Mentone, Victoria

Mentone Melbourne, Victoria
Mentone Beach
Mentone
Coordinates	37°59′06″S 145°04′08″E / 37.98500°S 145.06889°E / -37.98500; 145.06889Coordinates: 37°59′06″S 145°04′08″E / 37.98500°S 145.06889°E / -37.98500; 145.06889
Population	11,667 (2011)[1]
• Density	1,556/km2 (4,029/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3194
Area	7.5 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Location	21 km (13 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Kingston
State electorate(s)	Sandringham, Mordialloc
Federal Division(s)	Isaacs
Suburbs around Mentone: Cheltenham Cheltenham Moorabbin Airport Beaumaris Mentone Parkdale Port Phillip Port Phillip Parkdale

Mentone is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 21^[2] km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the City of Kingston. At the 2011 Census, Mentone had a population of 11,667.

It is known locally for its beach which extends from the cliffs in Beaumaris and ends at Warrigal Road where it meets Parkdale.

Mentone is associated with the Heidelberg School of Australian artists.

History

A holiday at Mentone, 1888, oil on canvas by Charles Conder.

Mentone was originally founded as a resort town named after the Italian spelling of the formerly-Italian French town Menton. In order to keep with the Italian resort theme many streets in Mentone were named after Italian cities for example, Cremona Street, Florence St, Venice St and Milan St. The development of Mentone began in the late 1800s, the Post Office opening on 16 May 1884.^[3]

The original Mentone Fire station was located on the corner of Brindisi Street and Mentone Parade, Mentone in 1906 and after the new fire station was built it was relocated to Lalor in 1957.^[4]

According to the ABS 2006 Census, the median individual income in Mentone is $533 per week, which is higher than the Australian average of $466 per week. However, the median household income in Mentone is $1,008 per week, which is lower than the Australian average of $1,027 per week.^[1]

Shopping

Mentone is home to a lively shopping area along Como Parade West, Balcombe Road and surrounding streets and laneways. This shopping strip offers a wide range of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, clothing stores, supermarkets, travel agents, fancy dress, craft, home, book stores and more. A second commercial area has grown along Nepean Highway; this may expand as the former Nylex factory site between Nepean Highway and Warrigal Highway is redeveloped into a bulky goods retail precinct.

A neighbouring suburb named Cheltenham has one of the biggest shopping malls in Australia named Southland. This shopping mall crosses the six lanes of Nepean highway. It is the main shopping mall for people of Mentone and surrounds.

In late 2010 Thrift Park shopping centre between Lower Dandenong Road and Nepaen Highway just east of Warrigal road went through with a $35-million redevelopment. The redevelopment included demolishing the original centre that was 'ageing' and building a larger Woolworths supermarket with 30 additional stores.^[5] The centre officially opened in December 2010.^[6]

Politics

In terms of State and Federal Government Mentone is situated in the Electoral district of Mordialloc and Sandringham for state parliament and the Electoral district of Isaacs in the federal system. Current trends show the majority of Mentone voters supporting the Liberal party; however Mentone is currently represented by Labor members in both state and federal parliament due to the Labor voting tendencies of other suburbs in its electoral district.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

Mentone is located on the Nepean Highway. Mentone is serviced by a variety of Metlink public transport bus and Metro Trains Melbourne services, focused on the Mentone railway station.

Entertainment and leisure

The Mentone RSL built in 1884–1886 is located on Palermo Street. Open 7 days a week the club offers, regular social events, function rooms, Free live entertainment every Friday night and Family Fun Night every Saturday

Mentone is also home to the Mentone Hotel, a historical building overlooking the bay. The Corner Store opened in 2012 serving 'Neighbourhood Eats' from breakfast to dinner. OneFourteen Bar & Lounge (formerly Nighthawk Blues) is one of a few live music venues in the south eastern suburbs. The beaches and life saving clubs also provide leisure space as do the parkland and oval near the council offices. Mentone is also home to numerous sporting clubs including cricket, football, tennis, field hockey, lawn and ten-pin bowling.

Mentone Bowling Club

Established in the early 1900s Mentone Bowling Club has a long history including an Australian champion.

The club is next to the train station in the centre of the suburb. Mentone were promoted to the Premier Division in 2010.

Museum

The Australian National Aviation Museum, formerly called the Moorabbin Air Museum, is located in Moorabbin Airport (Harry Hawker Airport).

Schools

• Kilbreda College - A Catholic Secondary School for girls, founded in 1904. The school is owned and administered by the Brigidine Sisters.
• St Bede's College - A Catholic Secondary School for boys, founded in 1938. It is administered by the De La Salle Brothers.
• Mentone Grammar School - An Anglican school founded in 1923. Co-ed since 2006, Kindergarten to Secondary Education. The school competes in the AGSV (associated Grammar Schools of Victoria).
• Mentone Girls' Grammar School - An Anglican school for girls from ELC to year 12, founded in 1899.
• Mentone Girls' Secondary College
• St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
• Mentone Primary School

Notable people

• Shane Warne, Student at Mentone Grammar and Test cricketer, spin bowler
• Ian Meckiff, Test cricketer, best known for "chucking"
• Eddie Perfect, Actor, singer, comedian and composer
• Gerald Healy, Student at St Bedes College and AFL Brownlow Medalist^[7]

External links

• Mentone, Victoria Weather Station
• Mentone Baptist Church

References