Watsonia, Victoria

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Watsonia
MelbourneVictoria

Watsonia Shops
Population: 4905 (2006) [1]
Established: 1924
Postcode: 3087
Area: 2.4 km² (0.9 sq mi)
Property Value: AUD $300,000 [2]
Location: 19 km (12 mi) from Melbourne
LGA: City of Banyule
State District: Bundoora
Federal Division: Jagajaga
Suburbs around Watsonia:
Bundoora Watsonia North Greensborough
Watsonia Greensborough
Macleod Yallambie Yallambie
Watsonia Shops
Watsonia Shops

Watsonia is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Banyule. It is named after early property developer and landowner Frank Watson.

At the 2006 census, it had a population of 4905.

Contents

[edit] History

Watsonia originally belonged to the Wurundjeri people.[3]

Watsonia was surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1838 as part of the parish of Keelbundora, for subdivisional sale as farms.[3] Until the 1870s, much of Watsonia remained part of the vast property holdings of John Brown. The Grace Park area was purchased in 1877 by Frederick Augustus Nell, and then by Frank Watson[4] in the early twentieth century. Watson subdivided the property for housing in 1924. The area remained primarily rural until the 1940s, when property prices became affordable.

Watson and other landowners paid for the establishment of a railway station in order to attract property buyers. Watsonia railway station was named after Watson. Watsonia train station was opened on Monday 23 June, 1924, between the existing Macleod and Greensborough stations. The current Watsonia Station is in Zone 2 on the Hurstbridge Railway Line and is currently served by Connex.

[edit] Landmarks

Watsonia has the Simpson Army Barracks, Yallambie which was originally known as the Watsonia Military Camp during World War II. This complex was built on the property formerly owned by Ainsley Meare. In 1951, surrounding land was purchased for the extension of the barracks.

Watsonia is also the home to Watsonia Primary School, one campus of Greensborough College and Loyola College.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Watsonia (State Suburb). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
  2. ^ Watsonia, accessed 27 November 2006
  3. ^ a b Banyule City Council - About the City, Accessed 14 March, 2007
  4. ^ Monash University archives, Accessed 25 March, 2007

[edit] External links