Brunswick

Brunswick, including Brunswick East and Brunswick West, is an inner suburb of Melbourne, located north of the CBD. It is bordered by Moonee Ponds to the west, Coburg to the north, Northcote to the east, and to the south by Parkville, Carlton and Fitzroy.

Brunswick grew as an industrial suburb from the mid 1800s and was home to large brickworks, textile factories and other manufacturers. Large numbers of immigrants from southern European and the Middle East have settled into the suburb over time, transforming Brunswick into the fascinating melting pot of cultures that it is noted for today.

Brunswick has a large number of shopping and dining areas. The largest is the north-south thoroughfare of Sydney Road which consists of over 2 kilometres of shops, including hotels and restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, and the covered shopping centre of Barkly Square with its supermarkets and speciality stores. In Brunswick East is Lygon Street which is noted for its diversity of restaurants that encompass cuisines from southern Europe and Asia. Smaller centres can be found along Grantham Street, Melville Road and Nicholson Street.

Brunswick has a healthy arts scene with number of galleries and creative outlets including designer boutiques and book stores.

Some interesting architecture can be found in Brunswick. The town hall was built in 1876 and is a striking landmark on Sydney Road. Many churches are noted for their impressive facades. In Dawson Street are the heritage listed chimneys that once formed part of Hoffman Brickworks which was established in 1870.

The heart of Brunswick's open space is an area known as Central Parklands which incorporates a number of parks and sporting ovals between Hope Street and Dawson Street. There are extensive linear parks along much of Moonee Ponds Creek and Merri Creek. Jones Park, on Albion Street, features a lake and open lawns. CERES Community Environment Park borders Merri Creek and includes vegetable gardens, an organic market and cafe.

Brunswick is well served by public transport with three railway stations and four separate tram lines running through the suburb. There are a number of off-road bicycle trails including Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and Merri Creek Trail.