Ringwood, Victoria

History

Ringwood village emerged in the mid to late 19th century, following the 1850s land sales. Before this, Ringwood was used primarily for agriculture. The post office opened on 2 August 1875, in the then rural area.

In 1882, the construction of the Hawthorn to Lilydale railway through the suburb caused Ringwood to emerge as a more notable town.

1924 marked major growth for Ringwood. The railway was electrified and the township was further developed. This development boomed post war, causing the City of Ringwood to be declared in 1960.

The Ringwood clock tower was built in 1928 as a memorial to the war. After the successful post-depression subdivisions of land in the area, Ringwood was recognised to be a part of metropolitan Melbourne. The shopping centre Eastland was opened for trade in Ringwood in 1967. It was redeveloped in the late 1990s and in its current state has over 80,000 square feet (7,400 m²) of retail and hospitality floor space, car parks and a cinema complex on its top floor. In 2009, the owners of Eastland, Queensland Investment Corporation, planned to commence another redevelopment of the Eastland site. The Arcade near Eastland and the Ringwood Library commenced re-location in 2012. The redevelopment of the Eastland precinct will be completed by mid 2016.

Ringwood has been the site of a Cadbury chocolate factory since the company's acquisition of MacRobertson Chocolates in 1967. The factory is the company's second-largest in Australia and produces chocolate bars, such as Cherry Ripe and Boost, and Easter eggs.

In 2009, the State Government controversially approved the building of a nine storey housing development near Ringwood Lake, without Council or public consultation. In 2007, Ringwood became the home of ConnectEast, owner and operator of Melbourne's second toll road, EastLink. In 2012, major retail chain store Costco announced plans to open in Ringwood. Construction is expected to finish mid-2013. It opened 20 November 2013 (Emma Hastings Maroondah Leader November 20, 2013 12:59PM)

Perhaps Ringwood's most global notoriety is the development in 1958 of the "Pride of Ringwood" hop variety, which today flavors Fosters Lager, Victoria Bitter and many other beers around the world. The hops were developed along the Mullum Mullum Creek, near the site of what later became Penguin Books, in 1963.

Demographics

In the 2011 census the population of Ringwood was 16,009, approximately 51.9% female and 48.1% male.

The median/average age of the people in Ringwood is 37 years of age.

67.4% of people living in the suburb of Ringwood were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were 4.1% England, 3.4% China , 2.8% India, 1.7% Burma , 1.5% New Zealand, 0.8% Malaysia, 0.8% Vietnam, 0.7% Sri Lanka, 0.7% Scotland, 0.7% Italy, 0.6% Poland, 0.6% South Africa, 0.6% Germany, 0.6% Thailand.

74.8% of people living in Ringwood speak English only. The other top languages spoken are 4.5% Other, 3.4% Mandarin, 3.1% Language spoken at home not stated, 2.0% Cantonese, 1.1% Punjabi, 1.0% Italian, 0.9% Hindi, 0.7% Greek, 0.7% Vietnamese.

The religious makeup of Ringwood is 26.4% No religion, 22.5% Catholic, 12.4% Anglican, 6.9% Religious affiliation not stated, 5.0% Uniting Church, 4.1% Baptist, 3.3% Christian, nfd, 2.9% Buddhism, 2.8% Presbyterian and Reformed, 2.0% Hinduism.

Education

Primary schools:

Secondary colleges:

Politics and representation

In 2010, Ringwood operated a number of polling booths at the 2010 Federal Election, distributed mostly across the federal electorates of Deakin and Menzies, with another few allocated to Casey for pre-polling. Traditionally a relatively Liberal-leaning suburb, the combined results across all Ringwood booths produced a primary vote result of 35.7% for Labor, 47.2% for the Liberals and 12.0% for the Greens; on a two-party basis after preferences, the result was 53.02% Liberal and 46.98% Labor.

Ringwood operated a number of polling booths at the 2013 Federal Election, distributed mostly across the federal electorates of Deakin and Menzies. In a Liberal gain, the electorate that covers most of Ringwood, Deakin, elected Michael Sukkar with a 3.8% swing and 53.2% of the votes. In the 2016 Federal Election, Deakin, reelected Michael Sukkar with 55.7% of votes, and a swing of +2.5%.

For Menzies, the 2013 Federal Election saw Kevin Andrews win with 64.4% of the votes, and again in 2016 with 60.6% of the votes.

Sport

The suburb has two Australian Rules football teams, the Norwood Norsemen, who are the current Division 1 Eastern Football League (EFL) premiers, whose home ground is Mullum Reserve. The second team is the Ringwood Redbacks who play in Division 3 of the EFL, at Jubilee Park.

Ringwood is also the home to Ringwood City Soccer Club. Founded in 1953, the club became the Victorian State League champions in 1959. However, the club has seen very limited success since and they now play in the Victorian State League Division 5; the lowest level on the Victorian soccer pyramid. The club is based at the Ringwood City Soccer Complex located at Jubilee Park.

Ringwood is further home to the Ringwood Hawks Basketball Club who play in the Big V. The Hawks have been a very successful team throughout its history in both senior and junior competitions. The club plays out of the Maroondah Indoor Sports Centre.

Other sporting facilities include:

Recreation

The Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc. (RFNC) is an Australian natural history and conservation organisation. The club was founded in 1961 by Jack Hyett and William (Bill) King, with other notable members, including Bruce Fuhrer and Fred Rogers.

The club provides an amateur forum for the study and enjoyment of natural history and travels both locally and within Victoria.

The club logo was designed in 1964 by Jack Truscott, a local artist and Foundation member and features a male golden whistler and the cinnamon wattle (Acacia leprosa), both of which were common in Ringwood in the 1960s.

Places of interest

Ringwood includes notable places such as:

Places of worship