Suburbs Information
State: VIC
Post Code: 3065
Population: 10,445
Location: VIC, 3065
LGA: City of Yarra
State Electorate: Richmond
Federal Division: Melbourne
The area that is now known as Fitzroy and Collingwood was part of the territory of the country of the Woiwurrung people of the Kulin nation. The area that is now known as Fitzroy was the land of the Wurundjeri people.
Fitzroy was Melbourne's first suburb, created in 1839 when the area between Melbourne and Alexandra Parade (originally named Newtown)[8] was subdivided into vacant lots and offered for sale.
Newtown was later renamed Collingwood, and the area now called Fitzroy (west of Smith Street) was made a ward of the Melbourne City Council. On 9 September 1858, Fitzroy became a municipality in its own right, separate from the City of Melbourne. In accordance with the Municipal Act, on 28 September 1858, a meeting of ratepayers was held in 'Mr Templeton's schoolroom, George street' to prepare for a local council election, with Dr Thomas Embling, MLA for Collingwood, presiding.The council election took place two days later and the first councilors were; Thomas Rae, George Symons, Edward Langton, Henry Groom, Benjamin Bell, Edwin Bennett and Thomas Hargreave. The first council meeting, held after the declaration of election, was at the Exchange Hotel, George Street, and Symons was unanimously elected chair.
Surrounded as it was by a large number of factories and industrial sites in the adjoining suburbs, Fitzroy was ideally suited to working men's housing, and from the 1860s to the 1880s, Fitzroy's working class population rose dramatically. The area's former mansions became boarding houses and slums, and the heightened poverty of the area prompted the establishment of several charitable, religious and philanthropic organisations in the area over the next few decades. A notable local entrepreneur was Macpherson Robertson, whose confectionery factories engulfed several blocks and stand as heritage landmarks today.
Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, 1935
The Fitzroy Gasworks was erected on Reilly Street (now Alexander Parade) in 1861, dominating the suburb, with the Gasometer Hotel located opposite. The population of Fitzroy in 1901 was 31,610.
The establishment of the Housing Commission of Victoria in 1938 saw swathes of new residences being constructed in Melbourne's outer suburbs. With many of Fitzroy's residents moving to the new accommodation, their places were taken by post-war immigrants, mostly from Italy and Greece and the influx of Italian and Irish immigrants saw a marked shift towards Catholicism from Fitzroy's traditional Methodist and Presbyterian roots. The Housing Commission would build two public housing estates in Fitzroy in the 1960s; one in Hanover Street and one at the southern end of Brunswick Street.
Before World War I, Fitzroy was a working-class neighbourhood, with a concentration of political radicals already living there. Postwar immigration into the suburb resulted in the area becoming socially diverse. Many working-class Chinese immigrants settled in Fitzroy due to its proximity to Chinatown. There is also a noticeable Vietnamese community, a small enclave of Africans, and the area (particularly Johnston Street) also serves as a centre of Melbourne's Hispanic community, with many Spanish and Latin American-themed restaurants, clubs, bars and some stores.
The Fitzroy Magistrates' Court closed on 1 February 1985.
Like other inner-city suburbs of Melbourne, Fitzroy underwent a process of gentrification during the 1980s and 1990s. The area's manufacturing and warehouse sites were converted into apartments, and the corresponding rising rents in Fitzroy saw many of the area's residents move to Northcote and Brunswick. In June 1994, the City of Yarra was created by combining the Cities of Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond.
Fitzroy has a large number of pubs for such a small suburb. The former Devonshire Arms hotel was located in Fitzroy Street and remains the oldest building in Fitzroy. There are many other pubs in Fitzroy.
The tiny suburb of Fitzroy has many cafés. Only one of the original three cafés is still standing – Marios. Bakers relocated north, and closed in 2007, while The Black Cat has transformed itself into a bar, but still retains its onstreet garden. In fact Silas is the oldest café, located between King William and Moore Streets, on the west side. With the advance of gentrification, a variety of cafés in different styles have opened up and down Brunswick Street, on Smith Street, parts of Gertrude Street and in some of the back streets, in former milk bars and warehouse sites.
Fitzroy's major road arterials are Brunswick Street (north-south) and Johnston Street (east-west). Other main roads include Victoria Parade, Nicholson Street, Smith Street and Alexandra Parade, which circumnavigate the suburb. It is characterised by a fairly tightly spaced rectangular grid of medium-sized streets, with many of its narrow streets and back lanes facilitating only one-way traffic. Traffic and parking congestion is a problem and Fitzroy and local councils have implemented strategies to keep this traffic off residential side streets. It has been the site of several controversial inner city freeway proposals, particularly in the 1950s, however none of which have proceeded.
