Famed for its Victorian bathing boxes, Brighton is a historic Melbourne suburb overlooking Port Phillip Bay. It lies on the traditional homelands of the Boonwurrung people and was once known as “Dendy’s Special Survey” after its former owner, Henry Dendy. Brighton has since been renamed in honour of the English seaside resort in East Sussex.
Things to do in Brighton
No visit to Brighton is complete without admiring the colourful bathing boxes that line Dendy Street Beach, the oldest of which date from the 1860s. During the summer months, you can refresh with a swim in Port Phillip Bay or take advantage of the Moderne-style Middle Brighton Municipal Baths. Sweeping views across the coastline and Melbourne’s city skyline can be enjoyed from the Middle Brighton Pier.
If you’re a fan of architecture, don’t miss the Brighton Library, which was designed by Kevin Knight in the 1950s. Constructed from red brick, it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum. It’s located adjacent to the Brighton Town Hall and St. Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church, an 1889 religious landmark topped by a soaring spire.
Green thumbs shouldn’t miss the Kamesburgh Gardens, which are located on the site of an Italianate estate once used as a residence for war veterans. As you stroll around its carefully manicured lawns, be sure to admire the collonaded verandahs and Tuscan columns of the whitewashed building. The Kamesburgh Gardens boast an extensive orchard filled with peach, plum, quince and apple trees.
Getting around Brighton
Brighton is around 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Melbourne and 45 minutes from Melbourne Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the North Brighton, Middle Brighton and Brighton Beach railway stations and buses travel through the suburb.