Fitzroy Gardens Park

Address: Fitzroy Gardens, Wellington Parade & Clarendon St, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia

Website: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Admission: Free

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.

Fitzroy Gardens are in inner Melbourne (East Melbourne), bounded by Wellington Parade and Clarendon Street. From Flinders Street Station it’s about a 15-20 minute walk (around 1.2 km) east across the CBD; you can also take city trams that stop near Parliament or along Wellington Parade and then walk a few minutes into the gardens.

The gardens sit immediately east of the Melbourne CBD, so driving from the city centre is a short 5-10 minute trip depending on traffic; there is limited street parking and nearby paid parking facilities.

• Arrive in the early morning to enjoy the Conservatory flower displays and Captain Cook's Cottage before coach tours and school groups arrive; these attractions inside the gardens have separate opening hours and ticketing.
• Enter from the eastern side (Wellington Parade/Clarendon Street area) if coming from the CBD by tram-this is the most direct pedestrian approach and reduces time crossing busy roads.
• Check the opening times and ticketing for Captain Cook's Cottage before you go-it operates as a separate attraction within the gardens and can have limited entry slots during peak seasons.