Montmorency, Victoria

Montmorency Melbourne, Victoria
Montmorency
Population:	8176 (2006)
Established:	1917
Postcode:	3094
Area:	3.8 km² (1.5 sq mi)
Location:	18 km (11 mi) from Melbourne
LGA:	City of Banyule
State electorate:	Eltham
Federal Division:	Jagajaga
Suburbs around Montmorency: Greensborough Briar Hill Eltham North Watsonia Montmorency Eltham Yallambie Lower Plenty Eltham

Montmorency is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule. At the 2006 Census, Montmorency had a population of 8176.

Montmorency was named after a local farm, Montmorency Estate, which in turn was named for the town of Montmorency, Val-d'Oise, where the French Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau lived briefly. Residents of Montmorency often refer to the suburb as 'Monty', and the nickname is incorporated into some local business names. The population is predominately Australian born, middle-aged, married and Christian (Catholic or Protestant).

History

Merchant Stuart Alexander Donaldson (1812–1867), the first Premier of New South Wales, owned the farming property known as 'The Montmorency Estate' until the 1840s. The first evidence of a township was the building of a Presbyterian church in 1917 in the midst of small rural landholdings. A primary school was opened in 1922, the year before Montmorency station was opened on the Hurstbridge railway line. Electricity was connected to the area in 1926. Montmorency Post Office opened around September 1923.

Whilst there was a residential nucleus from the 1920s, most of Montmorency consisted of orchards, dairying, and poultry farms until after the Second World War. The estimated population in 1922 was 200, including weekenders.^{[citation needed]}

In 1950 the estimated population was 600, and facilities extended to two churches, a public hall, a sports ground, and a tennis court. By the end of the decade the population had increased fivefold, although still with unoccupied building sites which had fine views. A modern shopping centre and factories had been built. The high school was opened in 1969.

St. Francis Xavier Primary School located on Mayona Road is undergoing construction of a new building which will feature a library, computer lab and 4 class rooms. This building is due to be finished and handed over by 10 June 2011.

Montmorency South Primary School has also got a new building under construction which will feature a big basketball stadium.

Facilities

The main commercial street is Were Street. A three storey high ornamental aeration windmill stands at the corner of Were Street and Rattray Road. The footpaths of Were Street are inlaid with mosaic pictures representing scenes from oral histories of the suburb. This shopping strip is notable for the relatively low proportion of national chain stores and franchises among its businesses.^{[citation needed]}

There is a second business precinct located 1.1 km to the south east of Were Street on Grand Boulevard, mainly catering to small offices. In Mountain View Road there is an RSL which serves counter meals, and also a lawn bowls club, both overlooking Petrie Park sporting grounds.

Montmorency Football Club, an Australian Rules football team, competes in the Northern Football League. Its playing field and clubhouse are located at Montmorency Park in the green belt between Para Road and the Plenty River. Lower Plenty Football Club in the same league are also based at Montmorency Park.

The suburb has one high school, Montmorency Secondary College, and three primary schools, Saint Francis Xavier, Montmorency South and Montmorency. Montmorency has hilly parklands adjoining the Plenty River on its western side and several neighbourhood parks, particularly in its south-east sector.

Transport

Montmorency is close to outlying towns and suburbs such as Eltham, Greensborough, Templestowe and Doncaster, for it lies within the main feeder roads to these suburbs. The Melbourne 293 and 513 bus routes also service the area.

It lies on the Hurstbridge Line, and it takes around 45 minutes to reach Montmorency station from the CBD of Melbourne.

Notable people

• Wally de Backer
• Brett Wood