Fitzroy, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Fitzroy is an inner city
suburb of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
, 2 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra
. Its borders are Alexandra Parade (north), Victoria Parade
(south), Smith Street
(east) and Nicholson Street
. Fitzroy is Melbourne's smallest suburb in terms of area, being approximately 100 Ha. At the 2006 Census, it had a population of 8,814.
Planned as Melbourne's first suburb, it was later also one of the city's first areas to gain municipal status.
It has a long associations with the working class and is currently inhabited by a wide variety of ethnicities and socio-economic groups and is known for a culture of bohemianism
, being main home of Melbourne's Fringe Festival. Its commercial heart is Brunswick Street
, which is one of Melbourne's major retail, eating, and entertainment strips.
It has undergone waves of both urban renewal
and gentrification
since the 1950s. In response to past planning practices, much of the suburb is now a historic preservation
precinct with many individual buildings and streetscapes covered by Heritage Overlay
s, its built environment is diverse and features some of the finest examples of Victorian era
architecture in Melbourne. The most recent changes to Fitzroy are mandated by the Melbourne 2030
Metropolitan Strategy in which both Brunswick Street and nearby Smith Street are designated for redevelopment as Activity Centres
.
It was named after Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy
, the Governor of New South Wales
from 1846 to 1855.
Fitzroy was Melbourne's first suburb, created in 1839 when the area between Melbourne and Alexandra Parade (originally named Newtown) was subdivided into vacant lots and offered for sale.
Newtown was later renamed Collingwood
, and the area now called Fitzroy (west of Smith Street) was made a ward of the Melbourne City Council. On 10 September 1858, Fitzroy became a municipality in its own right, separate from the City of Melbourne. Surrounded as it was by a large number of factories and industrial sites in the adjoining suburbs, Fitzroy was ideally suited to working men's housing, and from the 1860s to the 1880s, Fitzroy's working class population rose dramatically. The area's former mansions became boarding houses and slums, and the heightened poverty of the area prompted the establishment of several charitable, religious and philanthropic organisations in the area over the next few decades. A notable local entrepreneur was Macpherson Robertson
, whose confectionery factories engulfed several blocks and stand as heritage landmarks today.
The establishment of the Housing Commission of Victoria
in 1938 saw swathes of new residences being constructed in Melbourne's outer suburbs. With many of Fitzroy's residents moving to the new accommodation, their places were taken by post-war immigrants mostly from Italy
and Macedonia
, and the influx of Italian
and Irish
immigrants saw a marked shift towards Catholicism
from Fitzroy's traditional Methodist
and Presbyterian
roots. The Housing Commission would build two public housing
estates in Fitzroy in the 1960s: one in Hanover Street and one at the southern end of Brunswick Street.
Before World War I, Fitzroy was a working-class neighborhood, with a concentration of political radicals already living there. Postwar immigration into the suburb resulted in the area becoming socially diverse. Many working-class Chinese immigrants also settled in Fitzroy due to its proximity to Chinatown
, with also a noticeable Vietnamese community; a small enclave of Africans lives there, and the area (particularly Johnston Street) serves as a centre of Melbourne's Hispanic community, with many Spanish and Latin American-themed restaurants, clubs, bars and some stores.
Like other inner-city suburbs of Melbourne, Fitzroy underwent a process of gentrification
during the 1980s and 1990s. The area's manufacturing and warehouse sites were converted into apartments, and the corresponding rising rents in Fitzroy saw many of the area's residents move to Northcote
and Brunswick
. In June 1994, the City of Yarra
was created by combining the cities of Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond
.
and is characterised by a fairly tightly-spaced rectangular grid of medium-sized with many of its narrow streets and back lanes facilitating only one-way traffic
. Its built form is a legacy of its early history when a mixture of land uses was allowed to develop close to each other, producing a great diversity of types and scales of building.
, Fitzroy had a population of 8,814. The median age (33) was younger than the national average (37), while the median weekly individual income ($564 per week) was higher than the national average ($466). Only 25.2% of Fitzroy's population are married, compared to 49.6% nationwide.
43.7% of Fitzroy's population was born overseas in 2006, originating mostly from Vietnam
(4.7%), China
(3.5%), England
(3.2%), New Zealand
(3.0%), and Greece
(1.4%). 61.8% only speak English at home. Other common languages spoken at home include Vietnamese
, Cantonese
and Mandarin.
A third of Fitzroy residents do not affiliate with any religious groups, up from roughly a quarter (26.5%) in the 2001 census and notably higher than Australian average of 18.7%. Catholic
was the next most popular response (18.9%), followed by Anglican (6.8%), Buddhism
(6.6%), and Eastern Orthodox (3.9%).
