Before European settlement, the rise now known as South Melbourne was a corroboree ground for the Boonwurrung people and stood out as a green hill amid the surrounding swamps, giving it the name Emerald Hill. The suburb was renamed South Melbourne in 1883, but the heritage precinct around the old town centre still carries the earlier name. The Emerald Hill Heritage Walk is a self-guided trail developed by the City of Port Phillip that links landmarks from this period, including the South Melbourne Town Hall, opened in 1880 and once home to the local police station, post office and library. The route also passes the Jubilee Memorial Fountain, unveiled in 1905 to mark 50 years since the area became a municipality, along with rows of Victorian-era terrace houses on streets such as Bank, Cecil and Park. The walk is part of a broader series of heritage trails across Port Phillip that encourage exploring the area on foot, with printed and downloadable trail notes available through the council. Local walking groups and heritage tours, including guided walks focused on the area's painted ghost signs, also operate along sections of the route. The trail can be completed at a relaxed pace in under an hour and connects easily to South Melbourne Market and the Clarendon and Coventry Street shopping precincts.