The South Melbourne of today is a far cry from the area’s origins as an industrial epicenter

Lining its historic streets and laneways, visitors can enjoy an assortment of stores ranging from fashion boutiques, home wares and interior design, to restaurants, cafes and bars that offer some of the best wining and dining experiences in Melbourne. The area’s high level of amenities, coupled with its close vicinity to both the CBD and bayside makes South Melbourne an understandably popular destination.

Founded in 1851, the end of the 19th century was a particularly tough and defining moment for South Melbourne. Whilst the area had enjoyed a long period of prosperity, the Australian economic market dropped quicker than a hot Dim Sim out of the hand. Unlike the forgiving fortunes of a “five second rule”, the economic Depression continued and the area suffered a major downturn in trade which crippled the precinct’s industry. The tough economic climate forced many of South Melbourne’s factories and warehouses to simply close their doors, and as the working population dwindled so too did business on Clarendon Street.

A rejuvenated South Melbourne had swung and jived back to life by 1930 with an assortment of shopping emporiums, clothing stores, banks and grocers servicing busy Clarendon Street. As the popular Port Phillip Bay beachside developed, the swimming costumes got smaller and the people deep fried for longer under our southern sun. Atop of Emerald Hill, South Melbourne’s close proximity to the ocean and CBD was attracting new wealth to the area.

By mid-1990 the South Melbourne of today had begun to take form. The old warehouses and factories had long been vacated and were now occupied by an increasing number of creative businesses, drawing a new breed of professional that added to South Melbourne’s rich tapestry. The retail stretches off Clarendon Street blossomed, side-walk cafes teemed with pilgrims paying homage to lattes and South Melbourne’s famed al fresco dining emerged, and the legend of the South Melbourne Dim Sim was born.