| Croydon Melbourne, Victoria |
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View of Croydon and Mount Dandenong |
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Croydon
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| Population: | 22,029 (2006)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 3136 | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 14.3 km² (5.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location: | 31 km (19 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||||||||
| LGA: | City of Maroondah | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Kilsyth, Warrandyte | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Division of Casey and Division of Deakin | ||||||||||||
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Croydon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Croydon had a population of 22,029.
Croydon Railway Station, is part of the Metlink rail and bus interchange, and is a Zone 2 ticket Station. It is on the Lilydale line.
The Station has ramp access on the Main Street side or City side, and is less than a five minute walk from Main Street.
The Bus and Rail Interchange has a number of buses servicing the surrounding suburbs, which can be found on either side of the Croydon Railway Station.
Dating back to the 1840s land was first utilised for grazing and the first road cut through the area now known as Croydon was initially known as Sawmill Road, as a sawmill was nearby. Later it became known as Oxford Road, and became Mt Dandenong Road some time in the early 1900s.
Owing to the silvery-white grass and coarse in texture, the area we know now as Croydon was first called "White Flats."
In 1868 parcels of land were surveyed and the first habitations were constructed out of wattle and daub. These were later rebuilt in timber and the area prospered in sheep, beef and dairy farming and sawmills. Orchards were soon established and thrived, crops included apples, cherries, pears, peaches and plums. Indeed several street names in and around Croydon, now reflect the impact orchards had on "White Flats"
In 1874 Cobb & Co ran horses and carts to the area (Brushy Creek).
In 1882 a single track railway line was constructed through to Lilydale. Built on the now current station site, known then as the Warrandyte Railway Station. Travellers would travel by rail to the then unnamed station, and were then faced with a horse AND coach ride to Warrandyte, some 10 km north, which was not well received by the vast majority of travellers, believing the Yarra River was close by.
The origin of the name is English and was proposed by one Mr George Lacey in the 1880s. A resident of the Croydon area, suggested the name after the English town of his wife's birth.
From the mid 1880s Croydon started to develop and Mr James Hewish built not only his home, but several other business ventures including a General Store, Newsagency, a butchers shop, hotel and planted various orchard trees. Several street names around the centre of Croydon reflect its previous usage. The Post Office opened on 1 December 1883 after the railway arrived and was known as Warrandyte Railway Station for some months until the station name was changed to Croydon. A Nelson's Hill Post Office opened in the area in 1902 and was renamed Burnt Bridge in 1979.[2]
In 1908 Croydon Hall, Mt Dandenong Road was built. (Now home to EV's entertainment Centre).
In 1912 Croydon was proclaimed and gazetted a town.
In 1925 the Croydon section of the Lilydale line was electrified, and Lilydale a month later. Croydon Station was rebuilt in the 1990s. As part of its increasing passenger traffic the bus station or interchange was revamped in the early 2000s and is used by Croydon Bus, Invicta and Ventura buses.
In the early 1920s a Monday market began, it included live animals, chickens, birds and other small animals. Being a noted landmark and meeting place for locals from neighbouring suburbs, until the site was redeveloped in the 1980s. A Monday market still exists but is not the drawcard it once was.
Originally Croydon was part of the Shire of Lillydale. In 1957 A request was submitted for Croydon to leave the Shire of Lillydale and become its own entity. Becoming a municipality in 1961. Then City of Croydon until 1994, when it was absorbed into City of Maroondah.
Main Street Croydon is still the thriving hub and currently has over 187 traders, from eateries, clothing, music, toys, hairdressers, a cinema and many others. The Main Street has ample parking on and behind the shops.
The Croydon Market Complex as it is now known, has been subject to several development applications including one for a small cinema complex to be built, which did not eventuate. The key tenant being a 19 aisle Coles Supermarket (second largest in victoria) and 15 or so smaller traders including a newsagent, chemist and various clothing, eateries, florist and bakeries. In the early 2000s the site was expanded to include an Aldi supermarket, taking over part of the existing carpark on the Kent Avenue side of the block.
Croydon is also served by the Arndale Centre, Mt Dandenong Road and Civic Square, opposite the Croydon Park, which has in excess of 20 retail outlets of size and type.