There are no railway stations located in Fitzroy itself, with the nearest train stations being Rushall in Fitzroy North, and Collingwood and Parliament Stations. An underground railway line running between the City Loop and Clifton Hill, with stations located beneath Brunswick Street and Smith Street, has been proposed.
Three tram lines pass through Fitzroy or its boundaries:
Route 86 (Bundoora – Docklands): travels along Nicholson Street, Gertrude Street and Smith Street.
Route 96 (East Brunswick – St Kilda): travels along Nicholson Street.
Route 11 (West Preston – Victoria Harbour Docklands): bisects Fitzroy along Brunswick Street.
The St Vincents Plaza tram interchange, in adjacent East Melbourne, is at the junction of Victoria Parade and Brunswick Street and handles tram routes 24, 30, 86, 109 and 11.
Critical Mass Melbourne at Brunswick Street
Cycling is a very popular form of transport in Fitzroy, as with much of the City of Yarra. A station for the Melbourne Bicycle Share scheme is located near the St Vincents Plaza tram interchange.
The City of Yarra also supports a car sharing service, which has several locations in Fitzroy.
In the 2016 Australian Census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Fitzroy had a population of 10,445. The median age (33) was younger than the national average (38), while the median weekly individual income (AU$925 per week) was higher than the national average (AU$662). Only 24.9% of Fitzroy's population are married, compared to 48.1% nationwide.
53.3% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were England 3.9%, Vietnam 3.3%, New Zealand 2.9%, China 2.7% and United States of America 1.2%. 61.0% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Vietnamese 4.1%, Mandarin 2.5%, Cantonese 2.1%, Arabic 2.0% and Greek 1.6%.
The most common response for religion was No Religion at 48.2%
Dancing on the street
Now in its 44th year, The Fiesta continues to celebrate Hispanic Latin American Culture with thanks to the support of the City of Yarra and the thousands who flock every year to Johnston Street to participate and celebrate in this fabulous two-day event.
Sir Doug Nicholls (1906–1908) was an Aboriginal activist, pastor, and sportsman
Sir Doug Nicholls (1906–1908) was an Aboriginal activist, pastor, and sportsman
Francis Edwin Birtles (7 November 1881 in Fitzroy, Victoria – 1 July 1941 in Croydon, New South Wales) was an Australian adventurer, photographer, cyclist, and filmmaker, who set many long-distance cycling a...
Francis Edwin Birtles (7 November 1881 in Fitzroy, Victoria – 1 July 1941 in Croydon, New South Wales) was an Australian adventurer, photographer, cyclist, and filmmaker, who set many long-distance cycling and driving records, including becoming in 1927 the first man to drive a car from England to Australia. Birtles had set a speed record driving from Darwin to Melbourne the previous year.
John Thomas Jack Cooper (21 February 1889 – 20 September 1917) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).He was killed on the Menin Road Ridge whilst s...
John Thomas "Jack" Cooper (21 February 1889 – 20 September 1917) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
He was killed on the Menin Road Ridge whilst serving in the First AIF during the Battle of Passchendaele.
CloseBrody Dalle (born Bree Joanna Alice Robinson; 1 January 1979) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and musician. She began playing music in her adolescence and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18, where...
Brody Dalle (born Bree Joanna Alice Robinson; 1 January 1979) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and musician. She began playing music in her adolescence and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18, where she founded the punk rock band the Distillers. The group released three albums before disbanding in 2006. She began another project, Spinnerette, which released an eponymous album in 2009. In 2014, she released Diploid Love, her first album under her solo name.
Donald Bruce Dawe AO (15 February 1930 – 1 April 2020) was an Australian poet and academic. Some critics consider him one of the most influential Australian poets of all time. Dawe received numerous p...
Donald Bruce Dawe AO (15 February 1930 – 1 April 2020) was an Australian poet and academic. Some critics consider him one of the most influential Australian poets of all time. Dawe received numerous poetry awards in Australia and was named an Officer of the Order of Australia. He taught literature in universities for over 30 years. Dawe's poetry collection, Sometimes Gladness, sold over 100,000 copies in several printings.
CloseAlfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919) was an Australian politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Australia. He was a leader of the movement for Federation, which occurred in 1901. D...
Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919) was an Australian politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Australia. He was a leader of the movement for Federation, which occurred in 1901. During his three terms as prime minister over the subsequent decade (1903–1904, 1905–1908, 1909–1910) he played a key role in establishing national institutions.
Arthur Samuel Drakeford (26 April 1878 – 9 June 1957) was an Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1934 to 1955, representing the Labor Party. He served as M...