Fitzroy's housing is diverse, it has some of Melbourne's earliest surviving houses and one of Melbourne's most extensive stands of terraced housing along with a mix of converted industrial and commercial buildings, walk-up flats, modern apartments and public housing.
Among the earlies homes are Royal Terrace (1853–1858) on Nicholson Street overlooking the Carlton Gardens was one of the first of its kind in Melbourne. Fitzroy's "character housing" (pre-war) is now mostly gentrified and highly sought after real estate.
The Atherton Gardens high-rise public housing
estate on the corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Streets is one of Melbourne's largest, built by the Housing Commission of Victoria
as part of its controversial "slum clearance" urban renewal
program in the 1960s.
Due to its desirability as a place to live, Fitzroy faces increasing pressure for residential development. Recent residential projects in Fitzroy have sought to express a sense of Fitzroy's urban character
in various ways and have been hotly contested in some cases.
Fitzroy's traditional representation at all levels of government reflects the area's working class and bohemianism, Left-wing politics
dominates. The Australian Labor Party
and more recently the Australian Greens
both have a very strong political presence.
At a local level, Fitzroy is part of the City of Yarra
Local Government Area. The Fitzroy area falls within the wards of Langridge and Nicholls, both of these wards are currently represented by the Australian Greens
.
At a state level, Fitzroy is within the Richmond, traditionally a safe Australian Labor Party
seat.
At federal level, it is within the Melbourne
which was recently taken from Labor by the Australian Greens
.
for its state historical and architectural significance. The building was constructed in stages (1863, 1887 and 1890) to comprise municipal offices, meeting hall
, police station
, courthouse
and clock tower
.
Since the amalgamation of the City of Fitzroy with the City of Collingwood and the City of Richmond in 1994 to form the City of Yarra, the Town Hall has functioned as secondary offices for the City of Yarra.
, artist-run space
s and artist studio
s located within the suburb. Fitzroy has a thriving street art
community and is also the home of Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces
and the Centre for Contemporary Photography
.
(also known as the "North Fitzroy Beat"), which gave rise to experimental punk acts the Primitive Calculators
and Ollie Olsen
's Whirlywirld
, rock group Hunters & Collectors
, and Lisa Gerrard
of Dead Can Dance
.
is considered to be of high architectural merit. The Old Tramways sheds are on the Victorian Heritage Register
. The Champion Hotel is notable for its fanciful Edwardian design.
Fitzroy has a large number of pubs for such a small suburb. The former Devonshire Arms
hotel was located in Fitzroy Street and remains the oldest building in Fitzroy. There are many other pubs in Fitzroy.
With the advance of gentrification
, a variety of cafes in different styles have opened up and down Brunswick Street, on Smith Street, parts of Gertrude Street and in some of the back streets in former milk bar
s and warehouse sites.
(the Fitzroy Lions) was formed in 1883 as part of the VFL/AFL
. The club had some early success before relocating its home games several times and finally running into financial difficulties in the 1980s, forcing it to merge with the Brisbane Bears
in 1996 to form the Brisbane Lions
. After sponsoring various local clubs, it returned as a playing club in its own right to play in the 2009 Victorian Amateur Football Association
season and play out of the Brunswick Street Oval
.
The Fitzroy Stars Football Club are an Indigenous club that joined the Northern Football League in 2008. They currently play their home games at Crispe Park in Reservoir.
The Melbourne Chess Club, the oldest chess club in the southern hemisphere (est. 1866).
was set almost entirely in Fitzroy . The main characters of the show were often seen at the Black Cat, a Brunswick Street bar.
Fitzroy has also featured in episodes of a number of Australian TV shows, including City Homicide
, and Rush (series 3)
(notably in Season 3, where the team shot at Fitzroy Town Hall to commemorate the death of a former colleague).
Australian musicians have also made mention of Fitzroy in their lyrics. Clare Bowditch
made a reference to Fitzroy in the song Divorcee by 23 as did the musical comedian The Bedroom Philosopher
in the song Northcote (So Hungover) . Most notably, ARIA award winner Dan Sultan
has the song Old Fitzroy, the black and white video for which is shot entirely in Fitzroy, featuring shots of and from Atherton Gardens as well as shots of a number of Fitzroy pubs
.
There are two primary schools in Fitzroy: Fitzroy Primary School (government school) and Sacred Heart Primary School (Catholic school). Fitzroy High School is located in North Fitzroy.
A long tradition of community activism and civil society with many social and community service organisations having been based there. Organisations currently operating in the suburb include: the Fitzroy Legal Service, Yarra Community Housing Limited, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Brotherhood of St Laurence
and the Tenants Union of Victoria, a free legal service for residential tenants.
