The St Kilda Luna Park roller coaster known as the 'Big Dipper' was opened to the public in 1924 and demolished in 1989 following safety concerns. It offered more speed and steeper climbs, turns and descents than the 'scenic railway' which still operates to this day. The image was published with an article about the aftermath of a fire at Luna Park in the Mar/Apr 1982 edition of community newspaper Shout.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, luna park

St Kilda Festival is one of the largest free festivals in Australia and began in 1980. The banner does not show the full date but the information it gives indicates that the photo was taken in 1983. The image was published with an article about the festival in the Mar/Apr 1983 edition of community newspaper Shout.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st kilda festival

The St. Moritz Ice Rink was a popular ice skating rink on The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria. It operated between 1939–1981. As one of only two ice rinks in Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s, it played a central role to the sport of ice hockey in Australia. Closed in 1982, it soon suffered a major fire and was then demolished, an event later seen as a major blow to the heritage of St Kilda. It was first built as the Wattle Path Palais de Danse in 1922, a very large dance hall, designed by architects Beaver & Purnell, The Wattle Path was the venue for the first all-Australian dance championship, and featured some of the best dance bands of Australia, as well as from America. Popular throughout the 1920s, it suffered due to the Great Depression, and closed in the early 1930s. From 1933-1936 the building became a film studio, Efftee Studios, for Frank W. Thring. In 1938, businessman Henry Hans "Harry" Kleiner announced that the Wattle Path would become an ice rink. He was sole proprietor until 1953, when he sold the business to J. Gordon and T. Molony, both champion skaters. Trade declined during the 1970s. The building was sold in 1980 to developers Hudson Conway and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and was closed in early 1982. It was nominated to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, but a majority of City of St Kilda councillors voted to oppose this action and uphold a demolition permit already issued. The building infamously suffered a fire later that year, leaving only the facades, which were demolished soon after. The site remained vacant until about 1991, when a mid-price hotel called the St Moritz was constructed. By 1993 it was simply called the Novotel St Kilda. The hotel closed in 2019 and was replaced by an apartment complex. The image was published with an article about the fire and demolition of the rink in the Mar/Apr 1983 edition of community newspaper Shout.This photo was taken during the fire in 1982.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st moritz

In the 1890s, the upper Esplanade roadway in St Kilda needed to be widened to accommodate tracks for a new cable tramway. As part of the embankment works, spaces for ten shops with arched ceilings and verandas were built into the supporting wall. These are now known as the Esplanade Vaults. The shop verandas were removed in the 1950s. The vaults were bricked up when the road was widened, and the footpath reduced, in the 1970s.Black and white photograph, unmountedWritten in blue ballpoint on back 'missing mural?' david rae collection, st kilda, esplanade vaults

The St. Moritz Ice Rink was a popular ice skating rink on The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria. It operated between 1939–1981. As one of only two ice rinks in Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s, it played a central role to the sport of ice hockey in Australia. Closed in 1982, it soon suffered a major fire and was then demolished, an event later seen as a major blow to the heritage of St Kilda. It was first built as the Wattle Path Palais de Danse in 1922, a very large dance hall, designed by architects Beaver & Purnell, The Wattle Path was the venue for the first all-Australian dance championship, and featured some of the best dance bands of Australia, as well as from America. Popular throughout the 1920s, it suffered due to the Great Depression, and closed in the early 1930s. From 1933-1936 the building became a film studio, Efftee Studios, for Frank W. Thring. In 1938, businessman Henry Hans "Harry" Kleiner announced that the Wattle Path would become an ice rink. He was sole proprietor until 1953, when he sold the business to J. Gordon and T. Molony, both champion skaters. Trade declined during the 1970s. The building was sold in 1980 to developers Hudson Conway and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and was closed in early 1982. It was nominated to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, but a majority of City of St Kilda councillors voted to oppose this action and uphold a demolition permit already issued. The building infamously suffered a fire later that year, leaving only the facades, which were demolished soon after. The site remained vacant until about 1991, when a mid-price hotel called the St Moritz was constructed. By 1993 it was simply called the Novotel St Kilda. The hotel closed in 2019 and was replaced by an apartment complex. The image was published with an article about the fire and demolition of the rink in the Mar/Apr 1983 edition of community newspaper Shout.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st moritz

