St James Park Dog Off Leash Area

St James Park runs between Burwood Road and Wood Street in Hawthorn, a hilly, mature-treed park where the off-leash zones are the two central sporting ovals and everywhere else stays on lead. It is a well-used socialising spot for Boroondara dog owners, and the ovals give enough running room to matter in an inner-east suburb short of open space.

The dog setup

The ovals are the off-lead zone, under effective voice or hand control, and the steep treed banks, walkways and playground edges all require a lead. Drinking fountains with bowls, benches and tables sit around the oval edges, public toilets and bins are at the entrances, and lighting is limited, so this is a daylight park. After rain the sloping banks get muddy, so expect paws to pay a toll.

City of Boroondara's conditions are specific: keep 30 metres from BBQs and picnic areas in use and 10 metres from playgrounds, and dogs come off the ovals entirely during organised sport, on lead or elsewhere. Carry a lead at all times even on the ovals, limit yourself to two dogs per person, pick up and bin waste, and have your dog registered with the council.

Max: The southern oval draws the ball-throwers and the northern one stays calmer. If your dog wants a game, follow the flying tennis balls.

Worth knowing

Busy windows are weekday mornings from 7 to 9, afternoons from 4 to 6, and Saturday mornings, when the local regulars cycle through before and after work. Mid-morning midweek is the calm slot. Because the ovals are booked for organised sport, a Saturday afternoon visit can find dogs off the field entirely, so check what is on before you set out.

Getting there and parking

Access is off Burwood Road or Wood Street in Hawthorn, about 8 kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD. Street parking is available but fills during peak times and game days. The 72 and 16 trams on Glenferrie Road are a short walk away and Hawthorn Station is roughly five to seven minutes on foot, which makes this one of the more transit-friendly off-leash options in the east.

Close by with the dogs

Boroondara has other off-lead options to rotate through, including the Fairview Park Dog Off Leash Area down by the Yarra and the H.A Smith Reserve Dog Off Leash Area near Glenferrie Road. For coffee, The Other Ostrich Cafe in Hawthorn is a local stop. Browse more off-leash dog areas in Victoria or what's on in Hawthorn.