Dating back to 1857, the Former St Kilda Station building stands as Victoria’s oldest surviving railway station. Imagine the hustle and bustle of a bygone era right where you are standing. In the 1920s, this station was second only to Flinders Street in Victoria.
Picture Melbourne’s colonial gentry arriving here. They sought respite from the city. St Kilda offered fresh air and sea baths. Daily coach services connected St Kilda to Melbourne.
The Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay Railway Company constructed a line to Sandridge now Port Melbourne. The company also built a branch line to St Kilda.
James Kearney’s 1855 map envisioned a grand estate near the station. Fitzroy Street was planned as a wide extension of St Kilda Road. The line opened May 13 1857 with a grand banquet at St Kilda Station. The station’s design remains a mystery. James Blackburn died before completion. William Eldon replaced him.
The Illustrated Journal of Australasia was not impressed. It called it one of the principle vomitories of the city of Melbourne. Despite the criticism, St Kilda flourished.
Affluent commuters and weekend tourists flocked to the beach. About 100000 people traveled each month. The platform was doubled in length.
Locals protested when the line extended into Fitzroy Street. Parliament considered extending the line further. But it was deemed detrimental to the town. One train jumped the tracks into Fitzroy Street in the 1920s.
In 1859 shareholders voted to extend the line to Windsor station. This loop line was closed after only 11 months. It was dismantled in 1867.
The Victorian Tourists’ Guide of 1895 described the Fitzroy Street scene. Trains ran frequently. A wide thoroughfare led to the beach.
The Victorian government acquired the railways in 1878. Passenger numbers declined with the rise of electric tramways. The Victorian Railways Department installed its own tramway between St Kilda and Brighton in 1906.
The Former St Kilda Station building was renovated in 1907. The portico was demolished. A verandah and refreshment room were built. The station master’s residence became a post office.
The railway line was electrified in 1919. The Railways tram closed due to competition from motor traffic. Gradually, station facilities closed.
In 1983, the St Kilda line was converted to a tram route. Fires damaged the station building in 1989.
Today, the Former St Kilda Station building houses bars restaurants and retail outlets. Metropol Apartments now stand on the station forecourt.
Though redeveloped, the Former St Kilda Station building remains. It serves as a reminder of St Kilda’s rich history. It is a testament to its importance as a seaside resort. Consider how this place transformed St Kilda. From a scattering of villas to a desirable suburb.