Balwyn North
Melbourne, Victoria
Dunstan Street, Balwyn North
Balwyn North is located in Melbourne
Balwyn North
Balwyn North
Coordinates37°47′37″S 145°5′11″E / 37.79361°S 145.08639°E / -37.79361; 145.08639
Population21,302 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)3104
Elevation60 m (197 ft)
Area8.9 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Location10 km (6 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Kooyong
Suburbs around Balwyn North:
Ivanhoe East Bulleen Doncaster
Kew East Balwyn North Mont Albert North
Kew Balwyn Mont Albert North
Leafy green trees provide a canopy over Bulleen Road

Balwyn North, also known as North Balwyn, is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Boroondara and Whitehorse local government areas. Balwyn North recorded a population of 21,302 at the 2021 census.[2] It contains the localities of Greythorn and Bellevue.[3]

History

The formally recognised traditional owners for the area in which Balwyn North is located are the Wurundjeri people.[4] The Wurundjeri people are represented by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.[5]

Balwyn North was one of the first Melbourne suburbs to be developed according to the pattern of postwar suburbia, with expansive, quiet residential areas designed as family homes and relatively few business districts. The original route of Bulleen Road began at the present-day corner of Kilby Road and Burke Road, but by the 1900s, its route had changed to its present-day alignment. This was a result of Elgar's Special Survey, which dragged the alignment of Burke Road further west, resulting in the surrounding road network being forced to adjust.[6]

A Balwyn North Post Office opened on 1 April 1937. This was renamed Burke Road in 1941, when a new Balwyn North office opened at its current location. The Greythorn Post Office opened in 1951.[7] The suburb was lampooned in the 1974 song by Australian band Skyhooks, Balwyn Calling.[8]

Greythorn

Greythorn was developed later than North Balwyn, but has had residents living there since the 1830s, when the Maughan and Towt families bought large tracts of land in the area. Present-day Greythorn Road was formerly known as "Towt's Road"[9] but renamed to "Whitethorn Road", after the many whitethorn hedges that had been planted along it. To avoid confusion with Whitehorse Road, the name was changed again to "Greythorn" some time in the 1920s. The area around Greythorn Park was a wildlife sanctuary from 1938 until 1954, when the area between the park and Greythorn Road was subdivided and sold for housing.[10] Greythorn Primary School was opened in 1953 and occupies a site covering approximately two hectares.[11]

Geography

Aerial panorama taken from Musca St Reserve, Balwyn North. September 2023.
Aerial panorama of the Eastern Freeway section in Balwyn North facing the city skyline. September 2023.

The north-western part of the suburb is known as Bellevue and the eastern part is known as Greythorn.

Parks and gardens

Balwyn North is host to a large number of parks and reserves, which are used for both passive and active recreation. A line of parks through which Glass Creek formerly ran at surface level lies at the heart of the suburb, stretching from Jacka Street Reserve in the east, through Gordon Barnard Reserve and Hislop Park in the centre, ending with Macleay Park in the west. Other parks in the suburb include Greythorn Park, Leigh Park and Koonung Creek Reserve.

Today

Consistently among Melbourne's top 20 most exclusive postcodes, Balwyn North's status as an affluent suburb has seen middle to upper-middle-class families from surrounding localities transfer to the area to take advantage of the suburb's relatively large block sizes and proximity to some of Victoria's best private schools including those in the neighbouring suburbs.[12]

In the 12-month period to January 2020 Balwyn North reported a median house price of A$1.46 million for a three bedroom house.[13]

Education

Located in Balwyn North are several primary schools, such as Greythorn, Balwyn North, St Bedes, Boroondara Park and Bellevue. Balwyn High School is located on Buchanan Avenue, and is so highly sought after, particularly by Asian families, that property prices within its student catchment area sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than nearby properties not located in the area.[14][15]

Shopping

The main shopping strip is located at the intersection of Doncaster and Bulleen Roads, known as "The Village". There are a number of other local shopping strips, such as Greythorn Village, located further east along Doncaster Road, the East Balwyn Shopping Centre and Belmore Heights Shopping Centre.

Transport

Bicycle tracks connect with the Main Yarra Trail, along the Yarra River and the Eastern Freeway. Tram route 48 passes through Balwyn North, running along Doncaster Road and terminating at the intersection with Balwyn Road. A number of bus routes connect Balwyn North with suburbs such as Box Hill, Camberwell, Doncaster and Templestowe.[16] A number of freeway bus services have stops at the entrance of the Eastern Freeway, on the northern edge of the suburb.

In recent times, there have been numerous calls from both residents and local councils for the extension of the route 48 tram from its present terminus to either the Doncaster Park + Ride facility or further along Doncaster Road to Westfield Doncaster.[17][18]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Balwyn North (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Balwyn North (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  3. ↑ D'Arcy, Jane (20 March 2018). "Greythorn: A mystery 'suburb' where the locals aren't even sure where they live". Domain.com.au. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Map of formally recognised traditional owners". Aboriginal Victoria. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "Wurundjeri". Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  6. ↑ Lay, Max (2003). Melbourne Miles: the story of Melbourne's roads. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Scholarly Publications Pty Ltd. pp. 128–129. ISBN 1-74097-019-5.
  7. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
  8. ↑ "Balwyn mauling - In Depth - theage.com.au". The Age. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Balwyn Historical Society" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "Balwyn Historical Society Newsletter - March 2014" (PDF). Balwyn Historical Society. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "About Us". greythornps.vic.edu.au. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Victoria's most expensive suburbs - March 2016". realstateview.com.au. 21 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "Real Estate - Properties for Sale, Rent and Share - Domain". domain.com.au.
  14. ↑ Lindsay, Nicole. "When class conscious really means schools". The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  15. ↑ Zhou, Christina. "Chinese buyers in rush for Melbourne's prestige school zones". The Age. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "Boroondara". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Barclay, Alison. "Mayor pushes Balwyn tram extension". Boroondara Review Local. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  18. ↑ "Route 48 extension". Melbourne PT. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
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