St Kilda is an inner-urban Melbourne suburb on the shores of Port Phillip Bay. Its mixed history following white settlement and the role it has played in the wider context of Melbourne have led to its status as an iconic urban community. Like many urban communities, St Kilda has experienced much change over time: it has been both the most exclusive address in town and one of the least salubrious. Currently, wealthier residents are buying into this bayside suburb, forcing longer-term, often disadvantaged, residents out. At this point it remains a socially diverse community due to the presence of public housing and rooming houses. But what is the future for the low-income housing options in the area? Furthermore, as an icon St Kilda belongs to the broader Melbourne community, and residents have to put up - as they have since the late 1800s - with a regular influx of visitors, especially on weekends. This vibrant local community with its colourful history faces new challenges in keeping alive the diversity that has made it so appealing to residents and visitors alike.
