Fitzroy Gardens

Fitzroy Gardens is a historic public garden reserve in East Melbourne, immediately east of Melbourne’s central business district, laid out in the 19th century and retained as a formal Victorian-era garden precinct.

Key features include formal tree-lined avenues, ornamental ponds, pathways, and small heritage attractions such as Cook’s Cottage and sculptural works for children. The gardens are compact and heavily used by locals for strolling and picnics.

The gardens were established in the 19th century and have been managed as municipal public gardens since Melbourne’s early development, with plantings and small built features added over time to create the current layout.

Fitzroy Gardens occupies a block in East Melbourne bounded by major streets near the city center, making it easily reachable from Melbourne’s CBD on foot or by short public transport journeys.

• Cook's Cottage relocation: Cook's Cottage was transported from England and rebuilt in the gardens in 1934, and is open to visitors as a historic cottage and tearoom.

What to See #

• Cook's Cottage: A timber-framed 18th-century English cottage that was dismantled in England and re-erected in the gardens in 1934; it operates as a visitor attraction and tearoom.
• Fairies' Tree: A carved tree feature and children's landmark within the gardens created by sculptor Ola Cohn, known locally as a whimsical sculptural attraction for families.