The Alexandra Gardens are located on the south bank of the Yarra River, opposite Federation Square and the Melbourne Central Business District, in Victoria, Australia. The Gardens are bounded by the Yarra River to the north, Princes and Swan street bridges, with Queen Victoria Gardens and King's Domain across Alexandra avenue to the south. The gardens are part of the Domain parklands which stretch to the Royal Botanic Gardens and were first laid out in 1901, under the direction of Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. The Yarras lower reaches travel through central Melbourne. ... Inside the Atrium Federation Square (or Fed Square) is the new public heart of the city of Melbourne, Australia. ... The Hoddle Grid is the layout of the streets of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. ... Motto: Peace and Prosperity Nickname: Garden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Governor Premier Const. ... One of many delightful vistas in Melbournes Royal Botanic Gardens. ... 1901 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

History

From the time of European settlement of Melbourne in 1835, the area of the gardens were used for timber cutting, cattle grazing and as a brickmakers’ field. Regular flooding ocurred, until a new channel for the Yarra River was dug from 1896 to 1900 to straighten and widen the river. The spoil was used to fill the swampy lagoons and brickmakers pits and raise the height of the river bank where Alexandra Gardens now stands. Landscaping ocurred immediately, and the gardens were planned and laid out for the visit of the Duke of York in May 1901. Melbourne, now the capital city of the state of Victoria in Australia, was founded in 1835. ...

Cycling and Skating

Pedestrian and cycle access to the gardens is via steps or a ramp from Princes Bridge, or along the promenade from Southbank under Princes bridge. Vehicular access is provided by Boathouse drive from Alexandra avenue. Next to Princes bridge bicycles are available for hire to explore the Capital City Trail along the river. There is also a Southbank (of the Brisbane River) in Brisbane, Queensland, and a South Bank (of the River Thames) in London, United Kingdom. ... The Capital City Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians which circles the Melbourne central business district and some inner northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

A skate park opened in 2001 in the gardens, with a cafe and first aid station, close to some distinctive Canary Island Palms which were planted in 1911. 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Rowing Clubs

Alongside the Yarra River numerous Rowing Club boathouses nestle in the gardens, including the Mercantile Rowing Club. You will often see rowing coaches cycling along the bike path megaphone in hand, giving instructions to their rowing crew. The Olympic champions, the Oarsome Foursome, were known to train along the Yarra river. A coxless pair, sweep-oar rowing to the left of the photo; the bowside rower (or the starboard one, although the British term applied on this occasion) is actually rowing from aft rather than being closer to the bow than his partner. ... The Mercantile Rowing Club is based in Melbourne, Australia. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... The crew on the cover of Oarsome Foursome Fitness DVD The Oarsome Foursome are an Australian rowing crew who competed between 1990 and 1998 - winning two Olympic gold medals in the coxless fours. ...

The annual Henley-on-Yarra regatta was held from 1904, every spring just before Melbourne Cup day. For a day and a night Melburnians flocked to the Yarra to watch this sporting event, with attendances peaking at 300,000 in 1925. After World War II, the event declined in significance, however the annual Australian Henley Rowing Regatta still ocurrs as an amateur event in December, with recent attempts to increase its popularity. 1904 is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Melbourne Cup is Australias major annual thoroughbred horse race. ...

Past the boathouses are lawns with electric barbecues, which are popular spots for picnics and office parties around Christmas time. As well as lawns fronting the Yarra river, the gardens contain: a star shaped garden bed representing the Federation of Australia; many mature trees including elms and an avenue of planes and oak trees along Boathouse Drive; ornamental flower beds.

Alexandra Gardens is on the Victorian Heritage list for its historical and archaelogical heritage.

External Links

• Melbourne City Council - Alexandra Gardens (http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=25&pa=1273&pg=1274)
• Australian Henley Rowing Regatta (http://home.connexus.net.au/~hopes/index.html)