YARRA RIVER, ABBOTSFORD

Abbotsford is a suburb in Melbourne, Australia, 2 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra. At the 2006 Census, Abbotsford had a population of 4,327. Abbotsford is bounded by Collingwood, Richmond and Clifton Hill and separated from Kew by the meandering Yarra River. Formerly part of the City of Collingwood, it is now part of the City of Yarra.

Some well known Abbotsford landmarks include the Skipping Girl Sign, Dights Falls, the former Collingwood Town Hall, Victoria Park Football Stadium and Abbotsford Convent. Abbotsford is designated one of the 82 Major Activity Centres listed in the Metropolitan Strategy Melbourne 2030. Abbotsford takes its name from the estate of John Orr, which in turn is named after a ford in Scotland's Tweed River used by the Abbott of Melrose Abbey.

Abbotsford was a light industrial, working class, inner suburb. In the last couple of decades the industry moved and the gentrification process began. It is now an expensive address with numerous swanky apartments/warehouse conversions, beautifully restored and renovated Victorian properties and also many brand new units built on former industrial sites. The proximity fo the suburb to the City and also to the river with its adjacent parklands have made it many people's residential preference (as long as they have a deep pocket!). I took these photos last summer, hence the lush vegetation and sunny weather!

This post is part of Kim's Water World Wednesday meme,
and also part of Susan's Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of Nature Footsteps Waters meme.