Fitzroy's major road arterials are Brunswick Street (north-south) and Johnstone Street (east-west). Other main roads, Victoria Parade, Nicholson Street, Smith Street and Alexandra Parade circumnavigate the suburb. It is characterised by a fairly tightly-spaced rectangular grid of medium-sized with many of its narrow streets and back lanes facilitating only one-way traffic
. Traffic and parking congestion is a problem and Fitzroy and local councils have implemented strategies to keep this traffic off residential side streets. It has been the site of several controversial inner city freeway proposals, particularly in the 1950s, however none of which have proceeded.
There are no railway stations located in Fitzroy itself, with the nearest train stations being Rushall
in North Fitzroy, Collingwood station and Parliament station. An underground railway line running between the City Loop and Clifton Hill with stations located beneath Brunswick Street and Smith Street has been proposed.
Three tram lines pass through Fitzroy or its boundaries:
The St Vincents Plaza tram interchange in adjacent East Melbourne is at the junction of Victoria Parade and Brunswick Street handles route 86 and 112 trams.
Cycling is a very popular form of transport in Fitzroy as with much of the City of Yarra. A station for the Melbourne Bicycle Share scheme is located near the St Vincents Plaza tram interchange.
The City of Yarra
also supports a car sharing service which has several locations in Fitzroy.
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 2 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra
City of Yarra
The City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
. Its borders are Alexandra Parade (north), Victoria Parade
Victoria Street, Melbourne
Victoria Street is one of the major thoroughfares of inner Melbourne. Running east to west, Victoria Street touches the Hoddle Grid at the intersection of La Trobe Street and Spring Street, opposite the Carlton Gardens. It runs from its terminus at the intersection of Munster Terrace in North...
(south), Smith Street
Smith Street, Melbourne
Smith Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne.-Geography:Smith Street runs north-south from Victoria Parade at its southernmost end to Queens Parade. Between Victoria Parade and Alexandra Parade, it forms the boundary between Fitzroy and Collingwood; the short segment north of Alexandra...
(east) and Nicholson Street
Nicholson Street, Melbourne
Nicholson Street is a street in inner Melbourne. It is named after William Nicholson, then member of the Legislative Council, and later Premier of Victoria from 1859 to 1860.-Geography:...
. Fitzroy is Melbourne's smallest suburb in terms of area, being approximately 100 Ha. At the 2006 Census, it had a population of 8,814.
Planned as Melbourne's first suburb, it was later also one of the city's first areas to gain municipal status.
It has a long associations with the working class and is currently inhabited by a wide variety of ethnicities and socio-economic groups and is known for a culture of bohemianism
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
, being main home of Melbourne's Fringe Festival. Its commercial heart is Brunswick Street
Brunswick Street, Melbourne
Brunswick Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, known for cafés, live music venues and alternative fashion shops.-Geography:Brunswick Street runs north-south through the inner northern Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, from Victoria Parade at its southernmost end, crossing...
, which is one of Melbourne's major retail, eating, and entertainment strips.
It has undergone waves of both urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
and gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
since the 1950s. In response to past planning practices, much of the suburb is now a historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
precinct with many individual buildings and streetscapes covered by Heritage Overlay
Heritage Overlay
A Heritage Overlay or HO is one of a number of planning scheme overlays contained in the Victorian Planning Provisions, for use in planning schemes in Victoria, Australia...
s, its built environment is diverse and features some of the finest examples of Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
architecture in Melbourne. The most recent changes to Fitzroy are mandated by the Melbourne 2030
Melbourne 2030
The Metropolitan Strategy Melbourne 2030 is a Victorian Government strategic planning policy framework for the metropolitan area of Greater Melbourne, intended to cover the period 2001-2030. During this period the population of the metropolitan area is expected to grow by a million people to over 5...
Metropolitan Strategy in which both Brunswick Street and nearby Smith Street are designated for redevelopment as Activity Centres
Activity centre
Activity centre is a term used in urban planning and design for a mixed-use urban area where there is a concentration of commercial and other land uses...
.
It was named after Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy
Charles Augustus FitzRoy
Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, KCH, KCB was a British military officer, politician and member of the aristocracy, who held governorships in several British colonies during the 19th century.-Family and peerage:...
, the Governor of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
from 1846 to 1855.
