Brighton

Brighton is a pleasant, affluent suburb on the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The Nepean Highway-Brighton Road link leads directly to the city, while cosmopolitan St Kilda and its celebrated array of multi-ethnic restaurants and bars lies just a few kilometres north on the journey into the city.

Within comfortable travelling distance too are such open recreational gems as Albert Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Fitzroy Gardens.

Despite the suburb's impressive address list, Brighton"s beach belongs to the people, and the slightest rise in Melbourne temperatures is met with a lemming-like rush to the seashore.

Brighton's public attraction is enhanced by the gaily painted bathing boxes which have been an integral part of the Melbourne seaside scene since the 19th century, and by the sea baths, a fenced off section of the bay topped by perimeter decking.

The Royal Brighton Yacht Club, one of the many sailing clubs based on Port Phillip Bay, adjoins the baths complex.

The bay stretches south from Brighton and the Nepean Highway eventually takes the traveller to the resort-studded Mornington Peninsula separating Port Phillip from Westernport.

Modern Brighton is part of the Bayside City Council, which has introduced a unique link with the area"s heritage through art.

This part of Melbourne has had a traditional and close bond with some of Australia"s most celebrated artists, and the council has established a Coastal Art Trail, running for 17 kilometres and taking in Brighton, Sandringham and Beaumaris.

The works of artists such as Arthur Boyd, John Mather, Charles Condor, Frederick McCubbin, Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton are displayed, and as far as is possible, each picture is situated at the very spot where the artist stood to study and paint his or her scene. Brochures including colour miniatures of the paintings and maps indicating the source of the artists" inspiration are available from the council offices.