Albert Park and Lake

Albert Park
Aerial view of Albert Park and Lake
Type	Public Park, Lake, Motor Racing Venue
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Coordinates	37°50′53″S 144°58′16″E / 37.848°S 144.971°E / -37.848; 144.971Coordinates: 37°50′53″S 144°58′16″E / 37.848°S 144.971°E / -37.848; 144.971
Area	225 ha (560 acres)
Opened	1864
Operated by	Parks Victoria
Status	Open
Paths	Sealed shared pedestrian / bicycle paths
Terrain	Flat plains; Large lake
Water	Albert Park Lake
Vegetation	European themed, Australian native, grasslands
Connecting transport	Tram, Bus, Car
Landmarks	Albert Park Lake, Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
Facilities	Toilets, barbecues, playground, cafe/restaurant

Albert Park Lake
Albert Park Lake looking south-east from the lookout tower at The Point restaurant.
Location	Albert Park, Victoria
Coordinates	37°50′47″S 144°58′12″E / 37.84639°S 144.97000°E / -37.84639; 144.97000
Type	Freshwater
Basin countries	Australia
Surface area	0.49 km2 (49 ha; 120 acres)

Albert Park and Albert Park Lake are situated in the City of Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south of the Melbourne CBD.

The park encompasses 2.25 square kilometres (225 ha; 560 acres) of parkland including Albert Park Lake (0.49 square kilometres (49 ha; 120 acres)) and provides numerous ovals, sporting facilities, the Albert Park Public Golf Course, a 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) walking track around the lake, and the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. It is bordered by Albert Road, Queens Road, Fitzroy Street and Canterbury Road. Surrounding suburbs include Albert Park, Middle Park, St Kilda, Melbourne and South Melbourne.

Albert Park was originally part of the extensive Yarra River Delta, which involved vast areas of wetlands and sparse vegetation, interspersed by lagoons, some of which were quite large, including the lagoon from which Albert Park Lake was created. The area was occupied by localised tribes of Indigenous Australians, the Wurundjeri people, for around 40,000+ years prior to European settlement, and was one of many sites around Melbourne where regular corroborees (meetings) were held.

Following British settlement from 1835 onwards, much of the Yarra River delta was drained to dry the land and enable agriculture, housing and grazing. Through the 1840s and 1850s, the area now occupied by Albert Park itself was unofficial parkland, used for military training, grazing and hunting. In 1864 the area was officially proclaimed a public park and named Albert Park in honour of Queen Victoria's devoted consort, Prince Albert.