St Kilda Botanical Garden Play Space Upgrade

​​​The St Kilda Botanical Gardens Play Space is being upgraded to create a more adventurous, inclusive and engaging place for children, young people and families. Our goal is to deliver a play space that offers meaningful experiences for people of all ages and abilities, and to strengthen the Gardens as a welcoming place where the community can connect, play and thrive. 

​ ​This project supports Council’s long‑term vision for a safe and liveable city as set out in the Council Plan 2025–35. It also delivers on the Places for People: Public Space Strategy 2022–2032, which identifies the St Kilda Botanical Gardens as a key public open space with significant potential for improvement. The Strategy includes a priority action to upgrade this play space so it better reflects the heritage values of the Gardens and provides high‑quality, safe and enjoyable play opportunities. 

​The St Kilda Botanical Gardens were established in 1859 and are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. They are one of the City of Port Phillip’s most popular destinations, attracting visitors from across the municipality and beyond. The existing play space was built in 1995 and requires an upgrade. Upgrading the play space now allows Council to improve safety, enhance accessibility, create more varied and exciting play opportunities, and ensure this iconic site continues to be enjoyed by generations to come.​ 

The playground and the surrounding grass area will be inaccessible during the construction of the new playground. Restrictions to pedestrian access through the gardens will be minimised and managed on site during construction.

​​The project will replace outdated equipment with safe, modern and engaging play structures that support a wider range of activities and age groups. Improving accessibility will make the space easier to navigate and more welcoming for people with diverse mobility needs. 

​Enhancements to seating, garden beds and tree canopy will create a more comfortable and attractive environment for families and visitors. More shade, greener spaces and better places to rest will improve the overall experience of spending time in the Gardens, supporting longer visits and strengthening the play space as a valued community destination. 

​Project Deliverables 

• ​Upgraded playground equipment 
• ​Improved accessibility 
• ​Improved safety 
• ​Additional seating 
• ​New or improved garden beds 
• ​Increased tree canopy cover​.