It’s not Richmond, it’s the creative and hip Melbourne suburb of Cremorne

YOU’D be forgiven if you thought the famous Nylex Clock was in Richmond. But for locals, this suburban sibling has come a long way since its industrial — and theme park — roots.

YOU’D be forgiven if you thought Melbourne’s famous Nylex Clock was in Richmond, but only just.

Unless you’re from the CBD or surrounding suburbs, you might never have heard of Cremorne.

But Richmond’s little sister — found between Goschs Paddock, Church St and the Yarra — is blossoming into a creative arts hub, channelling it’s colourful theme park roots.

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Now advertising and PR agencies, cafes and breweries pump livelihood into the main arterials and winding backstreets of the up and coming suburb.

Culture Scout’s Sarah Weston, who hosted the Malt District Cremorne Tour last month, said the area had a lot of character.

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An illustration of the Cremorne Gardens at Richmond in 1854. Picture: Argus file.

“Cremorne began in the 1860s with James Ellis, who started this amusement garden in the UK,” she said.

“But it failed dismally. So Ellis thought: ‘I’m going to move this to Melbourne. (The concept) was based off the Cremorne Gradens in the UK.”

But Ellis’ plan was soon snatched by George Coppin, who transformed the park into an entertainment mecca.

Gondolas ferried passengers up the Yarra from Princes Bridge to visit the spectacle.

But shortly after acquiring the legacy, and realising Melbourne’s weather wasn’t suitable for outdoor amusement parks — Coppin went broke and the Cremorne Gardens closed.

Ms Weston said Cremorne also had an industrial heritage.

“It became home to Nylex plastics, matches, knitwear, breweries,” she said.

“You had this industrial core which supported and allowed Melbourne to become such a strong city.”

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The Nylex clock is in Cremorne. Picture: Steve Tanner

Parts of Cremorne were taken over by the Tiger army this month. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Businessman David Abela, who owns Cremorne bar The Ugly Duckling, said the suburb had the personality of a country town with creative flair.

“I always had a feeling that Swan St and Cremorne in particular, being in between Richmond and South Yarra, would become more desirable over time,” he said.

Mr Abela loves the suburb so much his bar has a Cremorne inspired cocktail on the menu — the Four Pillars Mar-Tea-Nez.

Bar manager Josh Hampshire said the Gin based drink was inspired by Cremorne’s personality.

One of The Ugly Duckling’s winter cocktails.

Ugly Duckling’s Daniel Vid, David Abela and Andrew Ryan. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

“Martinez is a classic cocktail. It’s a cousin of the martini, using sweet vermouth and cherry liqueur,” Mr Hampshire said.

“In this particular one we added earl grey tea to give it a bit of tannin and a little bit of the bergamot flavour which I feel really sums up Cremorne. Because it’s deeply complex but simple and sophisticated.”

Mr Abela said after opening The Ugly Duckling in 2015, locals were given another space to play.

The bar owner believes more creative types will flock to Cremorne in the coming years.

“Cremorne is the creative soho area of Richmond,” Mr Abela said.

“The Victoria St end, Richmond Hill, Cremorne are quite discoverable still. They have a lot to offer. It feels like it’s own community.”

“For me, the people haven’t changed. It feels like a country town and that’s what I like.

“There’s not a lot of through roads, you can walk the backstreets and it’s gentrified more and more over the years. We’ve raised two kids here and it feels really safe.”

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