| Somerville Victoria |
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Somerville
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| Population: | 10,030 (2006)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 3912 | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 38 km² (14.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location: | |||||||||||||
| LGA: | Shire of Mornington Peninsula | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Hastings | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Flinders | ||||||||||||
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Somerville is a suburb in Victoria, Australia, 49 km southeast from Melbourne's central business district, as a part of the urban enclave on Westernport comprising Somerville, Hastings, Bittern, Crib Point, and Tyabb. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. At the 2006 Census, Somerville had a population of 10,030. The size of Somerville is approximately 38 km².
The population of Somerville in 2001 was 10,049 people. By 2006 the population was 10,704 showing a population growth of 7% in the area during that time.[2]
Originally an orchard town Somerville has experienced large population growth over the last twenty years.
It is served by Somerville railway station on the Stony Point Line, as well as a bus service to Frankston.
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The township was once located on Lower Somerville Road, with several original buildings still there today. Somerville Post Office opened on 21 November 1870 and closed in 1893.
The railway came to Somerville in September 1889,[3] the station was a mile or so from Lower Somerville Road and the town centre moved from there to its current site during the 1890s. Somerville Railway Station Post Office opened on 15 August 1890 and was renamed Somerville in 1907.[4]
The Somerville Hotel was built in the early 1900s as well as a Mechanics' Hall which form part of the Station Street shopping strip.
The town was known during the early 1900s up until WW2 for the fruit which was produced in its orchards. A harvest festival was held once a year and special trains ran from Flinders Street Station to the town during the festival.
During the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s the town underwent a population boom and the town changed from a rural town into a residential suburb.
With two new shopping centres, Somerville is now a true suburb incorporating a large residential area surrounding its commercial centre. The town centre is split by the railway line giving Somerville a spread out shopping district as well as a rather unique roundabout. The Somerville Pub still stands and is a well known landmark. Somerville also has a major shopping centre, Centro Somerville, which opened in 2009.
There are many parks and playgrounds scattered throughout the township, with the two major ones being the Jones Road Oval and the Fruitgrowers Reserve.
The Mechanics' Hall is a popular venue for local bands to play.
Yaringa Marina, located on Lumeah Road, provides boat access to Westernport.
Somerville is serviced by three primary schools:
State:
• Somerville Rise Primary School
Private:
• Saint Brendan's Catholic Primary School
And one secondary school:
• Somerville Secondary College Currently Years 7-10
Some students commute to several other schools in the area including:
State Schools:
• Mount Erin Secondary College, Frankston South
• Mornington Secondary College, Mornington
• Western Port Secondary College, Hastings
• Elisabeth Murdoch College, Langwarrin
Private Schools:
• Flinders Christian Community College, Tyabb
• Woodleigh School, Frankston South
• Peninsula School, Mount Eliza
Somerville has a strong sporting club culture including:
Somerville Football Club - competing in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League), Nepean Division.
Somerville Cricket Club - Competing in the M.P.C.A., District Division. Somerville Netball Club competing in Frankston district netball association (F.D.N.A) Golfers play at the Bembridge Public Golf Course on Tyabb-Tooradin Road.[5]
Somerville Tennis Club has competitions for juniors, mid-week ladies and night tennis (both mixed and mens)
Lawn bowls, basketball and netball are also popular.
The Community and Recreation Centre is home to the WPBA, Westernport Basketball Association as well as many other community clubs and organisations.