History of St. Kilda
The Kulin people once lived in the St. Kilda area up to 30,000 years ago.
In more modern times, St. Kilda was settled by Ben Baxter in 1839 who settled on a grazing lease. The high ground above the beach was cool and refreshing when compared to Melbourne’s hot summer months.
In St. Kilda, the area was home to Melbourne’s first quarantine station for Scottish immigrants in 1840. Within a few years, the area became fashionable for wealthy settlers and the indigenous people were driven out of the area. St. Kilda settled itself as a separate municipality in 1857 and the railway connected it to Melbourne city.
During the land boom of the 1880s, it became the site of great stone mansions and huge hotels, particularly along the seaside streets. It began its decline during the depression of the 1890s.
In the 1930s, it became a center for Melbourne’s growing Jewish community with the formation of several synagogues and schools. This center has moved a bit and in the 1960s, the gay and lesbian population moved to the area.
See also