South Yarra: Population, history, sights, shopping, fashion and crime
South Yarra’s famous Chapel St precinct has been the launch pad for more than a few of Australia’s most famous fashion brands, but the suburb was also the scene of one of Melbourne’s most infamous police murders. Here’s a look at postcode 3141.
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South Yarra has a reputation for being the playground — and the home — of the rich.
When it was founded in the 1830s — around the time Melbourne was established — things weren’t much different.
Only 4km from the city centre and hugged on one side by the Yarra River, the suburb once acted as a weekend escape for the wealthy.
Mansions and impressive gardens were built in the 1920s and 30s, and a few still exist today between the high rise apartment blocks and ultra modern residential developments.
Chapel St, the suburb’s shopping and dining destination, has long had a reputation as Melbourne’s fashion hub.
Australian brands and designers such as Just Jeans, Alannah Hill, Lisa Barron, Gorman, Christopher Chronis and others got their big break on Chapel St.
International brands including Kookai, Canadian cosmetics retailer Deciem, Sephora and Topshop also opened flagship stores in the retail strip.
These days the clothing shops are making way for cafes, chic restaurants, trendy bars and beauty salons.
The suburb was also once famous for its vibrant gay community and is still home to a few popular same sex bars including Poof Doof at Chasers Nightclub and Mother at Attik.
A few of Melbourne’s most wealthy and prominent residents call the suburb home, and South Yarra has some of the most expensive property prices in Melbourne.
The area tends to attract a lot of young professionals but is also home to retirees and families.
The median age of residents is 32, according to the latest Census data.
Of the 25,147 people who call the suburb home, 43 per cent are employed in professional roles, and half of people aged 15 and over have obtained a university qualification compared to 24 per cent of people statewide.
Notable locations include the famous Royal Botanic Gardens, the Jam Factory, Prahran Market, Fawkner Park, Como House, and the Herring Island Sculpture Park.
In 1988 South Yarra was also the scene of two of one Victoria’s most infamous police murders.
Constables Steven Tynan, 22, and Damian Eyre, 20, were shot dead in Walsh St in what some believe was payback by Melbourne’s underworld for police shootings that killed criminal suspects.
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