Abbotsford, Victoria
|
|
Postcode: 3067
Melway Maps 2C, 2D, 2G, 2H, 44
Local Government: City of Yarra
State electorate: Richmond
Federal electorate: Melbourne
Abbotsford is a small inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, nestled in between Collingwood, Richmond and Clifton Hill and separated from Kew by the meandering Yarra River. The Collingwood Town Hall is located in Abbotsford, and along with Clifton Hill and Collingwood the suburb was a part of the City of Collingwood until former State premier Jeff Kennett conducted a wholesale merger of local government areas in the early 1990s. It is now part of the City of Yarra.
Abbotsford is home to Carlton and United Breweries, the company which produces Victoria Bitter and Foster's Lager. The malt smell of brewing often fills the surrounding area, and is quite pleasant. Visitors can see the beer making process at the Carlton Brewhouse centre and tour the brewery itself before returning to the Brewhouse for a complimentary ale.
Collingwood Children's Farm was established in 1979 by the local community with the support of the former City of Collingwood to give city children a taste of country life. It is located on the grounds of the then abandoned St Helier's Convent on a bend in the river. It is a fully functioning traditional farm, with animals, vegetable gardens and the rest. Fresh milk and eggs are for sale, and visitors are encouraged to help with farm work. The convent itself was home to a campus of La Trobe University for a while, but is now set to be developed for both commercial and for community use after protracted negotiations between developers and Yarra City Council.
Dights Falls, where the Merri Creek and Yarra River join is a short walk from the farm and is a favourite spot for kayakers and picnicers. Cyclists pass through the Collingwood Children's Farm on the Yarra River Trail which follows the Yarra River from the city to Dight's Falls, where it meets the Merri Creek Trail. This also forms part of the Capital City Trail.
The enormous Studley Park, which merges with the even more massive Yarra Bend Park, is just across the river from the farm and falls and features a golf course, sports grounds and small forests. In some parts of Abbotsford it is hard to believe that you are right in the middle of the city.
Tram no. 109 (Port Melbourne/Box Hill) runs down Victoria Street and trams no. 78/79 terminate at the corner of Church Street and Victoria Street (technically in Richmond). Collingwood and Victoria Park train stations, on the Epping line, are located in Abbotsford. Victoria Park is the home ground of the Collingwood Football Club, although AFL matches are no longer played there.
The Central Business District, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Melbourne's most popular drinking, eating and entertainment places are withing walking distance of Abbotsford, as well as to be found in the suburb itself - for example Victoria Street is home to the biggest and best selection of Vietnamese food in Melbourne and is known as Little Saigon. The originally working class area long had a reputation for heroin and crime, but it is now prime real estate, rapidly becoming gentrified. Originally the area was home to many Irish, mostly factory workers, and until the construction of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage systems was regularly flooded by the Yarra River. Since World War II the area has become very multicultural, with many Greeks, Italians, Vietnamese, Chinese and more recently Arabs and Africans making it their home. Property values have skyrocketed in recent years and many young professionals have moved to the area.
External link
- Map of Abbotsford (http://www.street-directory.com.au/victoria/vic_map.cgi?ismap=1&x=2499919&y=4410521&level=5?233,180) (Melway)