Mooroolbark, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Mooroolbark is a suburb of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
, 31 km east from Melbourne's central business district
. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges
. At the 2006 Census, Mooroolbark had a population of 19,335. Mooroolbark is at an altitude of approximately 93m.
Aboriginal
people ("moorool" meaning red and "beek" the earth). An alternative meaning of Mooroolbark being "the place where the wide waters meet" is recorded by Museum Victoria
. Another meaning recorded is "red bark".
The Parish of Mooroolbark was surveyed in 1855, with a township originally called Brushy Creek standing where North Croydon is today. The name "Mooroolbark" was to be popularised with eventual European settlement in the late 19th century. A rural hub developed around the train station, which opened in 1887 and offered rail access to Melbourne. The Post Office opened shortly after on 15 March 1888.
Wonga Park
used to be a part of Mooroolbark until the early 20th century when it became a separate suburb. Another locality called Mooroolbark Park was later renamed as Chirnside Park
.
In addition, Telebus
services, where passengers can request to be picked up or dropped off from home, also operate in the area.
Brice Avenue, the main shopping strip has a strict alcohol-free policy in place. The Alcohol Free Zone, if breached, may result in a fine of up to $2000. Under this law, anyone carrying an uncorked or unsealed alcoholic beverage, within the Mooroolbark township, can be fined at the discretion of the police. However, this doesn't apply to restaurants with an appropriate licence. Alcohol must be consumed within the licensed premises only, if the beverage is taken outside the premises in the public domain, police can issue a fine.
Government Schools
Private Schools
.
The first Blue Light Disco
in Australia was held in Mooroolbark in 1976. The 'Blue Light Disco', specifically a local Victoria Police
initiative, is now a well-known attraction for teenagers Australia-wide.
. A number of environmental concerns exist because of its location almost entirely within an urban environment.
Since 2002, there has been a smaller festival known as 'Celebrate Mooroolbark', running on a Saturday at around the same time of the year. The 2011 Celebrate Mooroolbark Festival will be held on Saturday 26 March, with the Festival's Talent Quest on the preceding evening.
.
in New South Wales
to the Port Phillip District
, was looking for some stray cattle east of Melbourne
. His search took him via the Eltham
and Yarra Glen
areas to where Mooroolbark now is, and he found his cattle near the Olinda Creek
. News of this new grazing land travelled back to Melbourne, and graziers soon brought their stock up the Yarra Valley
. The first farmers in Mooroolbark were John Lithgow in 1845 and Robert Blair in 1847.
The early 20th Century landscape designer Edna Walling
purchased 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of land at Mooroolbark and built her first home from local and second hand materials. This home was named Sonning, after Gertrude Jekyll
's Deanery Garden, Sonning, an English garden she had visited. Her property is now the Bickleigh Vale Estate in the eastern part of Mooroolbark, which is a private residential area but in the past has been open for public display as part of Australia's Open Garden Scheme. A stencil art representation of her is located at the Mooroolbark Community Centre.
Sam Mitchell
, is an Australian Rules Football premiership captain and was born and raised in Mooroolbark. Prior to playing in the Australian Football League
he played for the local club in Mooroolbark before moving to the Box Hill Hawks
.
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...
, 31 km east from Melbourne's central business district
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges
Shire of Yarra Ranges
The Yarra Ranges Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer eastern and northeastern suburbs of Melbourne extending into the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges...
. At the 2006 Census, Mooroolbark had a population of 19,335. Mooroolbark is at an altitude of approximately 93m.
History
“Mooroolbeek” is popularly thought to be the name given by the local WurundjeriWurundjeri
The Wurundjeri are a people of the Indigenous Australian nation of the Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin alliance, who occupy the Birrarung Valley, its tributaries and the present location of Melbourne, Australia...
Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
people ("moorool" meaning red and "beek" the earth). An alternative meaning of Mooroolbark being "the place where the wide waters meet" is recorded by Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria is an organisation which operates three major state-owned museums in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; these are: the Melbourne Museum, the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks. It also manages the Royal Exhibition Building and a storage facility in Melbourne's City of Moreland.Museum...
. Another meaning recorded is "red bark".
The Parish of Mooroolbark was surveyed in 1855, with a township originally called Brushy Creek standing where North Croydon is today. The name "Mooroolbark" was to be popularised with eventual European settlement in the late 19th century. A rural hub developed around the train station, which opened in 1887 and offered rail access to Melbourne. The Post Office opened shortly after on 15 March 1888.
