St Kilda, Victoria

St Kilda Melbourne, Victoria
Luna Park, St Kilda's 1913 amusement park
St Kilda Location in metropolitan Melbourne
Coordinates	37°51′50″S 144°58′55″E / 37.864°S 144.982°E / -37.864; 144.982Coordinates: 37°51′50″S 144°58′55″E / 37.864°S 144.982°E / -37.864; 144.982
Population	17,795 (2011 census)
• Density	5,560/km2 (14,400/sq mi)
Established	1839
Postcode(s)	3182
Area	3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Location	6 km (4 mi) from Melbourne CBD
LGA(s)	City of Port Phillip
State electorate(s)	Albert Park Caulfield Prahran
Federal Division(s)	Melbourne Ports
Suburbs around St Kilda: St Kilda West Albert Park and Lake Windsor Port Phillip St Kilda St Kilda East Port Phillip Elwood Balaclava

St Kilda is a suburb (neighborhood) of the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. Its local government area is the City of Port Phillip. At the 2011 Census, St Kilda had a population of 17,795.

St Kilda was named after a schooner, Lady of St Kilda (which moored at the main beach for much of 1841) by Charles La Trobe, and the ship's master and early settler Lieutenant James Ross Lawrence.

During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, St Kilda became a favoured suburb of Melbourne's elite, and many palatial mansions were constructed along its hills and waterfront. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, St Kilda served a similar function for Melburnians as did Coney Island to the residents of New York City and its history draws an interesting parallel. Densely populated postwar St Kilda became Melbourne's red-light district, home to low-cost rooming houses. Since the late 1960s, St Kilda has become known for its culture of bohemianism and as home to many prominent artists, musicians and subcultures, including punk and LGBT. While some of these groups still maintain a presence in St Kilda, in recent years the district has experienced rapid gentrification pushing many lower socio-economic groups out to other areas.