History
Newtown was later renamed Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
, and the area now called Fitzroy (west of Smith Street) was made a ward of the Melbourne City Council. On 10 September 1858, Fitzroy became a municipality in its own right, separate from the City of Melbourne. Surrounded as it was by a large number of factories and industrial sites in the adjoining suburbs, Fitzroy was ideally suited to working men's housing, and from the 1860s to the 1880s, Fitzroy's working class population rose dramatically. The area's former mansions became boarding houses and slums, and the heightened poverty of the area prompted the establishment of several charitable, religious and philanthropic organisations in the area over the next few decades. A notable local entrepreneur was Macpherson Robertson
Macpherson Robertson
Sir Macpherson Robertson KBE was an Australian philanthropist, entrepreneur and founder of confectionery company MacRobertson's.-Early life:...
, whose confectionery factories engulfed several blocks and stand as heritage landmarks today.
The establishment of the Housing Commission of Victoria
Housing Commission of Victoria
The Housing Commission of Victoria was a State Government body responsible for public housing in Victoria, Australia...
in 1938 saw swathes of new residences being constructed in Melbourne's outer suburbs. With many of Fitzroy's residents moving to the new accommodation, their places were taken by post-war immigrants mostly from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
, and the influx of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
immigrants saw a marked shift towards Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
from Fitzroy's traditional Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
and Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
roots. The Housing Commission would build two public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
estates in Fitzroy in the 1960s: one in Hanover Street and one at the southern end of Brunswick Street.
Before World War I, Fitzroy was a working-class neighborhood, with a concentration of political radicals already living there. Postwar immigration into the suburb resulted in the area becoming socially diverse. Many working-class Chinese immigrants also settled in Fitzroy due to its proximity to Chinatown
Chinatown, Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia's Chinatown is located within the Melbourne Central Business District and is centred near around the eastern end of Little Bourke St. It extends between the corners of Swanston and Spring Streets.-History:...
, with also a noticeable Vietnamese community; a small enclave of Africans lives there, and the area (particularly Johnston Street) serves as a centre of Melbourne's Hispanic community, with many Spanish and Latin American-themed restaurants, clubs, bars and some stores.
Like other inner-city suburbs of Melbourne, Fitzroy underwent a process of gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
during the 1980s and 1990s. The area's manufacturing and warehouse sites were converted into apartments, and the corresponding rising rents in Fitzroy saw many of the area's residents move to Northcote
Northcote, Victoria
Northcote is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin...
and Brunswick
Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
. In June 1994, the City of Yarra
City of Yarra
The City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
was created by combining the cities of Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond
Richmond, Victoria
Richmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
.
Geography
Its topography is flat, it is laid out in grid planGrid plan
The grid plan, grid street plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid...
and is characterised by a fairly tightly-spaced rectangular grid of medium-sized with many of its narrow streets and back lanes facilitating only one-way traffic
One-way traffic
One-way traffic is traffic that moves in a single direction. A one-way street is a street either facilitating only one-way traffic, or designed to direct vehicles to move in one direction.-General signs:...
. Its built form is a legacy of its early history when a mixture of land uses was allowed to develop close to each other, producing a great diversity of types and scales of building.
Demographics
In the 2006 Australian Census conducted by the Australian Bureau of StatisticsAustralian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
, Fitzroy had a population of 8,814. The median age (33) was younger than the national average (37), while the median weekly individual income ($564 per week) was higher than the national average ($466). Only 25.2% of Fitzroy's population are married, compared to 49.6% nationwide.
43.7% of Fitzroy's population was born overseas in 2006, originating mostly from Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
(4.7%), China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(3.5%), England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(3.2%), New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(3.0%), and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(1.4%). 61.8% only speak English at home. Other common languages spoken at home include Vietnamese
Vietnamese language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
, Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
and Mandarin.
A third of Fitzroy residents do not affiliate with any religious groups, up from roughly a quarter (26.5%) in the 2001 census and notably higher than Australian average of 18.7%. Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
was the next most popular response (18.9%), followed by Anglican (6.8%), Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
(6.6%), and Eastern Orthodox (3.9%).
Housing
Among the earlies homes are Royal Terrace (1853–1858) on Nicholson Street overlooking the Carlton Gardens was one of the first of its kind in Melbourne. Fitzroy's "character housing" (pre-war) is now mostly gentrified and highly sought after real estate.
The Atherton Gardens high-rise public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
estate on the corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Streets is one of Melbourne's largest, built by the Housing Commission of Victoria
Housing Commission of Victoria
The Housing Commission of Victoria was a State Government body responsible for public housing in Victoria, Australia...
as part of its controversial "slum clearance" urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
program in the 1960s.
Due to its desirability as a place to live, Fitzroy faces increasing pressure for residential development. Recent residential projects in Fitzroy have sought to express a sense of Fitzroy's urban character
Neighbourhood character
Neighbourhood character refers to the 'look and feel of an area', in particular a residential area. It also includes the activities that occur there...
in various ways and have been hotly contested in some cases.
