Greensborough, Victoria

Greensborough is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-east from Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Banyule and Shire of Nillumbik local government areas. Greensborough recorded a population of 21,070 at the 2021 census. Formerly it was known as Keelbundoora.

History

thumb|North East Link where Greensborough meets the M80

thumb|North East Link section at Greensborough facing the Melbourne skyline

In 1838, Henry Smythe, a Crown grantee, purchased 259 hectares for £544, from John Alison. The boundaries of this land included Gold Street in the North, Macorna Street in the West, Grimshaw Street in the South and Plenty River in the East. In 1842, Charteris Lieutenant Robert Whatmough started his own orchard. Whatmough's knowledge of botany was extensive, and he had published a comprehensive book on Botany after arriving in Australia. By 1871, Greensborough had a population of 167 and by 1933 had grown to 940.

In 1845, a small private school was established. A teacher, Mr. Purcell, charged two shillings per week for each of his twenty pupils.

Greensborough Hotel

thumb|279x279px|The Farmer's Arms Hotel on Main Street in 1925 before it was demolished to make way for the Greensborough HotelIn 1864, the Greensborough Hotel, formally known as the Farmers Arms Hotel, was built by Englishman James Iredale. It served as a stopping point for travellers on their way to the goldfields further north. By law, a lit lantern was required as a sign of welcome to those needing a well-earned rest or to refresh their horses. The hotel was demolished and rebuilt in 1925 by then-owner Denis Monahan.

The hotel is an example of the interwar Spanish Mission style. It is one of the few early twentieth-century buildings remaining in the area and has become a landmark in the commercial centre of Greensborough.

alt=Built in 1925|left|thumb|Greensborough Hotel|262x262px

Geography

Greensborough borders the beginning of the Green Wedge, an area of bush land that runs northward into Eltham and Diamond Creek. The Plenty River, a tributary of the Yarra River, runs through Greensborough, joining the Yarra at Templestowe.

Government

In 2017, Banyule City Council moved their main offices to Greensborough from Ivanhoe as part of the wider "One Flintoff" project which included new offices and community facilities that were built above WaterMarc. The civic centre includes three level offices to accommodate 320 Council staff, community and function rooms. The centre was designed by Peddle Thorp.

The Shire of Nillumbik also operates it offices located in Greensborough at the site of the former Diamond Valley offices, next to the Diamond Valley library.

Amenities

thumb|left|Greensborough Plaza

thumb|Greensborough Plaza facing Main Street with the Dandenong Ranges

thumb|Greensborough Plaza and surrounds aerial panorama

Greensborough's main retail area is Main Street. Greensborough Plaza is a major regional shopping centre which services Melbourne's north-eastern suburbs. It was built in 1976 and has since undergone numerous renovations from a small shopping centre into a multi-storey facility.

In 2009, the Greensborough Town Centre was set to receive a major upgrade although most of the improvements were delayed or cancelled due to the 2008 financial crisis. Following this time, several new facilities were built, including a new aquatic centre, WaterMarc, a multi-level car park and Greensborough Walk, a new pedestrian promenade connecting Main Street with Watermarc.

Diamond Valley Library, Civic Drive, Greensborough is operated by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.

The Greensborough Historical Society is a local history group which aims to collect, catalogue, preserve and share the history and heritage of Greensborough.

Transport

Road

Greensborough and the surrounding suburbs is serviced by a network of roads including the Greensborough Highway, which bypasses the town centre and connects to the Metropolitan Ring Road. The main street is Main Street which runs into Diamond Creek Road, while other main arterials include Para Road which runs south and Grimshaw Street which runs west.

Rail

thumb|Greensborough Railway Station

Greensborough railway station services the central area of Greensborough. It is a staffed station on the Hurstbridge railway line with an island platform.

Bus

The suburb serves as a major hub for bus services for the surrounding area, with most services departing from the Main Street terminal. To this end, pedestrian links between the station and Main Street were due to be upgraded in between 2010 and 2015 as part of the Greensborough Project development to improve public transport connectivity. These links have not yet been re-proposed by either local, state or federal governments.

Education

The first government primary school opened in 1875.

The Greensborough Melbourne Polytechnic campus reopened in 2017 aided by a $10 million state government investment after initially closing in 2013.

Sport and recreation

In 1972, eight years after the Shire of Diamond Valley was established, a Civic Centre was constructed in Greensborough, serving as the headquarters for the local council. That building remained the council's home until 1994, when council amalgamations saw the creation of the Shire of Nillumbik.

In 1976, a new sports stadium, the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre, was built on land adjacent to the council offices in Greensborough. The Yandell Habitat Reserve is of local historic, scientific, social, and aesthetic significance to the City of Banyule.

Willinda Park is located at the end of Nell Street, near the Plenty River Trail.

Notable residents (current and historical)

Johnny Chester, Singer songwriter
Tracey Grimshaw, Journalist and television presenter
Michael Hill, cricketer
Sarah Abo, co-hosts breakfast program Today
Karen Martini, Chef, restaurateur, writer and television presenter
Denise Scott, comedian, actor, television and radio presenter

References

External links

Greensborough Town Centre