St Kilda Pier, Melbourne for Water H2O Thursday

September 16, 2025 • 21 Comments

The renovation of St Kilda Pier has now reached completion, and Joel and I seized the occasion to take a gentle stroll along its length, delighting in both the fresh sea air and the beauty of the surrounding scenery.

St Kilda Pier occupies a distinguished place in the history of Melbourne. Its origins date back to 1853, when it was first constructed as a timber jetty to serve the rapidly growing seaside suburb of St Kilda. In the mid-nineteenth century, Melbourne was in the throes of the gold rush, and the pier became both a practical landing place for small craft and a favoured promenade for the city’s fashionable classes. Over time, the pier was expanded and rebuilt to accommodate heavier vessels and an increasing number of visitors.

The early twentieth century saw the addition of the charming St Kilda Pavilion at the pier’s end, which soon became a focal point of local recreation. Though fire destroyed the original pavilion in 2003, it was faithfully reconstructed in 2006 in its original Edwardian style, preserving its heritage for future generations. Throughout its existence, the pier has been buffeted by storms, rebuilt more than once, and modernised to meet contemporary needs. Yet it has never lost its role as a cherished destination for leisure and reflection.

Today, with its latest renovation complete, St Kilda Pier remains not only a place of scenic beauty but also a living monument to Melbourne’s maritime history — a place where generations have gathered to fish, to stroll, to court, and to watch the sun descend over Port Phillip Bay.

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St Kilda Melbourne Gallery

St Kilda Pier, Melbourne