Governance
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
dominates. The Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
and more recently the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
both have a very strong political presence.
At a local level, Fitzroy is part of the City of Yarra
City of Yarra
The City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
Local Government Area. The Fitzroy area falls within the wards of Langridge and Nicholls, both of these wards are currently represented by the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
.
At a state level, Fitzroy is within the Richmond, traditionally a safe Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
seat.
At federal level, it is within the Melbourne
Division of Melbourne
The Division of Melbourne is an Australian Electoral Division of Victoria. It is represented by Adam Bandt of the Australian Greens.Created at Federation in 1900 the division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
which was recently taken from Labor by the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
.
Former City of Fitzroy and Fitzroy Town Hall
The area formerly had its own municipal status from 1858 with the City of Fitzroy meeting at Fitzroy Town Hall on Napier Street. The Town Hall is on the Victorian Heritage RegisterVictorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
for its state historical and architectural significance. The building was constructed in stages (1863, 1887 and 1890) to comprise municipal offices, meeting hall
Hall
In architecture, a hall is fundamentally a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age, a mead hall was such a simple building and was the residence of a lord and his retainers...
, police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
, courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
and clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
.
Since the amalgamation of the City of Fitzroy with the City of Collingwood and the City of Richmond in 1994 to form the City of Yarra, the Town Hall has functioned as secondary offices for the City of Yarra.
Art
There are many small commercial art galleriesArt gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
, artist-run space
Artist-run space
An artist-run space is a gallery space run by artists, thus circumventing the structures of public and private galleries.Artist-run spaces have become realised as an important factor in urban regeneration...
s and artist studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
s located within the suburb. Fitzroy has a thriving street art
Street art
Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, "in the streets" — though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives...
community and is also the home of Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces
Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces
Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces is a contemporary art complex located in the suburb of Fitzroy, Melbourne Australia.The complex was founded in 1985 and contains 3 exhibition spaces and 16 studio facilities.-External links:**...
and the Centre for Contemporary Photography
Centre for Contemporary Photography
The Centre for Contemporary Photography , in Fitzroy, Victoria, Melbourne is one of Australia's premier venues for the exhibition of contemporary photo-based arts, providing a context for the enjoyment, education, understanding and appraisal of contemporary practice.-History:Established as the...
.
Live performance
Fitzroy is a hub for live music in Melbourne, and plays host to several prominent venues: the Old Bar, Bar Open, the Evelyn Hotel, Gertrudes Brown Couch, and Cape Live. The well-known Punters Club was also located in the area; however, it was forced to close in 2002. During the late 1970s, Fitzroy was home to the little bands sceneLittle band scene
The Little Band scene is the name given to an experimental post-punk scene which flourished in Melbourne from 1978 until early 1981. This scene was concentrated around the inner suburbs of Fitzroy and St Kilda, and was characterised by large numbers of small bands, more concerned with artistic...
(also known as the "North Fitzroy Beat"), which gave rise to experimental punk acts the Primitive Calculators
Primitive Calculators
The Primitive Calculators are an Australian post punk band formed in the late 1970s, known for their use of a screeching Mosrite Ventures model guitar, primitive synthesizers along with an electronic organ played through effects pedals, and an extra fast drum machine keeping time...
and Ollie Olsen
Ollie Olsen
Ollie Olsen 1958, Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian composer, synthesist and sound designer who has been producing and performing rock, electronic and experimental music for the past thirty years...
's Whirlywirld
Whirlywirld
Whirlywirld was an Australian post punk band led by Ollie Olsen in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the first of his musical collaborations with drummer John Murphy...
, rock group Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors were an Australian rock music band formed in Melbourne in 1981, fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Seymour, they developed a blend of pub rock and art-funk...
, and Lisa Gerrard
Lisa Gerrard
Lisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
of Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
.
Heritage
The Moran and Cato warehouse designed by R.A. LawsonRobert Lawson (architect)
Robert Arthur Lawson was one of New Zealand's pre-eminent 19th century architects. It has been said he did more than any other designer to shape the face of the Victorian era architecture of the city of Dunedin...
is considered to be of high architectural merit. The Old Tramways sheds are on the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
. The Champion Hotel is notable for its fanciful Edwardian design.
Pubs
Devonshire Arms, Fitzroy
The Devonshire Arms Hotel was a public house located in Fitzroy, in the state of Victoria, Australia.-History:The Devonshire Arms was located on Fitzroy Street, south of Gertrude Street. It opened in 1843, and although ceases to operate as a hotel, is currently Fitzroy's oldest surviving building...
hotel was located in Fitzroy Street and remains the oldest building in Fitzroy. There are many other pubs in Fitzroy.