The clocktower commemorates Carlo Catani (1852-1918), the chief engineer of the Public Works Department who designed the landscaping of the gardens at the end of Fitzroy Street, St Kilda (now named Catani Gardens), and was responsible for the foreshore works all the way to Point Ormond as well as a variety of other major projects. The clocktower was unveiled in 1932. The photograph was published in Shout newspaper, published by the St Kilda Shout Collective. It accompanied an article about the installation of 12 palm trees along the Upper Esplanade (including the one shown next to the Catani Memorial Clock Tower) and plans for more to come.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, catani memorial clock tower

The heritage-listed carousel was manufactured in 1913 and has been operating in Luna Park since 1923. It houses an organ made in 1909. The 68 horses and 2 chariots are hand painted. The image was published with an article in Shout newspaper about a visit to Luna Park and interviews with visitors.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda

The heritage-listed ride has been operating at Luna Park since 1934. The image was published with an article in Shout newspaper about a visit to Luna Park and interviews with visitors.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda

Located on the Lower Esplanade at St Kilda, the Palais Theatre opened on 11 November 1927, replacing an earlier cinema destroyed by fire the year before. It accommodated nearly 3000 patrons. After the introduction of television, it became a venue for live performances including opera, classical ballet, folk and ethnic dance companies, musicals and concerts. The Australian Ballet performed there in the 1970s until the Victorian Arts Centre opened in 1984. The photograph was taken around the time of the Australian Ballet's 1981 season from July 23 to August 6, featuring ballets "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Onegin," "Suite en Blanc," "Carmen," "Variaciones Concertantes," "The Merry Widow," "Poems," "Kettentanz," "Monotones," and "Afternoon of a Faun". The image was published in Shout newspaper on two occasions, accompanying articles about the future of the St Kilda foreshore. Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, palais theatre

Timmys Hamburgers and Take Away Foods at 89A Fitzroy Street St Kilda. It is one of three shopfronts built, possibly in the 1950s, in the former front garden of the Strathmore building (built around 1882). The image was published with an article in Shout newspaper about Timmys in August 1981.Black and white photograph, unmountedNote on reverse in blue ball point: 89C Fitzroy St STRATHMORE 'Cone Heads' June 2024david rae collection, st kilda

7-Eleven store in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. The image was published with an articles in Shout newspaper about the growth in the number of 7-Eleven stores in the area and complaints by St Kilda Fitzroy Street traders about a planned second store in Fitzroy Street.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda

Andrew McCutcheon MLA (29 September 1931–16 December 2017) was the State Member for St Kilda (1982–1992). He served as Minister for Water Resources and for Property and Services (1985–1987) and Attorney-General (1987–1990). He also held the portfolios of Local Government (1988–89), Ethnic Affairs (1989–90) and the Arts (1990). From 1990 to 1992 he was Minister for Planning and Urban Growth (later Planning and Housing). McCutcheon's seat was abolished in 1992 and he retired from politics. The images marked '16' and '18' were published with an article in Shout newspaper about McCutcheon shortly after he was selected as the ALP candidate for St Kilda. Image '18' was used again in the March/April 1983 edition with an article on his election commitments.Contact sheet of 12 black and white imagesOn images: hand written numbers in black; black and red dots. Written in pencil on reverse: can cut 4796A david rae collection, st kilda, andrew mccutcheon mla

A corner of the Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda is in the foreground. The neighbouring Arrandale apartments, at 8-10 The Esplanade, is in the background. Arrandale was built on a prime piece of land overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Until the 1970s, the land was the site of Wickcliffe, a mansion built in about 1873 and converted in 1912 to a cafe and theatre called Arcadia and subsequently The Dandies open Air Theatre. The image was published with an article in Shout newspaper about the expectation that there would be more high rise flats, such as Arrandale, along the Upper Esplanade.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, arrandale, the esplanade

Fitzroy Street St Kilda, outside iconic Italian restaurant Topolino's at number 87, which opened in the 1970s. The Forte family, who ran the business, owned the buildings at 83-87 Fitzroy Street and advertised them for sale in October 2025. The image was first published with an article about Fitzroy Street in the November 1981 edition of community newspaper Shout, and again in the July 1983 edition.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, martin munz

Fitzroy Street St Kilda outside number 55, Leo’s Spaghetti Bar, an iconic restaurant which opened in 1956. The image appeared with an article about Fitzroy Street in the November 1981 edition of community newspaper Shout.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda

The St. Moritz Ice Rink was a popular ice skating rink on The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria. It operated between 1939–1981. As one of only two ice rinks in Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s, it played a central role to the sport of ice hockey in Australia. Closed in 1982, it soon suffered a major fire and was then demolished, an event later seen as a major blow to the heritage of St Kilda. It was first built as the Wattle Path Palais de Danse in 1922, a very large dance hall, designed by architects Beaver & Purnell, The Wattle Path was the venue for the first all-Australian dance championship, and featured some of the best dance bands of Australia, as well as from America. Popular throughout the 1920s, it suffered due to the Great Depression, and closed in the early 1930s. From 1933-1936 the building became a film studio, Efftee Studios, for Frank W. Thring. In 1938, businessman Henry Hans "Harry" Kleiner announced that the Wattle Path would become an ice rink. He was sole proprietor until 1953, when he sold the business to J. Gordon and T. Molony, both champion skaters. Trade declined during the 1970s. The building was sold in 1980 to developers Hudson Conway and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and was closed in early 1982. It was nominated to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, but a majority of City of St Kilda councillors voted to oppose this action and uphold a demolition permit already issued. The building infamously suffered a fire later that year, leaving only the facades, which were demolished soon after. The site remained vacant until about 1991, when a mid-price hotel called the St Moritz was constructed. By 1993 it was simply called the Novotel St Kilda. The hotel closed in 2019 and was replaced by an apartment complex.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st moritz

'Moreton' was built c1883 by Captain William Howard Smith (1840-1890), master mariner and ship-owner, at 8 Alfred Square St Kilda. It was named Leber Court from 1929. It was the last mansion standing in Alfred Square when it was demolished in the early 1980s. The image was published in the Mar/Apr 1983 edition of community newspaper Shout.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, howard smith, moreton, leber court, alfred square, mansions

Robert H Morley was a Councillor for the City of St Kilda from 1929 to 1938, as well as a Real Estate agent. The image was published in the July 1983 edition of community newspaper Shout with an article about a dispute with tenants about rent increases.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda

'Moreton' was built c1883 by Captain William Howard Smith (1840-1890), master mariner and ship-owner, at 8 Alfred Square St Kilda. It was named Leber Court from 1929. It was the last mansion standing in Alfred Square when it was demolished in the early 1980s.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, howard smith, mansions, leber court, moreton, alfred square

The St. Moritz Ice Rink was a popular ice skating rink on The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria. It operated between 1939–1981. As one of only two ice rinks in Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s, it played a central role to the sport of ice hockey in Australia. Closed in 1982, it soon suffered a major fire and was then demolished, an event later seen as a major blow to the heritage of St Kilda. It was first built as the Wattle Path Palais de Danse in 1922, a very large dance hall, designed by architects Beaver & Purnell, The Wattle Path was the venue for the first all-Australian dance championship, and featured some of the best dance bands of Australia, as well as from America. Popular throughout the 1920s, it suffered due to the Great Depression, and closed in the early 1930s. From 1933-1936 the building became a film studio, Efftee Studios, for Frank W. Thring. In 1938, businessman Henry Hans "Harry" Kleiner announced that the Wattle Path would become an ice rink. He was sole proprietor until 1953, when he sold the business to J. Gordon and T. Molony, both champion skaters. Trade declined during the 1970s. The building was sold in 1980 to developers Hudson Conway and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and was closed in early 1982. It was nominated to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, but a majority of City of St Kilda councillors voted to oppose this action and uphold a demolition permit already issued. The building infamously suffered a fire later that year, leaving only the facades, which were demolished soon after. The site remained vacant until about 1991, when a mid-price hotel called the St Moritz was constructed. By 1993 it was simply called the Novotel St Kilda. The hotel closed in 2019 and was replaced by an apartment complex. The photograph shows signs and workers of Whelan the Wrecker team, a well-known demolition company in Melbourne.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st moritz

