Doncaster, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Doncaster is a suburb in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
, 15 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham
. At the 2006 Census, Doncaster had a population of 17,879.
The suburb, locally known as 'Donny', is situated on 8.9 km² of land around the top of the 120m high Doncaster Hill
. The suburb consists of a central area along the top of Doncaster Hill which includes several historical buildings along Doncaster Road, the Westfield Doncaster
Shopping Centre and surrounding high-rise apartments, while the rest of the suburb is typical of many of Melbourne's eastern suburbs with extensive low-density housing. Today the suburb is perhaps most notable for its Shopping Centre, one of the largest in Australia.
regulations. The area was sometimes known as Unwin's Special Survey
.
The Doncaster region was settled in the 1860s and 1870s predominantly by German settler orchardists. The German community was named Waldau, but the name Doncaster gradually became commonly accepted. A Lutheran church was the first one in Doncaster in 1858. A Lutheran school opened in 1860 and a denominational school in 1861. Doncaster Post Office opened on 17 May 1860.
Schramm's Cottage, an historic stone cottage originally situated in Doncaster Road (at the site of the fountain next to the Municipal Offices), was relocated to the site of the original Lutheran Church building in Victoria Street in the 1970s. The remains of the Waldau Cemetery, where approximately 150 burials took place between 1853 and 1888, are located in the grounds of Schramm's Cottage.
In the 1880s an observation tower (285 ft high) was constructed on Doncaster Hill
which attracted day-trippers to (what was then) the countryside.
Doncaster was the location of the first electric tram
to run in Melbourne
in 1889. The tram started in Doncaster and ended in Box Hill
(about 3.5 km away). Consequently this was named "Tram Road". However, the service did not earn any profit, so it ended in 1896 due to feuds with land holders and financial problems. The main road through the suburb, Doncaster Road, was formally named Main Street.
Doncaster remained an orchard area until the 1970s with the majority of houses built from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Doncaster Hill is an ambitious project transforming Central Doncaster, (Doncaster Hill
) into an apartment and retail mecca. Being only 12 km from the city and with fantastic views of the Melbourne CBD skyline, much time and investment has been placed by the City of Manningham
. However, a lot of apartments have not sold as predicted, and there is much controversy about the cost and scale of the project, and the impact that extra traffic congestion
will create - especially as there is poor public transport services in the area.
The major east-west road (Doncaster Road) leads from Kew
to Donvale
. The Eastern Freeway terminated at Doncaster Road at the western edge of the suburb from 1983 to December 1997.
As a result of a decision by the Victorian Cain Labor Government
, the stage 2 section from Bulleen Road to Doncaster Road was only two lanes each way. During this period Doncaster suffered from heavy traffic congestion and air pollution as Doncaster Road carried 60,000 vehicles a day as a major arterial road. Since the Kennett Government
extended the Eastern Freeway along the course of the Koonung Creek
to Springvale Road, Doncaster's through-traffic has dropped considerably.
Throughout the 1970s the Doncaster line was planned by the state government to run down the middle of the Eastern Freeway, with land acquired for the line, but sold in the 1980s. Various plans have also been made for extension of the Route 48 Tram
north to Doncaster. Present bus services exist in the area running from a park and ride
centre, along dedicated transit lanes to the city.
was built on the corner of Doncaster and Williamsons Roads and is a well-known shopping complex in Melbourne. In the early 1980s and again in the early 1990s, it was renovated and extended. From September 2006 to October 2008, it went through a large revitalisation, improving and enlarging the centre dramatically.
.
Manningham United FC is a Doncaster based Association Football club, currently associated with Football Federation Victoria
.
The Manningham Cricket Club caters for the area, playing in the Eastern Cricket Association and based at Rieschiecks Reserve on the corner of Victoria Road and George Street.
The Doncaster Baseball Club was awarded a Diamond Award in 2008 after 10 of the 17 teams it fielded in 2007 made the finals, and three won their premiership titles. In recent years many players from the Dragons (men's 18+ team) have gone on to play for Victoria.
Golfers play at the course of the Eastern Golf Club on Doncaster Road.
. The current member is Mary Wooldridge. Doncaster is encompassed within the Federal Seat of Menzies
and Kevin Andrews
is the local member. At the municipal level, it is situated within the City of Manningham
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 15 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham
City of Manningham
The City of Manningham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne. The total population is 118,544 , divided up into 10 suburbs, the largest being Doncaster and Templestowe, over an area of 113 square kilometres.The district spans a...
. At the 2006 Census, Doncaster had a population of 17,879.