Cafes
The tiny suburb of Fitzroy has many cafes. Only one of the original three cafes is still standing - Marios. Bakers relocated North, and closed in 2007 while The Black Cat has transformed itself into a bar, but still retains its onstreet garden.With the advance of gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
, a variety of cafes in different styles have opened up and down Brunswick Street, on Smith Street, parts of Gertrude Street and in some of the back streets in former milk bar
Milk bar
Milk bar is a term in some parts of Australia for suburban local shops or general stores. They are known as tuck shops, delicatessens or delis in South Australia and Western Australia, and as corner stores in Queensland and New South Wales...
s and warehouse sites.
Sport
The Fitzroy Football ClubFitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
(the Fitzroy Lions) was formed in 1883 as part of the VFL/AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. The club had some early success before relocating its home games several times and finally running into financial difficulties in the 1980s, forcing it to merge with the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
in 1996 to form the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
. After sponsoring various local clubs, it returned as a playing club in its own right to play in the 2009 Victorian Amateur Football Association
Victorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
season and play out of the Brunswick Street Oval
Edinburgh Gardens, Melbourne
Edinburgh Gardens is a large park located in North Fitzroy. It is bounded by Brunswick Street and St Georges Road to the west, the curve of Alfred Crescent to the north and east, and Freeman Street to the south. It was created from a grant of land in March 1862 by Queen Victoria and laid out by...
.
The Fitzroy Stars Football Club are an Indigenous club that joined the Northern Football League in 2008. They currently play their home games at Crispe Park in Reservoir.
The Melbourne Chess Club, the oldest chess club in the southern hemisphere (est. 1866).
In Popular Culture
The 2010 Australian television show Offspring (TV series)Offspring (TV series)
Offspring is an Australian television comedy-drama series which premiered on Network Ten in Australia on 15 August 2010. Offspring is centred around 30-something obstetrician Nina Proudman and her family, as they navigate the chaos of modern life...
was set almost entirely in Fitzroy . The main characters of the show were often seen at the Black Cat, a Brunswick Street bar.
Fitzroy has also featured in episodes of a number of Australian TV shows, including City Homicide
City Homicide
City Homicide was an Australian television drama series that aired on the Seven Network between 27 August 2007 – 30 March 2011. The series was set on the Homicide floor of a metropolitan police headquarters in Melbourne...
, and Rush (series 3)
Rush (series 3)
Series 3 of police drama Rush premiered on 22 July 2010 on Network Ten. The third installment continues to follow the lives of two teams employed with the prestigeous Tactical Response Unit in Victoria, Australia....
(notably in Season 3, where the team shot at Fitzroy Town Hall to commemorate the death of a former colleague).
Australian musicians have also made mention of Fitzroy in their lyrics. Clare Bowditch
Clare Bowditch
Clare Bowditch is an Australian musician from Melbourne, Victoria. She released her fourth album Modern Day Addiction via Island Records on 13 August 2010. It became both 3RRR Album of the Week and ABC Radio National's Album of the Week. MDA is the first of Bowditch's album's to enter the Top Ten...
made a reference to Fitzroy in the song Divorcee by 23 as did the musical comedian The Bedroom Philosopher
The Bedroom Philosopher
The Bedroom Philosopher is the performance persona of Australian comedian, author, actor and songwriter Justin Heazlewood. Most known for his musical comedy works, The Bedroom Philosopher has released several albums, performed at many arts festivals, been nominated for an ARIA Award and is a...
in the song Northcote (So Hungover) . Most notably, ARIA award winner Dan Sultan
Dan Sultan
Dan Sultan is an Australian singer and songwriter. Sultan plays what he calls country soul rock ‘n’ roll.-Biography:Daniel Leo Sultan was born in 1983 and grew up in Williamstown, Melbourne. His father was Irish and his mother, Roslyn Sultan, was Aboriginal from the Arrernte and Gurindji people...
has the song Old Fitzroy, the black and white video for which is shot entirely in Fitzroy, featuring shots of and from Atherton Gardens as well as shots of a number of Fitzroy pubs
Social and community services
The health needs of Fitzroy residents and other Melburnians is served by St Vincent's HospitalSt Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne is the major hospital in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia.It is operated by the St Vincent's Health service, previously known as the Sisters of Charity Health Service, Melbourne...
.
There are two primary schools in Fitzroy: Fitzroy Primary School (government school) and Sacred Heart Primary School (Catholic school). Fitzroy High School is located in North Fitzroy.
