St Kilda Beach Has Hit Capacity as Melburnians Flock to the Sand on Melbourne Cup Day
The mercury hit 30.4 degrees today — making it the hottest Melbourne Cup Day in 51 years.
Thanks to a combination of early summer weather, the relatively new 25-kilometre bubble and the Melbourne Cup public holiday, some of the Melbourne's beaches have hit capacity. The City of Port Phillip Council has this afternoon announced that its beaches are at capacity, as images of a packed St Kilda Beach hit social media.
At 4pm on Tuesday, November 3, two hours after the winning horse crossed the finish line, a 9 News journalist posted a photo on Twitter showing what she says is "thousands" of people relaxing on St Kilda Beach, with "at best" half of them masked.
The City of Pork Phillip, which has been posting hourly updates on its Facebook page, announced that its beaches were "heavily patronised" at 3pm, then that the beaches had reached capacity at 5pm.
"As we near 5pm, the beaches remain full and parking at capacity. As families head home over the next few hours, space may open up." the Council wrote on Facebook at 5pm. "We will do a final hourly post at 6pm but will keep you updated throughout the night if there's anything you need to know about."
As we near 5pm, the beaches remain full and parking at capacity. As families head home over the next few hours, space...
Posted by City Of Port Phillip on Monday, November 2, 2020
The City of Port Phillip Council's beaches include St Kilda Beach, Elwood Beach, Port Melbourne Beach, South Melbourne Beach and Sandridge Beach,
Today in Melbourne, the mercury rose to 30.4 degrees, which the Bureau of Meteorology has said is the warmest Melbourne Cup Day since 1969 — and the warmest day since March 19 this year.
If you are hoping to make it to a beach or park — in your 25-kilometre bubble — for sunset, check out the relevant council's website so you're not turned away at arrival.
For more information about the status of Melbourne's beaches and parks, head to the relevant council's website.
Top image: Sagar Rathod via Flickr
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