Doncaster East, Victoria

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Doncaster East
Melbourne, Victoria

The Mullum Mullum Creek in Doncaster East

Population:

26282 (2001 census)

Postcode:

3109

Area:

11.4 km²

Property Value:

AUD $440,000 ^[1]

Location:

22 km from Melbourne

LGA:

City of Manningham

State District:

Doncaster, Bulleen

Federal Division:

Menzies

Suburbs around Doncaster East
Templestowe Lower	Templestowe	Warrandyte
Doncaster	Doncaster East	Donvale
Box Hill North	Blackburn North	Nunawading

Doncaster East (postcode: 3109) is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in the local municipality of the City of Manningham.

Doncaster East is a suburb about 22km east of Melbourne sprawling over and on the eastern bank of the Mullum Mullum Creek Valley. The suburb was once home to many orchards and today boasts a lot of recreational parks and gardens and small sporting facilities. Doncaster East gets its name from being situated east of the suburb of Doncaster, and is called by many, East Doncaster, however, its formal name remains Doncaster East.

In the early 20th century, part of Doncaster East was known as Waldau, and was home to many German settlers. "German Lane" was the original name for George Street, and "Bismarck Street" the original name for Victoria Street. The names were replaced during the First World War and the present names adopted.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Community
4 Transportation
5 Development
6 Recreation
- 6.1 Parks and Gardens
7 External resources
8 See also
9 References

[edit] Geography

East Doncaster is roughly the shape of an L flipped horizontally, bordered by Wetherby Road and Victoria Street to the west, King Street to Blackburn Road, Blackburn Road to Mullum Mullum Creek (the northern end) and the eastern border consists of Springvale Road and Tunstall Roads. The southern boundary is formed by the Eastern Freeway extension along the Koonung Creek.

The area of land that is occupied by Doncaster East is mainly rolling hills suitable for the placement of fruit orchards. Andersons Creek Road runs along an unnamed ridge that when atop, gives views of Mount Dandenong, Victoria to the east and the further rolling hills of Templestowe, Victoria to the west.

The area is home to 3 main creeks:

Mullum Mullum Creek
Koonung Creek
Ruffey Creek

The native vegetation of Doncaster East is primarily Eucalyptus Trees, however, a large number of Pine Trees can be found all over the suburb particularly to its south-east along Woodhouse Road. Many European Deciduous Trees have been planted and are all maturing along roads and on private properties filling the area with a vast sea of green when viewed from the air.

[edit] History

Typical Street in East Doncaster.

Like much of the Manningham Municipality, East Doncaster was predominantly orchards before being a suburb. Housing estates began to replace orchards in the 1960s, generally along Doncaster Road, in the southern half of the suburb. The north half of the suburb was developed through the 1970s and 1980s, with the last orchard being removed in the 1990s. As the young parents who moved into these estates now retire and move away, many houses from the 60s and 70s are being converted into units.

Today land prices continue to rise and it is not uncommon to see medium density residential apartments/units under construction somewhere at any time of the year.

As a result of the suburbs development through the 1960's, 70's, 80's and continuing residential development, East Doncaster has a versatile array of Architectural styles. Many fine examples of 1970's and 80's Architectural Styles can be seen in the northern sections of the suburb, while further south towards Doncaster Road and between Doncaster Road and the Eastern Freeway, there is an abundance of Early Modern and L-Shape Styles. Due to development of large tracts of land in the north of the suburb in the 1970's, there are many good examples of some of the first speculation built houses in Melbourne.

[edit] Community

East Doncaster has had a significant Chinese minority for many years and several restaurants of note are found in East Doncaster - one of the few areas outside Chinatown in Little Bourke Street to have exceptional Chinese cuisine.

The suburb contains a Fitness Centre, Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Gospel, Islamic and Uniting Places of Worship, An Athletics Track, 3 Football Ovals (AFL), Soccer Grounds, Small to medium commercial services, a Child Care Centre, Kindergarten, Library, Indoor Sporting Facilities, Various Playgrounds, Retirement Villages, Small Medical Centres, a small Community Hall, Donvale Rehabilitation Centre, many Restaurants and Strip Shops, and The Pines Shopping Centre.

Educational Services in Doncaster East:

Onemda Day Training Centre
Milgate Primary School
Doncaster Gardens Primary School
East Doncaster Secondary College
Donburn Primary School
St. Peter & St. Pauls School
Beverly Hills Primary School

Shopping Strips and Centres in Doncaster East:

Stockland The Pines
Donburn Shops
Jacksons Court
Devon Plaza
Commercial Services either side of Doncaster Road near the intersection of Blackburn Road
Tunstall Square

Sporting Clubs in Doncaster East:

East Doncaster Cricket Club

[edit] Transportation

Reynolds Road heading towards Tindals Road, Warrandyte.

Public transportation in the City of Manningham consists of regular bus services that cover most of the suburb quite well. Plans for a rail line to Manningham were scrapped by a previous state government, and as a result Doncaster East residents rely heavily on the use of cars.

The suburb is serviced primarily by the Eastern Freeway to the south, and Reynolds Road in the north. Through traffic consists primarily of cars and buses traveling to neighbouring Warrandyte, Victoria and Donvale, Victoria through the use of Heidelberg - Warrandyte Road, Reynolds Road and Tindals Road (Old Warrandyte Road)

Within the suburban boundaries Doncaster East is serviced by George Street, King Street and Victoria Street. Running north-south is Blackburn Road which holds most of the flow of traffic during weekday peak hour times, together with Springvale Road as residents travel from their homes to the Eastern Freeway and into the city.

Doncaster East is home to not one, but two suburban rarities: Banool and Winella Quadrant.

[edit] Development

There is currently a project being undertaken by the State Government, EastLink, to extend the Eastern Freeway to Ringwood, Victoria and then south to join with the Monash and Mornington Peninsula Freeways. This will enable residents of East Doncaster greatly increased ease of travel throughout Melbournes eastern and south-eastern suburbs.

Certain areas of land are currently awaiting development including the former Box Hill Institute TAFE East Doncaster campus, now a proposed retirement village, and a large area surrounding the Cherry Hill Tavern, which is proposed for a reception centre.

There are several vacant blocks of land, one of which lies opposite the Pines Shopping Centre and recently displayed a public notice for a Planning Permit Application Approval. There were 2 restaurants proposed for the site, however it is not known whether they were to be fast food restaurants or dining like that of the Asian restaurants on Andersons Creek Road.

[edit] Recreation

Many people are active members of certain clubs or facilities in Doncaster East. Popular activities include Scouts, Athletics, Football (AFL), Soccer, Lawn Bowls, Walking, Bike Riding and Dog Walking. The waters of the Mullum Mullum Creek are too shallow for swimming in the summer months, however, this does not stop exploration or walks off the paths in around the creek.