Arthur Samuel Drakeford (26 April 1878 – 9 June 1957) was an Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1934 to 1955, representing the Labor Party. He served as Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation from 1941 to 1949, and during World War II was the minister responsible for the Royal Australian Air Force. He was also responsible for the establishment of the domestic carrier Trans Australia Airlines and for the nationalisation of Qantas.
Flora May Augusta Flannagan (16 August 1875 – 18 April 1940), known professionally as Florrie Forde, was an Australian popular singer and music hall entertainer. From 1897 she lived and worked in the U...
Flora May Augusta Flannagan (16 August 1875 – 18 April 1940), known professionally as Florrie Forde, was an Australian popular singer and music hall entertainer. From 1897 she lived and worked in the United Kingdom. She was one of the most popular stars of the early 20th century music hall.
Emanuel Phillips Fox (12 March 1865 – 8 October 1915) was an Australian impressionist painter. After studying at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School in Melbourne, Fox travelled to Paris to study i...
Emanuel Phillips Fox (12 March 1865 – 8 October 1915) was an Australian impressionist painter. After studying at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School in Melbourne, Fox travelled to Paris to study in 1886. He remained in Europe until 1892, when he returned to Melbourne and led what is considered the second phase of the Heidelberg School, an impressionist art movement which had grown in the city during his absence. He spent over a decade in Europe in the early 20th century before finally settling in Melbourne, where he died.
Sir William Keith Hancock, KBE, FBA (26 June 1898 – 13 August 1988) was a prominent Australian historian
Sir William Keith Hancock, KBE, FBA (26 June 1898 – 13 August 1988) was a prominent Australian historian.
Robert Neil Harvey OAM MBE (born 8 October 1928) is an Australian former cricketer who was a member of the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain...
Robert Neil Harvey OAM MBE (born 8 October 1928) is an Australian former cricketer who was a member of the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement. An attacking left-handed batsman, sharp fielder and occasional off-spin bowler, Harvey was the senior batsman in the Australian team for much of the 1950s and was regarded by Wisden as the finest fielder of his era. Upon his retirement, Harvey was the second-most prolific Test run-scorer and century-maker for Australia.
Mervyn Roye Harvey (29 April 1918 – 18 March 1995) was a cricketer who played in one Test match for Australia in 1947. His younger brother, Neil, was one of Australia s finest batsmen, and the pair played t...
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Raymond Harvey (born 3 January 1926) is an Australian former first-class cricketer who played for Victoria in the 1940s and 1950s. He was the brother of Australian Test batsmen Merv and Neil and first-class...
Raymond Harvey (born 3 January 1926) is an Australian former first-class cricketer who played for Victoria in the 1940s and 1950s. He was the brother of Australian Test batsmen Merv and Neil and first-class cricketer and umpire Mick Harvey. Ray Harvey was an attacking and talented batsman but failed to reach international standards and only managed to hold down a regular position in the Victorian team in two seasons in the 1950s. This failure to match the standards set by his Test-capped brothers was often attributed to a lack of single-mindedness and hunger.
Clarence Edgar Mick Harvey (17 March 1921 – 6 October 2016) was a first-class cricketer and Australian Test cricket umpire. He was the brother of Test batsmen Merv and Neil Harvey. He was born in Newcastle, N...
Clarence Edgar "Mick" Harvey (17 March 1921 – 6 October 2016) was a first-class cricketer and Australian Test cricket umpire. He was the brother of Test batsmen Merv and Neil Harvey. He was born in Newcastle, New South Wales and died in Brisbane, Queensland.
Donald Alaster Macdonald (6 June 1859 – 23 November 1932) was an Australian journalist and nature writer, writing under pen names including Observer and Gnuyang (gossip). He was considered one of Australia s...
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Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal KCVO RA (12 June 1863 – 10 October 1931), usually known as Bertram Mackennal, was an Australian sculptor and medallist, most famous for designing the coinage and stamps bearing t...
Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal KCVO RA (12 June 1863 – 10 October 1931), usually known as Bertram Mackennal, was an Australian sculptor and medallist, most famous for designing the coinage and stamps bearing the likeness of George V. He signed his work "BM".
He was one of the few artists that King George V liked, and, as a result, was selected to create many sculptures of the late king. Some of his more notable works include statues of George on display in Delhi and Madras
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Laurence John Nash (2 May 1910 – 24 July 1986) was a Test cricketer and Australian rules footballer. An inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, Nash was a member of South Melbourne s 1933 p...