A long tradition of community activism and civil society with many social and community service organisations having been based there. Organisations currently operating in the suburb include: the Fitzroy Legal Service, Yarra Community Housing Limited, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Brotherhood of St Laurence
Brotherhood of St Laurence
The Brotherhood of St Laurence is an Australian not-for-profit organisation. Based in Melbourne, the Brotherhood has a national profile. The organisation's vision is for an Australia free of poverty. In working towards this vision it undertakes research and develops and delivers services and...
and the Tenants Union of Victoria, a free legal service for residential tenants.
Transport
One-way traffic
One-way traffic is traffic that moves in a single direction. A one-way street is a street either facilitating only one-way traffic, or designed to direct vehicles to move in one direction.-General signs:...
. Traffic and parking congestion is a problem and Fitzroy and local councils have implemented strategies to keep this traffic off residential side streets. It has been the site of several controversial inner city freeway proposals, particularly in the 1950s, however none of which have proceeded.
There are no railway stations located in Fitzroy itself, with the nearest train stations being Rushall
Rushall railway station
Rushall railway station was a station on the South Staffordshire Line. It was opened in 1849. It was the first station to fall on the line, closing in 1909...
in North Fitzroy, Collingwood station and Parliament station. An underground railway line running between the City Loop and Clifton Hill with stations located beneath Brunswick Street and Smith Street has been proposed.
Three tram lines pass through Fitzroy or its boundaries:
- Route 86Melbourne tram route 86Tram route 86 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from Bundoora in the northern suburbs to Waterfront City Docklands in the city. It is one of Melbourne's busiest tram routes carrying 44,200 passengers a day...
(BundooraBundoora, VictoriaBundoora is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north from the Melbourne central business district. Its Local Government Area are the cities of Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census, Bundoora had a population of 24,018....
-DocklandsMelbourne DocklandsDocklands is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia occupying an area extending up to 2 km west of and adjacent to Melbourne's Central Business District . Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
): travels along Nicholson Street, Gertrude Street and Smith Street. - Route 96Melbourne tram route 96Melbourne tram route 96 is a public transport tram and light rail route in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.It is one of Melbourne's busiest tram route carrying 39,700 passengers a day with a frequency of every 10 minutes or less during peak...
(East BrunswickBrunswick East, VictoriaBrunswick East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Brunswick East had a population of 7,410....
-St KildaSt Kilda, VictoriaSt Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
): travels along Nicholson Street. - Route 112Melbourne tram route 112Tram route 112 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from West Preston, in the northern suburbs to St Kilda.Like most tram routes in Melbourne, it falls within Metcard/myki ticketing Zone 1....
(West PrestonPreston, VictoriaPreston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
-St KildaSt Kilda, VictoriaSt Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
): bisects Fitzroy along Brunswick StreetBrunswick Street, MelbourneBrunswick Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, known for cafés, live music venues and alternative fashion shops.-Geography:Brunswick Street runs north-south through the inner northern Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, from Victoria Parade at its southernmost end, crossing...
.
The St Vincents Plaza tram interchange in adjacent East Melbourne is at the junction of Victoria Parade and Brunswick Street handles route 86 and 112 trams.
Cycling is a very popular form of transport in Fitzroy as with much of the City of Yarra. A station for the Melbourne Bicycle Share scheme is located near the St Vincents Plaza tram interchange.
The City of Yarra
City of Yarra
The City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
also supports a car sharing service which has several locations in Fitzroy.
Notable people
- Francis BirtlesFrancis BirtlesFrancis Edwin Birtles was an Australian adventurer, photographer, cyclist, and filmmaker, who set many long-distance cycling and driving records, including becoming in 1927 the first man to drive a car from England to Australia...
(1881–1941), adventurer - Jack CooperJack Cooper (Australian rules footballer)John Thomas "Jack" Cooper was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League .He died in action, whilst serving in the First AIF, during the Battle of Passchendaele....
(1889–1917), Australian rules footballer - Brody DalleBrody DalleBrody Dalle is an Australian-born American singer, songwriter and guitarist. She rose to fame as lead singer/guitarist for the punk rock band The Distillers and currently fronts Spinnerette....
(1979–), lead singer of The DistillersThe DistillersThe Distillers were an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1998. They released their first two albums on Hellcat Records/Epitaph Records before moving to Sire, part of the Warner Music Group. The Distillers were originally formed by Australian-born Brody Armstrong , a woman with a... - Bruce DaweBruce DaweDonald Bruce Dawe AO is an Australian poet, and is considered by many as one of the most influential Australian poets of all time.-Early life:...
(1930–), poet - Alfred DeakinAlfred DeakinAlfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
(1856–1919), the second Prime Minister of AustraliaPrime Minister of AustraliaThe Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful... - Arthur DrakefordArthur DrakefordArthur Samuel Drakeford was an Australian politician and was the minister responsible for the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II...
