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

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

View taken from pier, c1970, Esplanade Hotel, Esplanade Vaults colour photograph, unmounted

Upper and Lower Esplanades St Kilda with Sea Baths to right and Catani Memorial Clocktower and Vaults to the left, taken from St Kilda Yacht Club. black and white postcard, good conditionUpper and Lower Esplanade, from St Kilda Yacht Club, Post Card, Rose Series, p.2082, printed: 'a real photograph'