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Rowville

Coordinates: 37°56′13″S 145°13′44″E / 37.937°S 145.229°E / -37.937; 145.229
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Rowville, Victoria)

Rowville
Suburb
Intersection of Stud and Wellington roads, Rowville, 2019
Intersection of Stud and Wellington roads, Rowville, 2019
Rowville is located in Melbourne
Rowville
Rowville
Map
Interactive map of Rowville
Coordinates: 37°56′13″S 145°13′44″E / 37.937°S 145.229°E / -37.937; 145.229
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
CityMelbourne
LGA
Location
Established1882
Government
 • State electorate
 • Federal division
Area
 • Total
19.5 km2 (7.5 sq mi)
Elevation
70 m (230 ft)
Population
 • Total33,571 (2021 census)[2]
 • Density1,722/km2 (4,459/sq mi)
Postcode
3178
Suburbs around Rowville
Wheelers Hill Scoresby Ferntree Gully
Mulgrave Rowville Lysterfield
Dandenong North Endeavour Hills Lysterfield South
Tirhatuan Wetlands, to the south of Rowville, 2014

Rowville is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km (17 mi) south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Knox local government area. Rowville recorded a population of 33,571 at the 2021 census.[2] Rowville is one of the largest suburbs south-east of Melbourne.

The Rowville branch of Your Library (formerly Eastern Regional Libraries), is adjacent to the Rowville Community Centre under the Clock Tower. The Stringybark Festival used to be held at the centre on the third weekend of every October and would attract over 25,000 visitors, but has not been held since 2023.[3] The event was organised by the Knox Council, and was one of Australia's longest running sustainability events. There are three golf courses within Rowville. Stud Park is currently being expanded.

Rowville is at the intersection of many local government areas with the suburb connecting to suburbs within the Yarra Ranges Shire, City of Monash, City of Greater Dandenong, City of Casey and City of Knox.

History

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Rowville is named after the Row family, whose property Stamford Park was established in 1882.[4] The Stamford Park homestead has been restored in recent years by Knox Council.[5][6] Rowville Post Office opened on 20 December 1905 and closed in 1987. In 1989, it reopened in the new Stud Park (formerly Darryl Park) Shopping Centre.[7] Rowville developed rapidly throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with housing and light industrial premises being built.[citation needed]

Housing estates

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Failed Stamford Heights Estate (1957–58)

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In the mid-1950s, entrepreneur Percy Child formed a private syndicate to establish Rowville's first major suburban development. He had acquired a 700-acre agricultural site at the north-west corner of Stud and Wellington Roads, and planned to build 400 homes, a pub and shops.[8] But the project, known as Stamford Heights, never transpired as it was soon revealed the land was too flood prone to develop at such a scale. The proposed pub later opened as the Stamford Hotel under different ownership in 1966.[9][10]

Wellington Park (1959–1986)

[edit]

Wellington Park was the first housing estate to be approved in then-regional Rowville. Developed on part of the failed Stamford Heights estate, it was a joint venture by German-born entrepreneurs Hans Bachrach and Max Naumburger.[11] During the post-war property boom, they'd acquired agricultural land on the west side of Stud Road and hired design engineer Roger Young to plan the estate.[12] The first land sales occurred in October 1959, with over 100 blocks in Stamford Crescent, Avalon Road and Deschamp Crescent selling out within a week.[13][14]

Rowville Lakes (1977–1986)

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During the 1960s, developer Hooker-Rex acquired over 160 hectares near the corner of Kellets and Stud Roads, intending to establish a large-scale housing development in the future. Construction began about 1975 with the excavation of artificial lakes.[15] Rowville Lakes is notable as an early example of lakefront housing estates in Victoria.[16] Land was designated for the Rowville Lakes Shopping Centre (opened 1987) alongside various sporting and community facilities. Over 1500 blocks were sold at the Lakes between 1977 and 1986. [17]

Park Ridge (1979–1991)

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The Park Ridge housing estate is the second largest in Rowville and was developed by Stocks & Holdings over a period of 12 years. Bounded by Kelletts Road, Napoleon Road and Wellington Road, it has about a thousand blocks and land set aside for educational, recreational and retail purposes. The east campus of Rowville Secondary College and the Park Ridge Primary School were built here alongside a milk bar and a clinic, the latter of which was designed to imitate an edwardian homestead.[18]

Timbertop Estate (1985–1986)

[edit]

Opened in September 1985 by the Mayor of Knox, the Timbertop Estate in south-west Rowville has about 270 homes on a hill.[19] It forms part of the old Rowville Training Camp site and was developed by Bill Bowness and Raymond Peck "in the Wheelers Hill tradition", characterized by blocks with gentle slopes and views over parkland.[20] Covenants restrict the removal of trees and provide that a home must not be smaller than 165 square metres.[21]

Wellington Park (1987–1990)