(1878–1957), politician - Florrie FordeFlorrie FordeFlorrie Forde , born Flora May Augusta Flannagan, was an Australian popular singer and entertainer. She was one of the greatest stars of the early 20th century music hall....
(1875–1940), popular singer and entertainer - E. Phillips FoxE. Phillips Fox- Education :Fox was born on 12 March 1865 to Alexander Fox and Rosetta Phillips at 12 Victoria Parade in Fitzroy, Melbourne, into a legal family whose firm, DLA Phillips Fox, still exists. He studied art at the National Gallery School in Melbourne from 1878 until 1886 under G. F...
(1865–1915), painter associated with the Heidelberg SchoolHeidelberg SchoolThe Heidelberg School was an Australian art movement of the late 19th century. The movement has latterly been described as Australian Impressionism.... - Keith HancockKeith HancockSir Keith Hancock KBE was an Australian historian.He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of Archdeacon William Hancock. At the age of nine, he won the Royal Humane Society's medal for rescuing another child from drowning in the Mitchell River. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School...
(1898–1988), historian - Harvey brothers, cricketing family
- Neil HarveyNeil HarveyRobert Neil Harvey MBE is a former Australian cricketer who represented the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement...
(1928–), Test cricketer, captained one Test - Merv HarveyMerv HarveyMervyn Roye Harvey was a cricketer who played in one Test match for Australia in 1947. His younger brother, Neil, was one of Australia's finest batsmen since the Second World War, and the pair played together for Victoria during the latter part of Merv’s career.Merv Harvey broke into the Victorian...
(1918–1995), Test cricketer - Ray HarveyRay HarveyRaymond Harvey is a former Australian first-class cricketer who played for Victoria in the 1940s and 1950s. He was the brother of Australian Test batsmen Merv and Neil, and first-class cricketer and umpire Mick Harvey...
(1926–), first-class cricketer - Mick HarveyMick Harvey (umpire)Clarence Edgar Harvey, , is a former first-class cricketer and Australian Test cricket umpire. He was the brother of Test batsmen Merv and Neil Harvey....
(1921–), first-class cricketer and Test umpire
- Neil Harvey
- Donald Alaster MacdonaldDonald Alaster MacdonaldDonald Alaster Macdonald was an Australian journalist and nature writer.Macdonald was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, the elder son of Donald Macdonald and his wife Margaret, née Harris. Macdonald was educated at the Keilor state school where he became a pupil-teacher in 1876...
(1859–1932), journalist, nature writer and sports commentator - Bertram Mackennal (1863–1931), sculptor
- Mary MacKillopMary MacKillopMary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
(1842–1909), Roman Catholic nun and the only Australian saint - born on Brunswick StreetBrunswick Street, MelbourneBrunswick Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, known for cafés, live music venues and alternative fashion shops.-Geography:Brunswick Street runs north-south through the inner northern Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, from Victoria Parade at its southernmost end, crossing... - Laurie NashLaurie NashLaurence John "Laurie" Nash was a Test cricketer and Australian rules footballer. An inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, Nash was a member of South Melbourne's 1933 premiership team, captained South Melbourne in 1937 and was the team's leading goal kicker in 1937 and 1945...
(1910–1986), Test cricketer - Bert NewtonBert NewtonAlbert Watson "Bert" Newton, AM, MBE is an Australian television personality, known for hosting television series such as In Melbourne Tonight, Good Morning Australia and 20 to 1. Newton has also hosted the Logie Awards on numerous occasions through his career.-Early life:Newton was born in...
(1938–), television personality - Charles NuttallCharles NuttallCharles Nuttall was an Australian artist noted for his illustrations.Nuttall, son of James Charles Nuttall, was born at Fitzroy, Victoria. He received his art training at the national gallery, Melbourne, and became a contributor of drawings to the Bulletin, Life, and other journals...
(1872–1934), painter, cartoonist and illustrator - Jack O'HaganJack O'HaganJohn Francis O'Hagan was an Australian musician.O'Hagan was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. He was the son of Pat O'Hagan, a hotelkeeper and Alice née Quinlan. He went to school at St Patrick's College and then later at Xavier College in Melbourne...
(1898–1987), musician - Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson (1870–1946), author
- Frank S. WilliamsonFrank S. WilliamsonFrancis Samuel Williamson was an Australian poet who was published under the name Frank S. Williamson.-Early life:Williamson was the son of an English-born coachmaker and his Scottish wife...
(1865–1936), poet
External links
- Fitzroyalty Fitzroy based local blog
- Fitzroy local news site Fitzroy local news written by local experts
- Local History of Fitzroy