The St. Moritz Ice Rink was a popular ice skating rink on The Esplanade, St. Kilda, Victoria. It operated between 1939–1981. As one of only two ice rinks in Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s, it played a central role to the sport of ice hockey in Australia. Closed in 1982, it soon suffered a major fire and was then demolished, an event later seen as a major blow to the heritage of St Kilda. It was first built as the Wattle Path Palais de Danse in 1922, a very large dance hall, designed by architects Beaver & Purnell, The Wattle Path was the venue for the first all-Australian dance championship, and featured some of the best dance bands of Australia, as well as from America. Popular throughout the 1920s, it suffered due to the Great Depression, and closed in the early 1930s. From 1933-1936 the building became a film studio, Efftee Studios, for Frank W. Thring. In 1938, businessman Henry Hans "Harry" Kleiner announced that the Wattle Path would become an ice rink. He was sole proprietor until 1953, when he sold the business to J. Gordon and T. Molony, both champion skaters. Trade declined during the 1970s. The building was sold in 1980 to developers Hudson Conway and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and was closed in early 1982. It was nominated to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, but a majority of City of St Kilda councillors voted to oppose this action and uphold a demolition permit already issued. The building infamously suffered a fire later that year, leaving only the facades, which were demolished soon after. The site remained vacant until about 1991, when a mid-price hotel called the St Moritz was constructed. By 1993 it was simply called the Novotel St Kilda. The hotel closed in 2019 and was replaced by an apartment complex.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st moritz

'Moreton' was built c1883 by Captain William Howard Smith (1840-1890), master mariner and ship-owner, at 8 Alfred Square St Kilda. It was named Leber Court from 1929. It was the last mansion standing in Alfred Square when it was demolished in the early 1980s.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, howard smith, st kilda, mansions, alfred square

'Moreton' was built c1883 by Captain William Howard Smith (1840-1890), master mariner and ship-owner, at 8 Alfred Square St Kilda. It was named Leber Court from 1929. It was the last mansion standing in Alfred Square when it was demolished in the early 1980s.Black and white photograph david rae collection, howard smith, moreton, leber court, st kilda, mansions, alfred square

Andrew McCutcheon MLA (29 September 1931 – 16 December 2017) was the State Member for St Kilda (1982-1992). He served as Minister for Water Resources and for Property and Services (1985-1987) and Attorney-General (1987 to 1990). He also held the portfolios of Local Government (1988–89), Ethnic Affairs (1989–90) and the Arts (1990). From 1990 to 1992 he was Minister for Planning and Urban Growth (later Planning and Housing). McCutcheon's seat was abolished in 1992 and he retired from politics. Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, andrew mccutcheon mla

Save St Kilda Train campaign. There was strong community opposition to the planned closure of the St Kilda line after 130 years of operation. The line officially closed on 31 July 1987. Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st kilda train, save st kilda trains campaign

Andrew McCutcheon MLA (29 September 1931 – 16 December 2017) was the State Member for St Kilda (1982-1992). He served as Minister for Water Resources and for Property and Services (1985-1987) and Attorney-General (1987 to 1990). He also held the portfolios of Local Government (1988–89), Ethnic Affairs (1989–90) and the Arts (1990). From 1990 to 1992 he was Minister for Planning and Urban Growth (later Planning and Housing). McCutcheon's seat was abolished in 1992 and he retired from politics. Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, andrew mccutcheon mla

Save St Kilda Train campaign. There was strong community opposition to the planned closure of the St Kilda line after 130 years of operation. The line officially closed on 31 July 1987. Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st kilda train, save st kilda trains campaign

Photograph of Arden Flats, at 1-2 Marine Parade. "Arden" at nos. 1-2 Marine Parade, St Kilda, was built in 1881-83 as a two storeyed terraced pair but then altered to form the present Arden Flats in 1934. The building is historically and aesthetically significant. It demonstrates two important phases in the evolution of St Kilda: the period of late Victorian expansion; and the Inter War years during which St Kilda emerged as a pre-eminent location for apartments.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, st kilda - terraces, mansions

In the 1890s, the upper Esplanade roadway in St Kilda needed to be widened to accommodate tracks for a new cable tramway. As part of the embankment works, spaces for ten shops with arched ceilings and verandas were built into the supporting wall. These are now known as the Esplanade Vaults. The shop verandas were removed in the 1950s. The vaults were bricked up when the road was widened, and the footpath reduced, in the 1970s.Black and white photograph, unmounteddavid rae collection, st kilda, esplanade vaults

Images of St Kilda streets, buildings, waterfront, ice skating activities, people in early 1980s.Contact sheet of 27 black and white photos, unmounted. Two holes punched on right hand side of sheet. Staple in top left hand corner.Marks on 5 of the proofs in blue pendavid rae collection, st kilda