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Not to be confused with an estate of the same name at Stud Road. The Wellington Park estate is situated between Wellington and Bergins Roads – comprising about 300 houses in and around Liberty Avenue, Buckingham Drive and Halsbury Drive. The Education Department reserved part of the estate to build the Heany Park Primary School, opened in 1993.[22]

Silkwood Rise (1993–1994)

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The Silkwood Rise estate is situated on the northside of Wellington Road, in Silkwood Way. It has about 290 blocks and was developed by Intrapac Consolidated, marking the firm's first major residential project. About half of Peregrine Reserve was created by the development, as was a kindergarten site on Pitfield Crescent. A unique signboard with the estate's name marks the main entrance at Wellington Road. [23]

Other estates

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  • Seebeck Estate (1960–61): About 300 homes on land formerly owned by councillor Bernie Seebeck. Overlooks the Police Road Spillway.[24]
  • Twin Views (1961): Low-density blocks at Norris Road, McKay Road and Raymond Road.
  • Turramurra Estate (1985–1986): Around 250 homes near Bridgewater Way, Mantung Crescent and Turramurra Drive subdivided by AV Jennings.[25]
  • Tirhatuan Hills (1986–1986): Over 110 homes around George Knox Drive and Holstein Court.[26]
  • Rowville Heights (1987–1988): About 230 blocks in and around Turramurra Drive, Simon Avenue and Ling Drive.[27]
  • Sovereign Hill (1988–1990): About 45 homes at Tirhatuan Drive, Delta Court and Miramah Close.[28]
  • Peppertree Hill (1988): Retirement village of about 200 units developed by AV Jennings.[29]
  • Studwell Park (1988–89): About 150 blocks off Stud Road, including Towt Court and Waradgery Drive.[30]
  • Waterford Valley Lakes (2004): Retirement village and golf course.[31]
  • Sovereign Manors (2001–2002): Developed by the Sunland Group at a cost of over $35 million, providing about 100 homes off Karoo Road.[32]
  • Sovereign Crest (2002): Over 800 blocks developed by Nev Pask, situated around Sovereign Crest Boulevard.[33]

Education

[edit]

Rowville has one dual-campus high school, Rowville Secondary College, with an Eastern Campus (7–12) and a Western Campus (7–12). Students from the Eastern Campus used to move to the Western Campus to complete their VCE. But now they can complete VCE at the eastern campus as well.[citation needed]

Rowville is served by four public primary schools:

  • Rowville Primary School (established 1973)[34]
  • Park Ridge Primary (established 1990)[35]
  • Karoo Primary School (established 1992)[36]
  • Heany Park Primary (established 1993)[37]

It is also served by a Catholic primary school, St. Simon the Apostle School, which was established in 1982.[38]

When Lysterfield Primary School moved to its present site in the 1990s, it was based in Rowville, however the boundary between the suburbs has changed and Lysterfield Primary is once again in Lysterfield.[citation needed]

Commerce

[edit]

Rowville's main centre of commerce is Stud Park Shopping Centre which opened in 1989[39] and is the largest shopping centre in the suburb. It houses Coles, Woolworths and Kmart stores, and over 60 specialty stores including two hairdressers, a pharmacy, two travel agents, banks, a vet and assorted food outlets. It has approximately 1500 car park spaces and is serviced regularly by bus services.[40]

Wellington Village, in Wellington Road, is Rowville's second-largest shopping centre. Rowville Lakes is a third, smaller shopping centre on Kelletts Road.

Sport

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  • Rowville Football Club in the Eastern Football League
  • Rowville Knights Community Football Club in the Eastern Football League[41]
  • Lysterfield Junior Football Club in the Eastern Football League
  • Rowville Cricket Club in the Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association
  • Eildon Park Cricket Club in the Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association
  • Lysterfield Cricket Club in the Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association
  • Rowville Eagles Soccer Club
  • Knox United Soccer Club
  • Knox Churches Soccer Club
  • Blue Park
  • Eildon Park Tennis Club
  • Rowville Tennis Club
  • Rowville Netball Club
  • Aston Athletic FC
  • Rowville Little Athletics Club
  • Rowville Lakes Little Athletics Club
  • Rowville Rockets Basketball Club
  • Lysterfield Netball Club
  • Omega Trampoline Sports Club

Golfers play at the Kingston Links on Corporate Avenue,[42] at the course of the Tirhatuan Park Golf Club on Police and Stud Roads[43] or at the course of the Waverley Golf Club on Bergins Road.[44]

Community service groups

[edit]

Rowville is supported by local community groups, including the 1st Rowville Scout Group since 1972 and based in its Scout Hall since 1991.

Heany Park Scout Group has been a part of the Rowville community since 1965, starting as 3rd Knox Scout Group. It later moved to Heany Park in 2001 and its name was changed to Heany Park Scout Group. Surrounding the Heany Park Scout Hall is Heany Park, which comprises 9 hectares (23 acres) of natural bushland .

