Two kilometres north-east of Melbourne’s central business district sits the suburb of Fitzroy, an area well known for its bohemian fringe festival, major retail stores and dynamic entertainment venues. Fitzroy was the first suburb to be created in the Melbourne metropolitan area in 1839 and today is home to some of the finest Victorian era architecture in Melbourne. Due to the suburb’s popularity with Melbourne’s Hispanic community, it also houses a variety of Spanish and Latin American themed clubs, bars and restaurants.
Fitzroy is the perfect location for art lovers, as visitors will find wall murals, several commercial art galleries, and a centre for photography. The live music scene in Fitzroy is also vibrant, as the area plays host to several exceptional venues including The Old Bar, Evelyn Hotel and Gertrude’s Brown Couch. When it comes to architecture, many buildings and sites in Fitzroy are so unique they have been classified by the National Trust or are included in the Victorian Heritage Inventory. These places of interest include The Cordial Factory on Argyle Street, Fitzroy Town Hall and the Cricket Club. The suburb also has a fine café culture which can be found in and around Brunswick Street and in some of the narrow alleys near Gertrude Street, located in old warehouses and quaint milk bars.
With just two kilometres separating Fitzroy from Melbourne CBD, the area is easy to reach from the city on foot or by bicycle. Although there are no railway stations in Fitzroy, Rushall station in the north east of the suburb is an eight-minute walk from Edinburgh Gardens or Collingwood and Parliament Stations can also be utilised, both of which are less than ten minutes walking distance from Fitzroy. There are three tram services which pass through Fitzroy allowing travellers access in and out of Melbourne, and the area has several locations which operate a car sharing service.
Fitzroy was originally to become Melbourne’s first suburb and was also the first area to gain municipal status. It is referred to as part of the City of Yarra, which also incorporates Richmond and Collingwood and a section of Carlton North. The suburbs were founded in the mid to late 19th century and each accommodates an inspiring array of Victorian architecture. Today, some of Melbourne’s best shopping streets and exceptional entertainment venues can be discovered here. Fitzroy is a culturally diverse centre with over a third of residents deriving from England, Greece, Vietnam, China and New Zealand which only adds to its eclectic and enigmatic vibe.