The suburb, locally known as 'Donny', is situated on 8.9 km² of land around the top of the 120m high Doncaster Hill
Doncaster Hill
Doncaster Hill is one of the highest points in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Australia. Located in the suburb of Doncaster, it is 120 metres above sea level and has uninterrupted views of the city, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges, the You Yang Ranges and Dandenong Ranges...
. The suburb consists of a central area along the top of Doncaster Hill which includes several historical buildings along Doncaster Road, the Westfield Doncaster
Westfield Doncaster
Westfield Doncaster is a shopping centre 50% owned by the Westfield Group and 50% owned by LaSalle Investment Management located in Doncaster, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
Shopping Centre and surrounding high-rise apartments, while the rest of the suburb is typical of many of Melbourne's eastern suburbs with extensive low-density housing. Today the suburb is perhaps most notable for its Shopping Centre, one of the largest in Australia.
Geography
The border of the suburb follows the Koonung Creek from Doncaster Road, along the south of the suburb to Wetherby Road, which, with Victoria Street, forms the eastern border. The northern border follows Ruffey Creek, Williamsons Road, Manningham Road and Ayr Street to the junction of the Koonung Creek and Doncaster Road.History
In 1841 Frederic Unwin, a Sydney solicitor, purchased 5120 acres (20.7 km²) of land, including most of the present suburb of Doncaster. The land was purchased from the Crown for one pound an acre under the terms of the short-lived Special SurveyPort Phillip District Special Surveys
In August 1840, the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners of the British Government decided to allow the purchase of land anywhere in the Port Phillip District of New South Wales – now Victoria, Australia. Special Surveys could be requested to enable the purchase of , or eight square...
regulations. The area was sometimes known as Unwin's Special Survey
Unwin's Special Survey
In 1841, Frederic Unwin, a Sydney solicitor, purchased 5,120 acres or eight square miles of land approximately 10 km north-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
.
The Doncaster region was settled in the 1860s and 1870s predominantly by German settler orchardists. The German community was named Waldau, but the name Doncaster gradually became commonly accepted. A Lutheran church was the first one in Doncaster in 1858. A Lutheran school opened in 1860 and a denominational school in 1861. Doncaster Post Office opened on 17 May 1860.
Schramm's Cottage, an historic stone cottage originally situated in Doncaster Road (at the site of the fountain next to the Municipal Offices), was relocated to the site of the original Lutheran Church building in Victoria Street in the 1970s. The remains of the Waldau Cemetery, where approximately 150 burials took place between 1853 and 1888, are located in the grounds of Schramm's Cottage.
In the 1880s an observation tower (285 ft high) was constructed on Doncaster Hill
Doncaster Hill
Doncaster Hill is one of the highest points in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Australia. Located in the suburb of Doncaster, it is 120 metres above sea level and has uninterrupted views of the city, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges, the You Yang Ranges and Dandenong Ranges...
which attracted day-trippers to (what was then) the countryside.
Doncaster was the location of the first electric tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
to run in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1889. The tram started in Doncaster and ended in Box Hill
Box Hill, Victoria
Box Hill is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Box Hill had a population of 8,616....
(about 3.5 km away). Consequently this was named "Tram Road". However, the service did not earn any profit, so it ended in 1896 due to feuds with land holders and financial problems. The main road through the suburb, Doncaster Road, was formally named Main Street.
Doncaster remained an orchard area until the 1970s with the majority of houses built from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Doncaster Hill is an ambitious project transforming Central Doncaster, (Doncaster Hill
Doncaster Hill
Doncaster Hill is one of the highest points in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Australia. Located in the suburb of Doncaster, it is 120 metres above sea level and has uninterrupted views of the city, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges, the You Yang Ranges and Dandenong Ranges...
) into an apartment and retail mecca. Being only 12 km from the city and with fantastic views of the Melbourne CBD skyline, much time and investment has been placed by the City of Manningham
City of Manningham
The City of Manningham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne. The total population is 118,544 , divided up into 10 suburbs, the largest being Doncaster and Templestowe, over an area of 113 square kilometres.The district spans a...
. However, a lot of apartments have not sold as predicted, and there is much controversy about the cost and scale of the project, and the impact that extra traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
will create - especially as there is poor public transport services in the area.