Governance

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Rowville is in the federal Division of Aston, which is held by Mary Doyle of the Australian Labor Party.

Rowville is in the state Legislative Assembly seat of Rowville, which is held by Kim Wells of the Liberal Party.

Rowville is part of the City of Knox and is represented by three ward councillors.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Rowville (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Rowville (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 July 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ "Stringybark Suburban Sustainability Festival". Knox City Council. 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Rowville". Victorian Places. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. ^ Sassall, Yeong (9 May 2019). "A heritage Victorian homestead reimagined as a stunning restaurant and event space". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  6. ^ Cody, Gemima (8 March 2019). "Stamford Park Homestead has been restored for high times and high tea". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions History. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  8. ^ "£2m Estate Planned on 700 Acres at Rowville". The Age. 12 November 1958. p. 17.
  9. ^ "Inquiry into land buy opened". The Age. 27 August 1966. p. 3 – via State Library Victoria.
  10. ^ "Boomerang plan for rural hotel". Foundations. 1964. p. 9 – via State Library Victoria.
  11. ^ "Max Naumburger remembered for his legacy on the Coffs Coast". The Coffs Coast Advocate. 24 January 2013.
  12. ^ Bachrach, Hans (5 September 1959). "Tenders: Street Construction, Rowville". The Age. p. 48.
  13. ^ "Private Land Sale, First Release, Wellington Park". The Age. 31 October 1959. p. 42 – via State Library Victoria.
  14. ^ "72 Rowville Home Sites Bring £46,085". The Age. 1 February 1960. p. 10 – via State Library Victoria.
  15. ^ "Down by the lakes". The Age. 21 March 1979. p. 46 – via State Library Victoria.
  16. ^ "Two special projects incorporating lakes as part of real estate development". Dandenong Valley Authority. 30 September 1973 – via State Library Victoria.
  17. ^ "Kingston Local History: The Beginnings of Patterson Lakes". City of Kingston.
  18. ^ "Park Ridge, Rowville". The Age. 3 November 1979. p. 78.
  19. ^ "As part of development of the Timbertop Estate, Stud Road, Rowville, a display village has been constructed on the corner of Stud Road and Timbertop Drive". The Age. 30 August 1986. p. 25.
  20. ^ "New Knox estate is proving popular". The Age. 21 September 1985. p. 17 – via State Library Victoria.
  21. ^ "In brief: New houses". The Age. 7 February 1987. p. 39 – via State Library Victoria.
  22. ^ "Now being offered for sale – Wellington Park". The Age. p. 86 – via State Library Victoria.
  23. ^ Archer, Alice (4 May 1996). "Boomers lead the market on city fringe". The Age. p. 6.
  24. ^ "Public notices". The Age. 23 December 1958. p. 11.
  25. ^ "Building blocks with views on the popular Turramurra Estate". The Age. 21 December 1985. p. 50.
  26. ^ "Tirhatuan Hills Rowville: The Investor's Paradise". The Age. 17 May 1986. p. 80 – via State Library Victoria.
  27. ^ "The best, yes, the best – in Rowville". The Age. 25 April 1987. p. 93.
  28. ^ "Sovereign Hill – Tirhatuan Drive". The Age. 10 February 1990. p. 9.
  29. ^ "Jennings, the people with experience, set the standards in retirement villages". The Age. 24 March 1988. p. 51.
  30. ^ "Barry Plant – New Homes". The Age. 14 January 1989. p. 65 – via State Library Victoria.
  31. ^ "Knox community's award is par for the course". Knox Leader. 18 September 2007. p. 3.
  32. ^ Westwood, John (23 March 2002). "Rowville Riviera". The Age. p. 46 – via State Library Victoria.
  33. ^ Rose, Michelle (11 May 2002). "Lot at stake for buyers:". Herald Sun. p. 9 – via State Library Victoria.
  34. ^ "Schools". Rowville-Lysterfield Community News. March 1996. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  35. ^ "Park Ridge Primary School - Number 5281". Victorian Schools Directory. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Karoo Primary School - Number 5295". Victorian Schools Directory. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  37. ^ "Heany Park Primary School - Number 5345". Victorian Schools Directory. Government of Victoria. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  38. ^ "St Simon's School, Rowville". Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  39. ^ "Thanks for the welcome! Stud Park Shopping Centre now open". Rowville-Lysterfield Community News. No. 86. August 1989. p. 11. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  40. ^ "Stud Park". www.studparksc.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  41. ^ St. Simons Football Club. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  42. ^ Golf Select, Kingston Links, retrieved 11 May 2009
  43. ^ Golf Select, Tirhatuan Park, retrieved 11 May 2009
  44. ^ Golf Select, Waverley, retrieved 11 May 2009
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