Population 8,592 (2011 census) LGA(s) City of Glen Eira Murrumbeena Hughesdale Postal code 3163 | Postcode(s) 3163 State electorate(s) Oakleigh Area 250 ha | |
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Location 13 km (8 mi) from Melbourne Federal divisions Division of Higgins, Division of Hotham | ||
Murrumbeena is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the City of Glen Eira. At the 2011 Census, Murrumbeena had a population of 8,592.
Contents
- Map of Murrumbeena VIC 3163 Australia
- Toponomy
- History
- Main Street
- Transport
- Housing
- Murrumbeena Primary School
- Murrumbeena High School
- Sport
- Notable people
- References
Map of Murrumbeena VIC 3163, Australia
Murrumbeena is a small suburban area with extensive parklands and primarily Federation and Interwar architectural character.
Toponomy
The name "Murrumbeena" derives from the Aboriginal word "mirambeena". It may have meant "land of frogs", "moss growing on decayed wood" or it may be a derivative from the name of an Aboriginal elder. The evidence for any of these etymologies is uncertain. The name was officially adopted when the railway station opened in 1879.
History
Main Street
The main street of Murrumbeena is Neerim Road, which bends to cross the railway lines and has a strip shopping centre extending to Murrumbeena Road nearby the railway station. Trading at the shopping centre suffered greatly with the opening of Chadstone Shopping Centre nearby, however it has seen a recent revival, particularly of street cafes and apartment building.
Transport
The main roads running through Murrumbeena are Dandenong Road, Neerim Road and Murrumbeena Road.
Murrumbeena railway station is a suburban railway station providing regular services to the city and along the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines.
The Neerim Road level crossing was identified by the RACV in 2010 as one of the worst for traffic congestion in metropolitan Melbourne.
In 2016, the Andrews Labor Government announced it would construct an extended elevated railway bridge to remove level crossings on the Pakenham/Cranbourne line. The proposal calls for three concrete bridge-like structures, each spanning multiple kilometres and composed of sections varying in height from nine to 16 metres, to be constructed. Much of the local community consequently became incensed with the proposed method of grade separation, and dubbed the proposal "Skyrail". Locals maintain that Skyrail is inconsistent with the widely accepted "rail under road, cut and cover" trench design previously floated to them at consultation sessions in 2015. They affirm support for this design to be utilised instead and point to its successful implementation at Bourke Road, Glen Iris and Springvale Road, Nunawading. They note that similar designs are being constructed at North Road (Ormond), McKinnon Road (McKinnon) and Centre Road (Bentleigh).
Residents describe the proposal as both problematic and imprudent. They argue that it will result in the construction of “enormous, hideous eyesores” which will ultimately destroy the heritage character of the surrounding areas and result in significant overshadowing complications and increased noise for nearby homes. They contend that the spaces below the proposed structures, which the government seeks to retrofit into car parks and grassy areas, will give rise to anti-social behaviour (they say is already prevalent in the area) because the proposal does not meet Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles. They question the viability of these spaces for use as parkland because much of it would exist “sandwiched” between homes in an acutely narrow easement. They also query which organisation, specifically, will be tasked with the long-term upkeep of the land and, at what cost will it go about its duty.
Residents have also taken issue with the process the government underwent in what they say was a bid to “foist” the proposal on the community without scrutiny.
Housing
Outside of the main street, Murrumbeena is a mix of predominantly single-family detached homes with small pockets of walk-up flats of up to two stories developed since the 1960s. The predominant style of the buildings in the shopping strip, station and surrounding homes are Federation and Interwar which include many magnificent examples of single story Art Deco designs.
The SKYrail project will significantly change the character of the suburb. For full information on the integration of the SKYrail project into the larger scheme of providing 600,000 additional residences using multi-level development and super malls, refer to “Dovey & Woodcock” report ‘Intensifying Melbourne’.
Murrumbeena Primary School
Murrumbeena High School
Murrumbeena High School originally occupied a large parcel of land on the corner of Murrumbeena Road and North Road across the road from Duncan McKinnon Reserve. (801 North Rd, Murrumbeena 3163)
Sport
The suburb has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Southern Football League with a history that can be traced back to the formation of the Murrumbeena Junior Football Club in 1918. They have junior and senior sides. It has a lawn bowls club situated in Gerald Street which fields two teams in the Bowls Victoria Pennant competition.
Sporting clubs