Maidstone, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Maidstone is a suburb 8 km west of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong
. At the 2006 Census, Maidstone had a population of 6050.
Maidstone is a suburb of the City of Maribyrnong
, located 8 km from the Melbourne CBD, bordered by West Footscray to the South on Suffolk Street, Braybrook to the west on Ashley St, Footscray
to the east along Summerhill and Rosamond Roads and Maribyrnong
to the north and north-east along Williamson Road and Rosamond Road.
in Kent
as it is close to Footscray
which was named after Foots Cray
, another town formerly
in Kent.
Maidstone Post Office opened on 1 October 1858 and closed in 1986.
Maidstone was predominantly made up of period weatherboard, brick Art Deco
and Californian Bungalow houses constructed between the 1920s and 1940s. Concrete houses built in the late 1940s to house the families of returned servicemen from World War II
are also found. From the early 1990s many old factory sites in Maidstone have been turned into new housing estates comprising hundreds of houses and townhouses. Maidstones recent development boost, good public transport availability and close proximity to the CBD has also seen the median house price escalate dramatically over the past 10 years.
Golfers play at the course of the Medway Golf Club on Omar Street.
tram provides public transport from Flinders Street Station
in the city to Cordite Avenue, West Maribyrnong, on the border of Maidstone, while tram route 82
tram provides public transport from Moonee Ponds
(Ascot Vale Road / Puckle Street) to Footscray
(Leeds Street / Irving Street) passing through Maidstone for a segment of its journey. It is one of very few Melbourne tram routes which do not travel through the Melbourne CBD.
West Footscray and Tottenham train stations are the closest to Maidstone but many residents catch the bus to Footscray station.
A number of different buses pass through the Maidstone.
The Maribyrnong River Trail
connects cyclists to the Footscray Road off-road path and into the Docklands and Melbourne CBD.
. Some species thrive in the area and often journey up and down river from Brimbank Park (5 km up river from Maidstone). The most abundant are;
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong
City of Maribyrnong
The City of Maribyrnong is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the inner western suburbs between 5 and 10 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...
. At the 2006 Census, Maidstone had a population of 6050.
Maidstone is a suburb of the City of Maribyrnong
City of Maribyrnong
The City of Maribyrnong is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the inner western suburbs between 5 and 10 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...
, located 8 km from the Melbourne CBD, bordered by West Footscray to the South on Suffolk Street, Braybrook to the west on Ashley St, Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
to the east along Summerhill and Rosamond Roads and Maribyrnong
Maribyrnong, Victoria
Maribyrnong is a suburb 8 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong, part of River Ward. At the 2006 Census, Maribyrnong had a population of 8242....
to the north and north-east along Williamson Road and Rosamond Road.
History
Maidstone was established in 1858. It was given the name of the town of MaidstoneMaidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
as it is close to Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
which was named after Foots Cray
Foots Cray
Foots Cray is a place in the London Borough of Bexley, near the town of Sidcup, in southeast London, England, United Kingdom.It took its name from Godwin Fot, a local Saxon landowner recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, and from the River Cray that passes through the village. It lay on the old...
, another town formerly
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
in Kent.
Maidstone Post Office opened on 1 October 1858 and closed in 1986.
Maidstone was predominantly made up of period weatherboard, brick Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
and Californian Bungalow houses constructed between the 1920s and 1940s. Concrete houses built in the late 1940s to house the families of returned servicemen from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
are also found. From the early 1990s many old factory sites in Maidstone have been turned into new housing estates comprising hundreds of houses and townhouses. Maidstones recent development boost, good public transport availability and close proximity to the CBD has also seen the median house price escalate dramatically over the past 10 years.
Attractions
- Highpoint Shopping CentreHighpoint Shopping CentreHighpoint Shopping Centre is a major shopping centre located in Maribyrnong, Victoria, in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The centre has over 400 stores including a four-level Myer department store, Target, Big W, Harris Scarfe, Safeway supermarket, Best and Less, Rebel...
(est 1975. Technically part of neighboring suburb MaribyrnongMaribyrnong, VictoriaMaribyrnong is a suburb 8 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong, part of River Ward. At the 2006 Census, Maribyrnong had a population of 8242....
, however lies on the border of Maidstone.) - Maribyrnong RiverMaribyrnong riverThe Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
- Maribyrnong River TrailMaribyrnong River TrailThe Maribyrnong River Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Maribyrnong River through the north western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
- Medway Golf Club
Education
- Maribyrnong CollegeMaribyrnong CollegeMaribyrnong College and formerly Maribyrnong High School is a Victorian Government Secondary School in Maribyrnong in the inner Western suburbs of Melbourne....
(est 1958) Located on the border of Maidstone & Maribyrnong. Street Address is River St, Maribyrong after rezoning. - Footscray North Primary School (est 1922) Located on the border of Maidstone & FootscrayFootscray, VictoriaFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
(Technically located in Footscray, as the Eastern side of Rosamond Road at that point is Footscray.) - St Vincents School.
