Blackburn is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Whitehorse local government area. Blackburn recorded a population of 14,478 at the 2021 census. Blackburn Creek Post Office opened on 10 January 1876 and was renamed Blackburn in 1883.

During the land boom of the 1880s, brickworks and quarries were established in the area. Blackburn railway station was built in 1882.

Though the area near the railway station was subdivided in the nineteenth century, development was slow and most houses in the suburb were not built until after the Second World War.

Facilities

thumb|Aerial panorama of Blackburn, Victoria. Shot September 2018.

The major shopping hub of Box Hill is two train stops away, while three buses connect Blackburn to Forest Hill. The 901 Smartbus route also travels via Blackburn, connecting Blackburn with Frankston, Dandenong and Melbourne Airport. It shares its postcode with Blackburn North and Blackburn South.

Blackburn contains two railway stations, Laburnum and Blackburn, on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, the former of which services the locality of Laburnum, in the western part of the suburb. Blackburn is also home of the 1st/8th Blackburn Scout Group and The Nerve Centre.

Blackburn enjoys three significant bushland parks: the Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, the Blackburn Creeklands park (comprising Blacks Walk, Kalang Park and Furness Park) which follows Gardiners Creek, and Cootamundra Walk.

Sport

thumb|Aerial topdown of the sporting oval at Morton Park, Blackburn

  • The suburb has an Australian Rules football team, The Blackburn Panthers' (known as 'The Burners'), competing in the Eastern Football League.
  • Cricket: Blackburn Cricket Club, Blackburn North Cricket Club, Blackburn South Cricket Club, Laburnum Cricket Club (formerly Nunawading Churches of Christ Cricket Club)
  • Soccer: Blackburn Soccer Club, Blackburn North Baptist Soccer Club
  • Netball (Juniors): Blackburn South Netball Club], St Thomas Netball Club, Laburnum Netball Club, Blackburn Burners Netball Club and Blackburn Lake Netball club.
  • Tennis: Blackburn Tennis Club
  • Basketball: Blackburn Vikings - teams playing in the Victorian Junior Basketball League (Juniors) and the Big V Competition (Senior)
  • Lawn Bowls: Blackburn Bowls Club - 4 sides starting at Division 1. Large community based club with excellent facilities.

Schools

There are four primary schools in Blackburn: Laburnum Primary School, Blackburn Primary School, Blackburn Lake Primary School and St Thomas the Apostle School.

There is one high school in Blackburn: Blackburn High School.

Notable residents

  • Edith Coleman (1874-1951), naturalist and well-known nature writer who lived at Walsham on Blackburn Road. Famed for her work on orchid pollination, she was the first woman to be awarded the Australian Natural History Medallion. Married to pioneering motorist, James G Coleman, who founded the RACV.
  • Josh Gibson, footballer for the Hawthorn in the AFL. He grew up in Blackburn.
  • Xavier O'Neill, footballer for the West Coast Eagles. He grew up in Blackburn and played for Blackburn Football Club.

See also

  • City of Nunawading – Blackburn was previously within this former local government area.
  • Laburnum, Victoria

References

  • Australian Places - Blackburn (History)
  • City of Whitehorse
  • Blackburn Creeklands

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