Vermont South, Victoria

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Vermont South Melbourne, Victoria
Population:	11,485 (2006)[1]
Postcode:	3133
Area:	6.3 km² (2.4 sq mi)
Property Value:	AUD $424,500 [2]
Location:	24 km (15 mi) from Melbourne
LGA:	City of Whitehorse
State District:	Forest Hill
Federal Division:	Aston, Bruce
Suburbs around Vermont South: Forest Hill Vermont Wantirna Burwood East Vermont South Wantirna South Glen Waverley Glen Waverley Wantirna South

Vermont South is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Whitehorse.

The eastern boundary of Vermont South is the Dandenong Creek, which travels from the Dandenong Ranges through to Port Phillip Bay. The suburb was mostly developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, after developers bought the local apple orchards in the area.

Contents 1 History 2 Landmarks 3 Commercial Areas 4 Transport 5 Parks and Reserves 6 Schools 7 Sporting Clubs 8 Churches 9 Services 10 Future Developments 11 References 12 External links

[edit] History

Prior to the first European settlers, the landscape was thickly timbered bushland with Kooris of the Wurundjeri Tribe hunting and camping in the creeks and gullies of the area we now know as Bellbird Dell. The creek flowed from immediately north of the Dell, through it, and on to join the Dandenong Creek.

The first settlers, who were woodcutters and charcoal burners, came in the 1850s before land sales. Selectors followed and they marked out, leased and improved allotments which would enable them to gain freehold titles from the Crown. Temporary wattle and daub huts were erected and later substantial timber cottages.

Apart from some general farming, orchards dominated the landscape until the 1950s and 60s when the demand for new housing areas led to the subdivision of orchards. Nunawading Council (Whitehorse Council) began the acquisition of property in 1966 with the purchase of a large block (7.26 hectares) from local orchardist Cecil Rhodes to form BellBird Dell.

In 1972 when, after heavy rains, the increased run-off from the subdivisions caused flooding of Morack Road and the Burwood Highway, BellBird Dell creek was barrelled and the natural watercourse disappeared but the site and its adjoining land was reserved as public open space.

[edit] Landmarks

Pin Oak Court, Vermont South, is the filming location for "Ramsay Street" in the famous Australian soap opera Neighbours. A Neighbours Tour Bus operates on a regular basis which is very popular with UK Backpackers.

Vermont South is also the home of the Nunawading motorcross track just off Burwood Highway. Behind the motorcross track is a series of bush walk trails connecting to Dandenong Creek and a spectacular lookout (previously a rubbish tip and landfill, this hill was man-made and for this reason wasn't to be sold to developers). These walking/bike trails (Dandenong Creek Trail) connect to the greater bike trails of eastern victoria, including: Mt Dandenong National Park, Nortons, Napier, and Jells Parks.

The Burvale Hotel (named after its location at the intersection of Springvale Road and Burwood Highway), with a pub, bottle shop (previously a drive-thru, now developed into a Dan Murphy's Store) and motel. The Dan Murphy's Store has now closed at Vermont South Shopping Centre.

[edit] Commercial Areas

Vermont South Shopping Centre is located on Burwood Highway which contains a Coles supermarket, and adjoining McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway, Blockbuster Video and other small outlets. On the south side of Burwood Highway is the head office and laboratories of the former Australian Road Research Board, now ARRB Group Ltd. This property has now sold majority of it's land to developers, where a retirement village has been constructed.

The following business' have previously been established in the Burwood Highway front location of Vermont South Shopping Centre: Venture (department store), Dan Murphy's Liquor Super Store and Get Fresh Green Grocer and butcher (current occupier).

At the end of 2005, the largest Bunnings Warehouse in the Southern Hemisphere was built in Vermont South. The Australian Lifestyle television program, Better Homes and Gardens filmed a special at this location.

[edit] Transport

The Government of Victoria extended the number 75 tram route from its former terminus at Burwood East to the Vermont South Shopping Centre in 2005. In addition to the tram, a Transit Bus Link has been added, which travels down Burwood Highway to Knox City Shopping Centre.

This transit bus, named the "Knox Transit Link" runs up to 21 hours per day, in conjunction with the route 75 tram timetable, making a "seamless connection" to and from the tram.

