Abbotsford is a suburb in Melbourne, 2 km east from Melbourne's central business district. 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. Victoria Street forms the southern boundary to Abbotsford (with Richmond).
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 area was once bush along the Yarra River originally occupied by the Wurrunjeri people.
Abbotsford is home to Carlton and United Breweries, the company which produces Victoria Bitter and Foster's Lager. The malt smell of brewing often fills the surrounding area. Visitors can see the beer making process at the Carlton Brewhouse centre and tour the brewery itself before returning to the Brewhouse for a complimentary ale.
Dights Falls, where the Merri Creek and Yarra River join is a short walk from the farm and is a favourite spot for kayakers and picnicers. Cyclists pass through the Collingwood Children's Farm on the Yarra River Trail which follows the Yarra River from the city to Dight's Falls, where it meets the Merri Creek Trail. This also forms part of the Capital City Trail. Studley Park is an extensive parkland which merges with the larger Yarra Bend Park, contains Dights falls and features within it a golf course, sports grounds, and small pockets of natural forest.
Victoria Park was the home ground of the Collingwood Football Club from its inception in 1892 until 2005. AFL matches are no longer played there. The suburb is probably most notable for the heritage neon 'Skipping Girl' sign along Victoria Street. This is a reproduction of the origin.
Two railway stations are located in Abbotsford, both on the Epping and Hurstbridge lines. The Collingwood railway station services the middle of the suburb, whilst Victoria Park station services the northern section and Victoria Park stadium. Nearby North Richmond station also services the southernmost part of the suburb. Tram route 109 (Port Melbourne/Box Hill) runs down Victoria Street and trams no. 78/79 terminate at the corner of Church Street and Victoria Street (technically in Richmond). Hoddle Street is one of the most congested roadways in metropolitan Melbourne. The Eastern Freeway feeds into it at the northern end. Much of Abbotsford is serviced by narrow one way streets and is punctuated by the main streets of Hoddle, Nicholson and Johnston Streets. Hoddle Street is a major busway and includes a dedicated priority bus lane along the length of the Abbotsford section.