Laurence John Nash (2 May 1910 – 24 July 1986) was a Test cricketer and Australian rules footballer. An inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, Nash was a member of South Melbourne's 1933 premiership team, captained South Melbourne in 1937 and was the team's leading goal kicker in 1937 and 1945. In cricket, Nash was a fast bowler and hard hitting lower order batsman who played two Test matches for Australia, taking 10 wickets at 12.80 runs per wicket, and scoring 30 runs at a batting average of 15.
Albert Watson Newton AM MBE (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre a...
Albert Watson Newton AM MBE (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newton hosted the Logie Awards ceremony on 17 occasions.
Charles Nuttall (born James Charles Nuttall; 6 September 1872 – 28 November 1934) was an Australian artist noted for his illustrations. Nuttall, son of James Charles Nuttall, was born at Fitzroy, Victoria
Charles Nuttall (born James Charles Nuttall; 6 September 1872 – 28 November 1934) was an Australian artist noted for his illustrations. Nuttall, son of James Charles Nuttall, was born at Fitzroy, Victoria.
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John Francis "Jack" O'Hagan OBE (29 November 1898 – 15 July 1987) was an Australian singer-songwriter and radio personality
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Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson (3 January 1870 – 20 March 1946), known by her pen name Henry Handel Richardson, was an Australian author.
Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one...
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Alma Beryl Thorpe also known as Aunty Alma Thorpe is an Indigenous elder born in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, in 1935 during the depression. In 1973 Thorpe helped establish the Victorian Aboriginal Health...
Alma Beryl Thorpe also known as Aunty Alma Thorpe is an Indigenous elder born in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, in 1935 during the depression. In 1973 Thorpe helped establish the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS).
Francis Samuel Williamson (18 January 1865 – 6 February 1936) was an Australian poet who was published under the name Frank S. Williamson. Williamson was the son of an English-born coachmaker and his S...
Francis Samuel Williamson (18 January 1865 – 6 February 1936) was an Australian poet who was published under the name Frank S. Williamson. Williamson was the son of an English-born coachmaker and his Scottish wife. He was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, and attended Scotch College, Melbourne.
Anne Mary Phelan OAM (1948 – 27 October 2019) was an Australian actress of stage and screen who appeared in many theatre, television and film productions as well as radio and voice-over. Her television s...
Anne Mary Phelan OAM (1948 – 27 October 2019) was an Australian actress of stage and screen who appeared in many theatre, television and film productions as well as radio and voice-over. Her television soap opera roles included Kate Ashwood in Bellbird, Myra Desmond in Prisoner (1980–1985) and Monica Taylor in Something in the Air (2000–2002), for which she won the 2000 AFI (AACTA) Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama, having previously won the 1988 AFI Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries for Poor Man's Orange. She received the Equity Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. She was also an activist for humanitarian causes.
Tony Birch (born 1957) is an Indigenous Australian author, academic and activist. He regularly appears on ABC local radio and Radio National shows and at writers festivals. He was head of the Honours programme...
Tony Birch (born 1957) is an Indigenous Australian author, academic and activist. He regularly appears on ABC local radio and Radio National shows and at writers’ festivals. He was head of the Honours programme for creative writing at the University of Melbourne before becoming the first recipient of the Dr Bruce McGuinness Indigenous Research Fellowship at Victoria University in Melbourne in June 2015.
In 2017 he became the first Indigenous writer to win the Patrick White Award.
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| Name: | Fitzroy Town Hall |
| Levels: |
Directories Heritage Listings |
Fitzroy Town Hall is a civic building located in Napier Street in Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It was constructed in two separate stages. The first consisted of a hall and tower which was designed by William J. Ellis and built in 1873.
| Name: | Fitzroy Cricket Club Grandstand |
| Levels: |
Directories Heritage Listings |
Built 1888, at the high point of the boom, the Fitzroy Grandstand is one of only three surviving grandstands that predate the great depression of the 1890s. It is one of the last works in the long and distinguished career of Nathaniel Billing, then practising as N Billing & Son. It is not of the grand scale of the City Oval, Ballarat, but despite the alterations to the change rooms under the tiered seating it still retains its form and detail elsewhere.
| Name: | Fitzroy Swimming Pool |
| Levels: |
Directories Heritage Listings Sporting Venues Sporting Clubs & Teams Aquatic Centre |
| MON | 05:00 AM - 08:00 PM |
| TUE | 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
| WED | 05:00 AM - 08:00 PM |
| THU | 05:00 AM - 08:00 PM |
| FRI | 05:00 AM - 08:00 PM |
| SAT | 06:00 AM - 06:00 PM |
| SUN | 06:00 AM - 06:00 PM |
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