Wonga Park
Wonga Park, Victoria
Wonga Park a locality within Greater Melbourne beyond the Melbourne metropolitan area Urban Growth Boundary, 29 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham...
used to be a part of Mooroolbark until the early 20th century when it became a separate suburb. Another locality called Mooroolbark Park was later renamed as Chirnside Park
Chirnside Park, Victoria
Chirnside Park is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 33 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2006 Census, Chirnside Park had a population of 9092.-Brief history:...
.
Transport
Mooroolbark has a train station which is on the Lilydale railway line. It has 595 car parking spaces.Bus routes
A number of bus routes serve the Mooroolbark area.In addition, Telebus
Telebus
A Telebus , Dial-a-bus , or Dial-a-ride service is a bus service that operates in a mode partway between a normal scheduled bus service and a taxi. The academic name for these services is demand responsive transport...
services, where passengers can request to be picked up or dropped off from home, also operate in the area.
"Five Ways"
Located in Mooroolbark is one of Melbourne's most unusual intersections between Hull Road, Lincoln Road, Manchester Road and Cambridge Road: three consecutive roundabouts (pictured). Initially, the three latter streets simply connected to Hull Road at close, but slightly different, locations. In order to eliminate the troubles caused by vehicles failing to give way to those coming from other adjoining streets, it was decided to build individual roundabouts at each intersection, and employ the standard 'give way' road rules. This has cleared up most of the troubles on Hull Road (southwest to northeast), but the prospect of passing through the intersection for those who don't know it may be a little daunting. This intersection is usually referred to as "Five Ways" or "The Mooroolbark roundabouts" and can be a waiting game in peak hour traffic.Shopping district
The main shopping district is located along Brice Avenue and Manchester Road, featuring two supermarkets, which are: Coles and IGA, two gymnasiums, two pharmacies, fast food franchises, cafés, hair salons and thrift shops. Mooroolbark also has a tavern and wine bar.Brice Avenue, the main shopping strip has a strict alcohol-free policy in place. The Alcohol Free Zone, if breached, may result in a fine of up to $2000. Under this law, anyone carrying an uncorked or unsealed alcoholic beverage, within the Mooroolbark township, can be fined at the discretion of the police. However, this doesn't apply to restaurants with an appropriate licence. Alcohol must be consumed within the licensed premises only, if the beverage is taken outside the premises in the public domain, police can issue a fine.
Police station
Mooroolbark has a 24-hour police station. It is located at the corner of Hull and Cambridge Roads ("Five Ways"), 700 metres from the Mooroolbark train station and town centre.Schools
There are a number of Primary and Secondary Schools within Mooroolbark offering a choice between Government and Private education.Government Schools
- Bimbadeen Heights Primary School
- Manchester Primary School
- Mooroolbark East Primary School
- Pembroke Primary School
- Rolling Hills Primary
- Mooroolbark CollegeMooroolbark CollegeMooroolbark College is a government secondary school situated in Victoria, Australia, near the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. It has a student population of around 1160....
- Pembroke Secondary CollegePembroke Secondary CollegeYarra Hills Secondary College is a secondary school in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The school has three campuses: junior campuses in Cambridge Road, Mooroolbark, and in Mount Evelyn, serve students in years 7-10, and a senior campus in Reay Road in Mooroolbark serves year 11...
Private Schools
- Billanook CollegeBillanook CollegeBillanook College is an independent co-ed school with an early learning program through to Year 12, located in Mooroolbark, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia, and a member of Round Square. It was founded in 1980 by the founding principal Dr Peter...
- Saint Peter Julian Eymard Community School
- Yarralinda Private Primary School
Community centre
Another point of interest within Mooroolbark is the Mooroolbark Community Centre, which has undergone radical changes since 2004 as part of a civil beautification and anti-graffiti project. The community centre is now surrounded by colourful mosaics and street art, including a stencil art representation of Mooroolbark's most famous citizen, the early 20th Century landscape designer Edna WallingEdna Walling
Edna Walling was one of Australia's most influential landscape designers.Walling grew up in the village of Bickleigh in Devon, England...
.
The first Blue Light Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
in Australia was held in Mooroolbark in 1976. The 'Blue Light Disco', specifically a local Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
initiative, is now a well-known attraction for teenagers Australia-wide.
Churches
- Mooroolbark Salvation Army
- Mooroolbark Baptist Church
- Saint Francis in the Fields Anglican church
- Saint Margaret's Uniting Church
- Saint Peter Julian Eymard Catholic Church
- Mooroolbark Neighbourhood Church
Brushy Creek
Most of Mooroolbark is in the catchment of Brushy Creek, a tributary of the Yarra RiverYarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
. A number of environmental concerns exist because of its location almost entirely within an urban environment.
