Greensborough, Victoria

Greensborough Melbourne, Victoria
Aerial view from the north, Greensborough Bypass just in foreground, Greensborough Plaza in centre of image, and Greensborough railway station to left.
Greensborough
Population:	20,214 (2006)
Postcode:	3088
Area:	11.3 km² (4.4 sq mi)
Location:	17 km (11 mi) from Melbourne CBD
LGA:	Shire of Nillumbik City of Banyule
State electorate:	Yan Yean, Bundoora, Eltham
Federal Division:	Scullin, Jagajaga
Suburbs around Greensborough: Bundoora Plenty Diamond Creek Watsonia North Greensborough St Helena Watsonia Yallambie Briar Hill

Greensborough is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule. At the 2006 Census, Greensborough had a population of 20,214.

The suburb was named after settler Edward Bernard Green who was also the district mail contractor. Formerly it was known as Keelbundoora, Aboriginal for "a round swamp".

History

The township was established in the late 1850s, with the Post Office opening on 17 July 1858.

Geography

Greensborough borders the beginning of the Green Wedge, an area of bush land left running out northward into Eltham and Diamond Creek. The Plenty River, a tributary of the Yarra River, runs through Greensborough joining the Yarra at Templestowe.

Greensborough Plaza

Greensborough Plaza

One of the major buildings in Greensborough is the Lend-Lease-owned Greensborough Plaza. Greensborough Plaza is a large shopping centre commonly regarded as one of the major shopping centres in Melbourne's north-east. It was built in 1976 and has since had many major renovations which have changed it from a small, basic shopping centre for local residents into a massive multi-level facility catering to many of the north-east suburbs.

The Plaza is not the only shopping option. The town centre contains many shops along Main Street. These days Main Street is a busy bustling street with many shops of different varieties.

In 2009, The Greensborough Town Centre is set to receive a major upgrade to bring back life into the Greensborough town centre. 120 stores will be built in a 2 level outdoor/indoor mall between Main and Flintoff street. A new aquatic centre and Civic centre will be built along with a multi level car park. A new supermarket and department store will be opened along with the project. Greensborough Plaza will also receive an extension in the project. It is set to be completed by 2011. It is said that it will be the Federation Square of the north.^{[citation needed]} The area might also receive a giant TV screen. The new town centre will be opened 24 hours a day.

Transport

Greensborough and the suburb is serviced by a network of roads including the Greensborough Highway which bypasses it. The main street is Main Street which runs into Diamond Creek Road, while other main arterials are Para Road which runs south and Grimshaw Street which runs west.

Greensborough Railway Station

Greensborough railway station is the main passenger train station and is on the Hurstbridge railway line. After Greensborough it becomes a single line, making it a major commuter hub on that line.

Education

Greensborough College is a school in Greensborough which is the home school to over 800 students and teachers located between Greensborough and Watsonia. Greensborough is also home to several primary schools including Greensborough Primary, St Mary's Catholic Primary School, St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Primary School, Greenhills Primary School, Watsonia Heights Primary and Apollo Parkways Primary. Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) has a campus at Greensborough.

Sport and recreation

Greensborough has a football team playing in the Northern Football League.

Greensbourough has a polyurethane athletic track at Willinda Park, Greensborough which is the home of Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre the largest Little Athletics Centre in Victoria with over 750 athletes; the Diamond Valley Athletic Club and the Ivanhoe Harriers.