On Weekdays it runs from 4:30am-1:20am the next morning, running at every 10 minutes in the daytime off-peak period, and from every 5-7 minutes in the morning and afternoon peak periods, while after 7:30pm on weeknights, service intervals are set at every 20 minutes. On Saturdays, the Knox Transit Link bus service also runs from approximately 4:30am-1:20am the next morning, at 12 minute intervals in the daytime, and every 15-20 minutes beyond the 12 minute interval periods. On Sundays, a 12 minute daytime frequency is offered with a 30 minute service in the early morning and at night, with the last service to run from Vermont South at approximately 12:45am.

These improvements make route 732 (Vermont South - Knox City) arguably the most frequent bus service in Metropolitan Melbourne in that section only. However, while the remaining sections of the 732 which have not been upgraded to the same extent (Box Hill-Vermont South and Knox City-Upper Ferntree Gully), they are still sufficient enough, with a recent upgrade in November 2007 seeing the introduction of an hourly Sunday service and buses running until 9pm 7 days a week.

Vermont South is also served by Ventura Routes 736 Mitcham - Glen Waverley - Blackburn & 742 Eastland - Glen Waverley - Chadstone. These routes only run 6 days a week however and finish by 7:30pm.

[edit] Parks and Reserves

Vermont South has many local parks including Billabong Park, Charlesworth Park, Terrara Park, Tyrol Park and Dandenong Valley Metropolitan Park (West of Dandenong Creek).

Bellbird Dell is a natural park, located in the north of the suburb. It is a 1.4 km linear park with an area of 17.5 hectares, named after the many bellbirds that can be heard in the park. The majority of the park is thick bush, however there are many walking trails, wetlands and ornamental lakes. Open grassed areas with picnic tables provide places for quiet enjoyment. For walkers 'The Dell' offers short or long strolls but dogs must be on a leash as the main pathways are shared with cyclists. Many varieties of birds and frogs can be seen and heard here and, in spring, there are many wildflowers. Victoria's floral emblem the Pink Heath (Epacris impressa) can be seen growing 'wild' within the remnant areas.

[edit] Schools

• Vermont South Special School ^[3]
• Weeden Heights Primary School ^[4]
• Livingstone Primary School ^[5]
• Emmaus College
• Holy Saviour Primary School ^[6]
• Barriburn Pre-School, Birralee Pre-School Association, Terrara Pre-School Association,

[edit] Sporting Clubs

• Vermont South Tennis Club
• Vermont South Cricket Club^[7]
• Vermont South School of Physical Cultures ^[8]
• Morack Golf Course ^[9]

[edit] Churches

• Vermont South Evangelical Church ^[10]
• Holy Saviour Catholic Church
• Anglican Church of the Holy Name of Jesus

[edit] Services

Vermont South Metropolitan Fire Brigade (South Vermont Fire Station No. 28) is located at 721 Highbury Road, on the corner of Springvale Road. This Brigade moved from 535 High Street, Mount Waverley in 2000. Vermont South is the most eastern area of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, as it becomes the Country Fire Authority's jurisdiction east of Dandenong Creek.

The Vermont South Community House, is one of nine community and neighbourhood houses that provide a diverse range of courses and activities for all age groups within the City of Whitehorse. ^[11]

• Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library - Vermont South Campus ^[12]

• Vermont Village ^[13]

[edit] Future Developments

An $8 million New Indoor 4-court Netball Sports Stadium on Hanover Rd, completion date to be confirmed.

SmartBus Routes 888/889 travelling south are often delayed due to traffic congestion in the morning and evening peak periods. A combination of new linemarking and traffic signal modifications will create a short bus lane to give buses priority, enabling them to cross the intersection before other traffic. Works will be completed in 2007. Springvale Road forms part of the Green Orbital SmartBus route, this jump lane will improve public transport through the intersection

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Vermont South, Victoria is at coordinates 37°51′04″S 145°10′59″E / -37.851, 145.183 (Vermont South, Victoria)Coordinates: 37°51′04″S 145°10′59″E / -37.851, 145.183 (Vermont South, Victoria)

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