Community festivals
From 1980 to 2001, Mooroolbark had the 'Red Earth Festival', usually on the third or fourth weekend of March every year beginning on Friday evening and running all day Saturday and Sunday. The 'Red Earth Festival' had many stores and carnival rides. The highlights of that festival included a parade on the Saturday, which began in the grounds of the former Mooroolbark Primary School (which closed at the end of 2004) and went down Brice Avenue towards the fairground. On the Sunday, the festival hosted an open air market followed by a fireworks display at night. Due to a number of problems including falling attendances and a significant increase in insurance premiums, the Red Earth Festival ran for the last time in March 2001.Since 2002, there has been a smaller festival known as 'Celebrate Mooroolbark', running on a Saturday at around the same time of the year. The 2011 Celebrate Mooroolbark Festival will be held on Saturday 26 March, with the Festival's Talent Quest on the preceding evening.
Sport
Mooroolbark Soccer Club "The Barkers" - originally founded as a Dutch team with the name Mooroolbark United Soccer Club in 1962, Mooroolbark's backing changed to a British influenced club in its formative years. In 1978 the United tagline was dropped from the name. The club's claim to fame is as Victoria's (and Australia's) first national sporting club side. Mooroolbark enabled the National Soccer League to proceed, breaking the deadlock which was then in force between the budding national league and clubs from Victoria whom the Victorian Soccer Federation had forbidden to join the competition.Air monitoring
Mooroolbark has one of thirteen ‘Air Monitoring Stations’ throughout Melbourne & Victoria. It measures Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO²) Ozone (O³) Particles. Monitoring Began on Monday, April 8, 2002. Data is compiled by EPA VictoriaEnvironment Protection Authority (Victoria)
EPA Victoria is a statutory authority that reports to the Victorian Parliament through the . Its purpose is to protect, care for and improve the environment for the benefit of the Victorian community.-Overview:...
.
Notable people
In 1836 John Gardiner, one of the first to bring cattle down from the MurrumbidgeeMurrumbidgee River
The Murrumbidgee River is a major river in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory . A major tributary of the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee flows in a west-northwesterly direction from the foot of Peppercorn Hill in the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains,...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
to the Port Phillip District
Port Phillip District
The Port Phillip District was an historical administrative division of the Colony of New South Wales, existing from September 1836 until 1 July 1851, when it was separated from New South Wales and became the Colony of Victoria....
, was looking for some stray cattle east of Melbourne
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...
. His search took him via the Eltham
Eltham, Victoria
Eltham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2006 Census, Eltham had a population of 17,581....
and Yarra Glen
Yarra Glen, Victoria
Yarra Glen is a town in Victoria, Australia, 40 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
areas to where Mooroolbark now is, and he found his cattle near the Olinda Creek
Olinda Creek
Olinda Creek is a major tributary of the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. Its origins are in the Dandenong Ranges, and it is notable for passing through the settlement of Lilydale before joining with the Yarra near Coldstream.....
. News of this new grazing land travelled back to Melbourne, and graziers soon brought their stock up the Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is the name given to the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. The river originates approximately 90 kilometres east of the City of Melbourne and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay...
. The first farmers in Mooroolbark were John Lithgow in 1845 and Robert Blair in 1847.
The early 20th Century landscape designer Edna Walling
Edna Walling
Edna Walling was one of Australia's most influential landscape designers.Walling grew up in the village of Bickleigh in Devon, England...
purchased 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of land at Mooroolbark and built her first home from local and second hand materials. This home was named Sonning, after Gertrude Jekyll
Gertrude Jekyll
Gertrude Jekyll was an influential British garden designer, writer, and artist. She created over 400 gardens in the UK, Europe and the USA and contributed over 1,000 articles to Country Life, The Garden and other magazines.-Early life:...
's Deanery Garden, Sonning, an English garden she had visited. Her property is now the Bickleigh Vale Estate in the eastern part of Mooroolbark, which is a private residential area but in the past has been open for public display as part of Australia's Open Garden Scheme. A stencil art representation of her is located at the Mooroolbark Community Centre.
Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell (footballer)
Samuel Mitchell is an Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League .- Debut season :...
, is an Australian Rules Football premiership captain and was born and raised in Mooroolbark. Prior to playing in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
he played for the local club in Mooroolbark before moving to the Box Hill Hawks
Box Hill Hawks
Box Hill Hawks Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the Victorian Football League. It has an alliance with the Hawthorn Football Club which plays in the Australian Football League....
.