Watsonia, Victoria
| Watsonia Melbourne, Victoria |
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 Watsonia shops |
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 Watsonia
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| Population: | 4905 (2006) [1] | ||||||||||||
| Established: | 1924 | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 3087 | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 2.4 km² (0.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location: | 16 km (10 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||||||||
| LGA: | City of Banyule | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Bundoora | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Jagajaga | ||||||||||||
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Watsonia is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule. At the 2006 Census, Watsonia had a population of 4905.
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[edit] History
Watsonia originally belonged to the Wurundjeri people.[2] It is named after early property developer and landowner Frank Watson.
Watsonia was surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1838 as part of the parish of Keelbundora, for subdivisional sale as farms.[2] Until the 1870s, much of Watsonia remained part of the vast property holdings of John Brown. The Grace Park area was purchased in 1877 by Frederick Augustus Nell, and then by Frank Watson[3] in the early twentieth century. Watson subdivided the property for housing in 1924. The area remained primarily rural until the 1940s, when property prices became affordable.
Watson and other landowners paid for the establishment of a railway station in order to attract property buyers. Watsonia railway station was named after Watson. Watsonia train station was opened on Monday 23 June 1924, between the existing Macleod and Greensborough stations. The current Watsonia Station is in Zone 2 on the Hurstbridge Railway Line and is currently served by Metro Trains Melbourne. Watsonia Post Office opened around 1934.[4]
[edit] Landmarks
Watsonia has the Simpson Army Barracks, Yallambie which was originally known as the Watsonia Military Camp during World War II. This complex was built on the property formerly owned by Ainslie Meares. In 1951, surrounding land was purchased for the extension of the barracks.
Watsonia is also the home to Watsonia Primary School, one campus of Greensborough College and Loyola College.
[edit] Sport
Watsonia Football Club, an Australian Rules football team, competes in the Northern Football League.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Watsonia (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC21719&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
- ^ a b Banyule City Council - About the City, Accessed 14 March 2007
- ^ Monash University archives, Accessed 25 March 2007
- ^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country=, retrieved 2008-04-11
- ^ Full Points Footy, Northern Football League, http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/diamond_valley_football_league.htm, retrieved 2009-04-15
Coordinates: 37°42′29″S 145°04′59″E / 37.708°S 145.083°E
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