During the late 1990s and early 2000 onwards, Croydon's housing density and type changed and increased with the advent of 'dual-occupancy' Many of former large housing blocks, were sold and redeveloped.
Residents have since then seemed to feel slightly aggrieved with some actions in the new City and have more than once stated at Council meetings and in the local newspapers over the years that they are 'second cousins to those in Ringwood."
The Croydon area is served by two weekly newspapers, The Maroondah Journal and The Maroondah Leader.
In 2008, The Victorian Electoral Commission, conducted an Electoral Representation Review. This resulted in the existing seven wards being amalgamated into three. Retaining three names, each new ward has three Councillors. The new wards are as follows:
Croydon is represented by two State Electoral Districts, Kilsyth and Warrandyte. From the Federal perspective, Croydon sits across two Electoral Divisions Casey and Deakin.
In 2007 The City of Maroondah decided to construct additional leisure facilities in Croydon in addition to the existing Croydon gymanasium facility in Civic Square, called The Croydon Leisure and Aquatic Centre, due to open mid 2008.
Croydon Memorial Pool, Springfield Road. An outdoor venue, open each November - March, also holds VICSWIM classes during school holidays. There has been considerable debate as to the 'viability' of the pool from council. Petitions were signed and meetings held to try to keep the pool open. In 2007 council agreed to keep the pool open. However, with the new venue being opened mid 2008, residents are once again asking if the pool, a feature of Croydon will remain open. Wyreena Community Arts Centre Hull Road. Home to varied artistic activities and Eastern FM radio.
Held each year in the Croydon Park and embraced by the City of Maroondah and residents from surrounding suburbs. A great day out and performers have included: Daryl Braithwaite, Kate Ceberano, Vanessa Amorosi, Paul Kelly, Johnny Diesel, Hunters and Collectors, The Living End, 28 Days, Bodyjar, Frenzal Rhomb, Spiderbait, Kisschasy and even a few international acts, including Sonia Dada.
EV's Youth Centre Opened in 1989 and run by Maroondah Youth Services, for young people aged between 12-25 yrs. The switched on and hardworking team cover a wide range of activities and information services for young people to access. Including INFO-HQ each Wednesday afternoon, and Drop-In on Friday afternoons - (Drop-In open except during school holidays.)
Also Maroondah FReeZA Group, a long-standing local venue for all-ages live music events, with both all age and under-age, fully supervised D&D free dance parties and live gigs. Always well attended and enjoyed.
The Croydon Cricket Club, established in 1886, plays at Croydon Park Oval. It participates in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association the state's second highest level of cricket. It also has several Junior sides competing in the Ringwood and District Cricket Association with U12,U14,U16,U18 and non comps for U10s. Croydon also has two veterans sides competing in Masters (over 40's) and Legends (over 50's). Home ground: Croydon Park Oval, Between Hewish Road and Mt Dandenong Road, Croydon
Croydon Football Club also plays at Croydon Park Oval. Nicknamed "The Blues", it wears a navy blue strip similar to Carlton FC. Croydon FC is a member of the Eastern Football League.
In Season 2008 it returned to play in Division One.
In Season 2009 The Blues finished on top of Division One with 60 Points, equal to Balwyn. However, Croydon continued to play consistently and have been rewarded with a Grand Final against Vermont on the 19th September at Bayswater Football Ground. The Reserves will also make the trip to the Bayswater ground and play Knox. [3]
The Croydon Golf Club, once located on the picturesque Dorset Road site, was sold to a housing development consortium in late 2006. After much legal argument and petition, the land was zoned residential in accordance with Government legislation. The golf club has since relocated to a site in Yering.
Local golfers can still play at the Dorset Golf Course on Trawalla Road.[4]
Croydon also has an athletics club which was established in 2007. It is a small club with 47 members in the 08/09 season.
In Term One 2009, Croydon South Primary School merged with Tinternvale Primary School on the Tinternvale Site.
Swinburne University of Technology has a campus in Norton Road Croydon offering TAFE courses and apprenticeship training and both short and long term courses on a variety of subjects.
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