| Albert Park And Lake |
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The park encompasses 2.25 Km&2 (555 acres) of parkland including Albert Park Lake and provides numerous ovals, sporting facilities, the Albert Park Public Golf Course, a 5 km 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 . The parkland, Albert Park lake, and Gunn Island, provides a grassy wetlands habitat for over one hundred bird species including Cattle Egret , Common Tern , Eastern Curlew , Great Egret , Pomarine Jaeger , Pelican s and White-throated Needletail . Native mammals include Common Bent-wing Bat s and Common Brushtail Possum s. Several reptiles and amphibians make their home in the park. A vegetation survey in 1992 found 117 species of plants, a mixture of native and exotic species. Also within the park is the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre and the Bob Jane Stadium , home of South Melbourne FC . EVENTS The Australian Grand Prix is held around the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit around the lake in March. Every May the RSPCA holds the Million Paws Walk to raise needed income for their work with animals. The Albert Sailing Club holds regular regattas on Saturdays. The Albert Park Yacht club, established in 1871 and the oldest continuing yacht club in Victoria, runs sailing classes over winter months on Albert Park lake and also has competitive sailing on Saturdays. HISTORY There are signs of habitation by the Wurundjeri or Bunurong peoples in the Albert Park area including the large ancient River Red Gum Tree, located next to Junction Oval on the corner of Fitzroy Street and Queens Road, St Kilda . It is said to be a Corroboree site. The parkland was temporarily reserved from sale on 22 July , 1862 , and in 1864 was proclaimed a public park and named in honour of Queen Victoria 's consort, Prince Albert. Originally 3.85 km², major excisions occurred in 1875 with the land between St Kilda and Queens Roads being used for housing allotments. First sporting use of the area occurred in 1857 when the St Kilda Cricket Club obtained permission for an oval at the south end of the park, with the South Melbourne Cricket Club gaining occupancy at the other end in 1862 . The St Kilda Bowling Club followed in 1865 and the Middle Park Bowling Club in 1903 . Tennis courts constructed in 1889 were the site for major championships, such as the 1908 Davis Cup , until the tennis stadium at Kooyong was built. The swampy lagoons were used for boating and in 1871 the Albert Park Boat Club was established. Extensive excavation occurred between 1873 and 1880 to form the lake, with the excavated material and Municipal refuse used for land reclamation. The lake was connected to the Yarra River in 1890 to allow the addition of fresh water. A series of protests were organised by the "Save Albert Park group" in 1995 and 1996, against the decision by Jeff Kennett , Premier Of Victoria , to hold the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. The protestors claimed that the race turned a public park into a private playground for much of the year. EXTERNAL LINKS
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