Port Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne, and in the St Kilda Road area. Growth is expected to continue.

Major Features

Major features of the City of Port Phillip include the shopping precincts/retail areas of Bay Street (Port Melbourne), Carlisle Street (Balaclava), Clarendon Street (South Melbourne), Fitzroy Street (St Kilda), Acland Street (St Kilda) and St Kilda Road (St Kilda), St Kilda Esplanade Market, South Melbourne Market, Albert Park, Albert Park Lake, Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, Lakeside Stadium, Luna Park, St Kilda Pier, Station Pier, St Kilda-Williamstown Ferry, Catani Gardens, St Kilda Botanical Gardens, St Vincent Gardens, Gasworks Art Park, St Kilda Sea Baths, Palais Theatre, Jewish Museum of Australia, various beaches and the Port Phillip Bay foreshore.

Transport

The City of Port Phillip is served by St Kilda Road, Kings Way, the Sandringham railway line, several tram lines, and the St Kilda and Port Melbourne light rail lines.

City of Port Phillip

economic profile