Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Monash local government area. Clayton recorded a population of 18,988 at the 2021 census. The population is younger and more male-skewed than the average for the state; the median age is 28 compared to 38 for Victoria, while men and women make up 53.7% and 46.3% of the population respectively, compared to 49.2% and 50.8% for Victoria. The age curve is skewed, with 20-24 year olds and 25-29 year olds each making up approximately one-fifth of the population; for the state as a whole, 6.3% and 7.3% of the population are aged 20-24 and 25-29 respectively. 32.2% of the population in the 2021 census reported their ethnicity as Chinese, while 9.3% reported it as Indian, 8.6% as English, 7% as Australian, and 4.5% as Greek. Clayton's Chinese, Indian, and Greek populations are higher than the Victorian and Australian average (4.7%, 2.7%, 2.2% for Victoria; 3.9%, 2%, 1.3% for Australia), while its Anglo-Celtic Australian population is lower.

Clayton's rural lands and relative proximity to Melbourne attracted two institutions at the turn of the century: the Talbot Colony for Epileptics on land later occupied by Monash University, and a Women's Convalescent Home. Apart from that, in 1900 the community consisted of farms, three hotels, two churches, a tennis court and a few shops. Market gardens, fruit growing and a municipal abattoir were the leading industries.

The 1960s saw the rapid disappearance of market gardens as urbanisation and industry advanced. At the western edge of Clayton the Oakleigh High School had been opened in 1955 and a second primary school was opened next year at Clayton South. Clayton East Post Office opened in 1958 (and closed 1979).

  • John Monash Science School

Business

Clayton is also a hub for both local and international businesses, with a long history of local manufacturing.

Some of the current and former manufacturers located in Clayton include:

  • GMSV
  • Bosch
  • PPG
  • Unidrive (now demolished)

Schools

  • Clayton North Primary School
  • St Peter's Primary School
  • John Monash Science School
  • Monash Tech School

Sport

The suburb is home to Clayton Football Club, currently competing in the Southern Football League and located at Meade Reserve, Haughton Rd, Clayton. The club was formed in 1908 and after commencing at a ground on the corner of Crawford Rd & Centre Rd, Clarinda, moved to its current ground in 1919.

Clayton District Cricket Club also plays at Meade Reserve, Haughton Rd, Clayton. The club was founded as 'Clayton Vale Cricket Club' in 1924 with its original ground in Wordsworth Ave, Westall.

The Club moved to Namatjira Park, Springs Rd, Clayton South in 1953 before settling at Meade Reserve in 1977.

The suburb is home to Waverley Wanderers Soccer Club of Football Federation Victoria and also Waverley Oakleigh Panthers of Victoria Rugby League.

The suburb is home to Clayton Bowls Club, located in Springs Rd, Clayton South.

Places of worship

  • Regeneration Church Monash
  • St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
  • Clayton Church of Christ
  • All Saints Anglican Church
  • St. Peters Catholic Church
  • Clayton Christadelphians
  • Monash Mosque

See also

  • City of Oakleigh – Clayton was previously within this former local government area.
  • Clayton railway station
  • Glen Waverley
  • Springvale

<gallery>

File:Claytonshops.JPG|Clayton Road Shopping Precinct

File:Aust.-Synchrotron-outside,-14.06.2007.jpg|The exterior of the Australian Synchrotron facility

File:Monash Homemaker Centre, Clayton.jpg|The Monash Homemaker centre in Clayton on Blackburn Road-Princes Hwy

File:Teesnow st peter's primary school.jpg|St Peter's Primary School, Mary St.

File:Teesnow clayton church christ.jpg|Clayton Church of Christ on Burton Ave

File:Teesnow Clayton Community Centre.jpg|Clayton Community Centre, Cooke St

</gallery>

References

  • Australian Places - Clayton