St Kilda Historical Society
Photograph, St Kilda Municipal Depot, Inkerman Street - images collection, 1979
Prior to its demolition in 1979, the St Kilda Municipal Depot occupied a 1.2 hectare site at 33 Inkerman Street St Kilda. The land was initially purchased by the Council in 1867 as a site for a permanent market, which ceased to operate in about 1882. In October 1923, the Council discontinued the practice of disposing garbage by burial in tips when it opened a garbage incinerator at the Depot. After thirty years this incinerator had become both obsolete and objectionable to health and was replaced in March 1953 by American-designed Monohearth Garbage Destructor Units. According to the Council, these Destructor Units were the only ones of their kind in Australia and they removed all the objectionable features of garbage disposal (particularly for the employees). They were expected to serve St. Kilda's requirements for the next 80-100 years. In 1957 the Council said that the Destructor Units had 'enabled substantial economies to be effected in the annual costs and have proved a very successful venture. The Council now destroys the garbage from the City of Brighton, which pays for the privilege, and it is anticipated that other Municipalities will also take advantage of ihe benefits of this modern and, in Australia.' See 'City of St Kilda 1857-1957 A Brief Outline of Progress and Development' [82]
In 1994, as a result of the local government amalgamation process combining the former Cities of Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and St.Kilda, the new City of Port Phillip owned three municipal depots. The St. Kilda municipal depot site became surplus to requirements and, in 1996, the City of Port Phillip resolved to use the site for a community housing project under the City of Port Phillip Housing Program. Colour photographCouncil Yards before demolition 1979st kilda, st kilda municipal depot, inkerman street, council depot, destructor