- Little VIPs Childcare Centre.
- Highpoint Kinder Haven - located on the border of Maidstone & FootscrayFootscray, VictoriaFootscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
.
Features
- Our Lady's Catholic Church is a landmark building established in 1962 located on Ballarat Road.
- Al-Noor Mosque in Maidstone is the second oldest mosque in Melbourne and one of the oldest in Australia.
- There is a Student Village for the Victoria UniversityVictoria University, AustraliaVictoria University is a multi-sector tertiary institution based in Melbourne, Australia with 10 campuses.VU offers qualifications in higher education, vocational education , and short courses...
in the area. - Flemington RacecourseFlemington RacecourseFlemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
(Home of the Melbourne CupMelbourne CupThe Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
) is located adjacent to Maidstone, just the other side of the Maribyrnong River. - The Western HighwayWestern HighwayWestern Highway may refer to:*Western Highway, Victoria in Australia*Western Highway...
runs through Maidstone. - The ongoing development and success of Melbourne DocklandsMelbourne DocklandsDocklands is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia occupying an area extending up to 2 km west of and adjacent to Melbourne's Central Business District . Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
in the West of Melbourne has attracted interest for further development of inner city suburbs such as Footscray and Maidstone. - The new modern housing estate Edgewater on the Maribyrnong RiverMaribyrnong riverThe Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
borders Maidstone. - Genesis Fitness Club (est 2009) located on cnr of Hamstead Rd and Emu Rd (indoor athletics track)
Sport facilities
Maidstone boasts many sports clubs. The list of clubs include the following;- Sunshine George Cross Juniors Soccer Club (Dobson Reserve)
- Rosamond Bowling Club
- Leros United Soccer Club (Scovell Reserve)
- Rosamond Tennis Club (Footscray North Primary School)
- Maidstone Junior Sporting Club (As above)
- Footscray United Cricket Club (Scovell Reserve)
Golfers play at the course of the Medway Golf Club on Omar Street.
Transport
Tram route 57Melbourne tram route 57
Tram route 57 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from the corner of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street in the city centre to West Maribyrnong in the inner Western suburbs....
tram provides public transport from Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
in the city to Cordite Avenue, West Maribyrnong, on the border of Maidstone, while tram route 82
Melbourne tram route 82
Tram route 82 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from the corner of Leeds and Irving Streets near Footscray railway station in Footscray to the corner of Ascot Vale Road and Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds. It is one of Melbourne's very few tram routes which...
tram provides public transport from Moonee Ponds
Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Moonee Ponds is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley.It is home to Queens Park and the Moonee Valley Racecourse...
(Ascot Vale Road / Puckle Street) to Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
(Leeds Street / Irving Street) passing through Maidstone for a segment of its journey. It is one of very few Melbourne tram routes which do not travel through the Melbourne CBD.
West Footscray and Tottenham train stations are the closest to Maidstone but many residents catch the bus to Footscray station.
A number of different buses pass through the Maidstone.
The Maribyrnong River Trail
Maribyrnong River Trail
The Maribyrnong River Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Maribyrnong River through the north western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
connects cyclists to the Footscray Road off-road path and into the Docklands and Melbourne CBD.
Flora and fauna
Many native species exist along the Maribyrnong RiverMaribyrnong river
The Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
. Some species thrive in the area and often journey up and down river from Brimbank Park (5 km up river from Maidstone). The most abundant are;
- Rainbow LorikeetRainbow LorikeetThe Rainbow Lorikeet, is a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia , Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania...
- Common Brushtail PossumCommon Brushtail PossumThe Common Brushtail Possum is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, it is native to Australia, and the largest of the possums.Like most possums, the Common Brushtail is nocturnal...
- Black Flying Foxes or Fruit Bat PteropusPteropusBats of the genus Pteropus, belonging to the megabat or Megachiroptera sub-order, are the largest bats in the world. They are commonly known as the fruit bats or flying foxes among other colloquial names...
- CockatooCockatooA cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae and the Strigopidae , they make up the parrot order Psittaciformes . Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, although many aspects of the other living lineages of...
- GalahGalahThe Galah , Eolophus roseicapilla, also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Galah Cockatoo, Roseate Cockatoo or Pink and Grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia.It is endemic on the mainland and was...
Notable people
- Albert FaceyAlbert FaceyAlbert Barnett Facey was an Australian writer and World War I veteran, whose main work was his autobiography, A Fortunate Life, now considered a classic in Australian literature. :)-Early life:...
- Author of A Fortunate LifeA Fortunate LifeA Fortunate Life is an autobiographical novel written by Albert Facey and was published in 1981 and tells the complete story of his life. It chronicles his early life in Western Australia, his experiences as a private during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I and his return to civilian life...
and Gallipoli veteran. Has a street named after him in the eastern part of Maidstone.
See also
- City of SunshineCity of SunshineThe City of Sunshine was a Local Government Area located about west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1860 until 1994.-History:...
- the former local government area of which Maidstone was a part.