Transport
Doncaster was first settled with the first electric tram in the Southern Hemisphere in the late 19th century. Operating from Box Hill to Doncaster (along what is today Tram Road), the tram opened up accessibility to much land in the area. Unfortunately, the line did not last more than a few years.The major east-west road (Doncaster Road) leads from Kew
Kew, Victoria
Kew is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Kew had a population of 22,516....
to Donvale
Donvale, Victoria
Donvale is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham. At the 2006 Census, Donvale had a population of 11,667...
. The Eastern Freeway terminated at Doncaster Road at the western edge of the suburb from 1983 to December 1997.
As a result of a decision by the Victorian Cain Labor Government
John Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
, the stage 2 section from Bulleen Road to Doncaster Road was only two lanes each way. During this period Doncaster suffered from heavy traffic congestion and air pollution as Doncaster Road carried 60,000 vehicles a day as a major arterial road. Since the Kennett Government
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
extended the Eastern Freeway along the course of the Koonung Creek
Koonung Creek
Koonung Creek is a small tributary of the Yarra River in Melbourne's east. The creek originates in Nunawading near Springvale Road, and flows to join the Yarra at the border between Ivanhoe East, Bulleen and Balwyn North. The place the two waterways meet forms the borders between these suburbs...
to Springvale Road, Doncaster's through-traffic has dropped considerably.
Throughout the 1970s the Doncaster line was planned by the state government to run down the middle of the Eastern Freeway, with land acquired for the line, but sold in the 1980s. Various plans have also been made for extension of the Route 48 Tram
Melbourne tram route 48
Tram route 48 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from Victoria Harbour, Docklands to North Balwyn via Collins Street, Spring Street, Wellington Parade and Bridge Road...
north to Doncaster. Present bus services exist in the area running from a park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
centre, along dedicated transit lanes to the city.
Shopping
In 1969 Westfield DoncasterWestfield Doncaster
Westfield Doncaster is a shopping centre 50% owned by the Westfield Group and 50% owned by LaSalle Investment Management located in Doncaster, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
was built on the corner of Doncaster and Williamsons Roads and is a well-known shopping complex in Melbourne. In the early 1980s and again in the early 1990s, it was renovated and extended. From September 2006 to October 2008, it went through a large revitalisation, improving and enlarging the centre dramatically.
Education
The schools located in Doncaster are:- Doncaster Secondary CollegeDoncaster Secondary CollegeDoncaster Secondary College is a secondary school located in the Melbourne suburb of Doncaster.Founded on 5 February 1969, the school adopts a non-selective enrolment policy and caters for over 1300 students from Year 7 to 12 - making it the largest high school in the city of Manningham...
- Birralee Primary School
- Doncaster Primary School
- St. Gregory the Great Primary School
Sport
The suburb has an Australian Rules football team, The Doncaster Sharks, competing in the Eastern Football LeagueEastern Football League (Australia)
The Eastern Football League is an Australian rules football League, based in the eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne....
.
Manningham United FC is a Doncaster based Association Football club, currently associated with Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria is the state governing body for football in Victoria, Australia. It is affiliated with Football Federation Australia, the sport's national governing body....
.
The Manningham Cricket Club caters for the area, playing in the Eastern Cricket Association and based at Rieschiecks Reserve on the corner of Victoria Road and George Street.
The Doncaster Baseball Club was awarded a Diamond Award in 2008 after 10 of the 17 teams it fielded in 2007 made the finals, and three won their premiership titles. In recent years many players from the Dragons (men's 18+ team) have gone on to play for Victoria.
Golfers play at the course of the Eastern Golf Club on Doncaster Road.
Government
Doncaster has a Victorian State Parliamentary seat named after it, the Electoral district of DoncasterElectoral district of Doncaster
The Electoral district of Doncaster is a metropolitan electorate of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, located approximately 13 kilometres north-east of Melbourne...
. The current member is Mary Wooldridge. Doncaster is encompassed within the Federal Seat of Menzies
Division of Menzies
The Division of Menzies is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It is bordered by the Yarra River to the north and Koonung Creek to the south. It covers the suburbs of Bulleen, Croydon Hills, Doncaster, Doncaster East,...
and Kevin Andrews
Kevin Andrews (Australian politician)
Kevin James Andrews is an Australian politician and member of the Liberal Party of Australia. He is a member of the House of Representatives and was Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in the Howard Government, having previously been Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations from 7...
is the local member. At the municipal level, it is situated within the City of Manningham
City of Manningham
The City of Manningham is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne. The total population is 118,544 , divided up into 10 suburbs, the largest being Doncaster and Templestowe, over an area of 113 square kilometres.The district spans a...
.
See also
- City of Doncaster and Templestowe - the former local government area of which Doncaster was a part.