Carrum Downs, Victoria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carrum Downs
Melbourne, Victoria

Population:

15057 (2001 census)

Postcode:

3201

Area:

19.5 km²

Property Value:

AUD $232,750 ^[1]

Location:

42 km from Melbourne
8 km from Frankston

LGA:

City of Frankston

State District:

Cranbourne

Federal Division:

Isaacs

Suburbs around Carrum Downs
Patterson Lakes	Bangholme	Lyndhurst
Seaford	Carrum Downs	Skye
Seaford	Frankston North	Langwarrin

Carrum Downs is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Frankston.

Landmarks include Carrum Downs Tourist Park, Kingston Lodge and the Sandhurst Golf Club. A new housing estate, 'Clifton Rise', has recently been developed.

1 Botany Park
2 History
3 Architecture
4 Services
5 Lyrebird Community Centre
6 Shiva Vishnu Temple
7 Trivia
8 Links

[edit] Botany Park

Carrum Downs is referred to by locals as "Botany Park",^{[citation needed]} based on the name of a housing estate built during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In the first major development of its type in the area, land was subdivided into generous lots between the Southern and Northern perimeters of Ballarto and Hall Roads. Development was conducted by AV Jennings, which financed and built prominent signage reading 'Botany Park' on the corner of Ballarto Road and Lyrebird Drive. The signage remains, although graffiti and vandalism have degraded its appearance.

[edit] History

[edit] Karrum Karrum

Before European settlers arrived at Port Phillip, Aborigines resting after the stiff climb of Oliver's Hill, Frankston, and looking north along the bay would have viewed a long ribbon of sandy beach shaped vaguely like a boomerang. The area was called Karrum Karrum, or as some of the early squatters interpreted it, Garem Gam, meaning "Boomerang". The swampy marshland behind the sand dunes was a rich hunting ground teeming with wildlife. [1]

[edit] Carrum Swamp

The Carrum Swamp measured approximately 15km from north to south, and averaged about 5km across from east to west. It was up to 8km wide at the northern end. The high lands visible in the swamp were the Isles of Wannarkladdin, now Chelsea Heights. The swampland with its dense growth of swamp tea-tree and other vegetation was covered for the most part by the waters from the Dandenong, Eumemmerring, and other smaller creeks, with a total catchment area of approximately 430 sq km, with the present townships of Langwarrin, Cranbourne, Berwick, Belgrave, Ferntree Gully, Olinda, Lilydale, Croydon and Ringwood forming its perimeter. Some of the waters eventually flowed through marshy country to the Mordialloc Creek or through to the Kananook which flowed into the bay at Frankston. [2] [3]

The Carrum Swamp together with the larger Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp made a formidable barrier against the early explorers and land seekers in the early days.

[edit] The Birth of Carrum - Allotments on the Long Beach

The first survey of the Carrum swamp was made by T. E. Rawlinson, and completed by 2 January 1866. The only sign of European habitation reported by Rawlinson was a fisherman's cottage occupied by John Watkins and his family near the present Watkins Grove, Aspendale. The survey between the swamp and the sea resulted in Mr Callinan, the State’s assistant surveyor, dividing the area into 18 allotments stretching from the Mordialloc Creek to the present Keast Park, Seaford. The land was referred to as the "Allotments on the Long Beach", the first sales taking place at Semmell McCaul & Co’s Auction Rooms at Collins Street, Melbourne, on 22 December 1865. The upset price was $6 per acre. Most of the land sold went to investors, but some development did take place near the already established fishing village of Mordialloc.

The land sold on the swamp side was bought by Hugh Brown who built his home "Pine Vale" near the site of the present Mordialloc High School which was part of his property. He was 40 years a Councillor of the Shire of Dandenong and served as President of the Shire. He was famous for his "Carrum" potatoes which were sent to several States. When Hugh Brown started farming there were still wild cattle roaming the swamplands from the original squatting days of the later 1830s to the 1850s. [4]

[edit] The First Settlement

During the Great Depression, the Brotherhood of St Laurence built a settlement at Carrum Downs to provide food and shelter to suffering families. After World War II, the suburb was gradually redeveloped as a Village for aged persons [5].

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the sub-development of land under the Botany Park housing redevelopment attracted families to the suburb due to its generous land allottments, affordability and proximity to Frankston.

[edit] Redevelopment of Botany Bush

During the early 1990s, the South Western quarter between Ballarto and Frankston-Dandenong Roads was known as 'Botany Bush'. This area was redeveloped into housing during the late 1990s. According to Leader Newspapers, Botany Bush held a reputation for being a dumping ground for stolen vehicles and was also used as a site for underage drinking.

[edit] Architecture

The suburb is a mixture of modern low scale dwellings with generous garden frontage and low scale fencing. During the 1990s, a large catchment of land remained as public park space, although this has subsequently been developed into housing.

Housing construction continues in the suburb.

[edit] Services

Carrum Downs has no direct access to rail services but is serviced by three bus lines. [6]
Carrum Downs is serviced by three medical centres.
Schools in the area include Carrum Downs, Rowellyn, Skye and St Joachim's primary schools, and Carrum Downs Secondary College.
The Downs Shopping Centre is located in the suburb and is home to a chemist, newsagency and 2 supermarkets.
The Lyrebird Community Centre is located in Carrum Downs.
Carrum Downs offers Library Services via the Carrum Downs Library. [7]
A local branch of the Salvation Army operates within Carrum Downs [8]
Carrum Downs has access to three public parks - one with barbecue facilities.

[edit] Lyrebird Community Centre

The Carrum Downs Community Centre was established in 1988 and was located in the GK Tucker Village as part of the Brotherhood of St Laurence. The centre consisted of two small cottages: one for child minding activities and the other housing the Centre Manager.

In 1994, the Centre amalgamated to become the Lyrebird Community Centre and moved to its current location in Lyrebird Drive. During 2003, the Centre was renovated into a large modern complex. [9]

[edit] Shiva Vishnu Temple

The Shiva-Vishnu Hindu Temple is located in this suburb. This temple is the largest Hindu temple in Victoria. Many Hindus residing in Melbourne worship there and is most popularly known for holding the annual Hindu festivals of Holi and Diwali. [10]

[edit] Trivia

In March 2002, a famous, if unsubstantiated, UFO sighting occurred as a driver was passing through Carrum Downs. [11]
Carrum Downs used to be home to a Skirmish location, until the practice was banned in the state of Victoria.