Essendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. At the 2006 Census, Essendon had a population of 18,213.

It is bounded in the west by Hoffmans Road , in the north by Keilor Road and Woodland Street, in the east by Moonee Ponds Creek, and in the south by Buckley Street (except for a small section further south bordering Moonee Ponds).

[edit] History

Bill Prescott designed the Grecian temple-style mansion Earlsbrae Hall with Frederick Grey in 1890.

Essendon and the banks of the Maribyrnong River were originally inhabited by the Wurundjeri tribe of the Kulin Aboriginal nation.

In 1803 Charles Grimes and James Fleming were the first known European explorers into the Maribyrnong area.

In 1851 the gold rush opened up the Moonee Ponds District with miners travelling along Mount Alexander Road to Castlemaine.

Essendon Post Office opened on 18 August 1856.^[3]

In 1862 169 residents sought the formation of the Borough of Essendon and Flemington.

On 9 January 1871, Victorian Railways services began between Essendon and Melbourne, following an unsuccessful private railway operating from 1860 until 1864^[4].

In the 1880s, the local council resisted industrial development in the form of cattle saleyards and brickworks, out of concern for pollution of the Maribyrnong River. Instead it embarked on a program to create, in its upper reaches, a playground for rowers, fishermen and swimmers.

In 1890, a large mansion was built in the town. It was designed by eminent architect R.A. Lawson and built at a cost of £35,000. Originally known as Earslbrae Hall, it was the home of Collier McCracken, a member of a local brewing family. The building now houses Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School.

In 1906 the North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Lighting Company opened its electric tramway system linking Essendon with the city.^[5] The company also supplied electric power to the neighbouring suburbs from its power station on Mt Alexander Road, near the intersection with South Street.^[6]

[edit] Transport

The number 59 tram provides public transport along Mt Alexander and Keilor roads to the city.

Train services are available from Essendon, Glenbervie, and Strathmore railway stations on the Craigieburn railway line.

Bus services are also available from Essendon with several routes ending at the station or continuing through to Moonee Ponds.

The suburb is bordered on the south west by the Maribyrnong River Trail, and on the east and north by the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. Both are used by commuting and recreational cyclists.

[edit] Politics

The seat of Essendon in the Victorian Legislative Assembly is based on the suburb. The current state member is Judy Maddigan for the Australian Labor Party.

[edit] Schools

• St Columba's College
• St Bernard's College
• Buckley Park College
• Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
• Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School
• Ave Maria College
• Essendon Keilor College (VCE Campus)

[edit] Sport and culture

Essendon is home of the Essendon Football Club (the Bombers) an Australian rules football club which is a member of the Australian Football League. Essendon is one of the most successful football teams in Australia, having won 16 premierships in the VFL/AFL.

The Essendon District Football League is one of the strongest suburban football competitions in Melbourne and in the zone days, fed many players into elite level competition.

Essendon is the birthplace of conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin, best known as "The Crocodile Hunter".^[7]

[edit] See also

• City of Essendon - the former local government area of the same name.
• Essendon Airport

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Essendon, Victoria is at coordinates 37°45′07″S 144°54′32″E / 37.752°S 144.909°E / -37.752; 144.909Coordinates: 37°45′07″S 144°54′32″E / 37.752°S 144.909°E / -37.752; 144.909
• Essendon Historical Society Inc