Balwyn
Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Australian place
Balwyn (Template:IPAc-en) is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Template:Convert east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Boroondara local government area. Balwyn recorded a population of 13,495 at the 2021 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The suburb's post-European settlement character was initially agricultural with several large estates built around a small village centre. Since the early 20th century, farms and mansions gave way to suburban development as the population of Melbourne rapidly grew.<ref name="balwynbeginnings">Template:Cite web</ref> Today Balwyn is almost entirely residential and one of Victoria's most affluent suburbs,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> regularly ranking in the state's top 10 most expensive suburbs.
Etymology
In the late 1850s Andrew Murray, commercial editor and political writer for The Argus newspaper, bought land on the hill overlooking Canterbury Gardens. He named his house Balwyn from the Gaelic bal and the Saxon wyn, meaning 'the home of the vine'. Balwyn Road and the district were named after it.<ref> Template:Australian Dictionary of Biography</ref> The house was located on the site that is now part of Fintona Girls' School.
History
Pre-European settlement
The formally recognised traditional owners for the area in which Balwyn is located are the Wurundjeri people,<ref name=AV>Template:Cite map</ref> who lived on the land for at least 14,000 years. The Wurundjeri People are represented by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.<ref name=WWWCHAC>Template:Cite web</ref>
19th century
Following the Foundation of Melbourne, Balwyn was part of Henry Elgar's Special Survey of Template:Convert in 1841, which was subdivided into small farms and grazing runs.
In 1868 Balwyn Primary School was opened in Balwyn Road about 100 metres north of Whitehorse Road. It was moved to its present site, south of Whitehorse Road, in 1880, opposite Murray's property. Balwyn's first town centre was near the intersection of Balwyn and Whitehorse Roads, containing a few shops, a blacksmith and the athenaeum or mechanics' institute. Anglican services began in 1868 and the St. Barnabas church, Balwyn Road, was opened in 1872.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Balwyn Post Office first opened on 26 August 1874, in a rural area, closed in 1894, then reopened in 1920.<ref name = "a">Template:Cite web</ref> It faced a second closure on 11 February 2011 but due to a campaign by local residents and the intervention of the Federal Member, Josh Frydenberg, the service was reopened.<ref name="Post Office To Reopen in Balwyn">Template:Cite web</ref>
The Outer Circle railway line, with a station at Deepdene, opened in 1891, was closed in 1893, re-opened in 1900 then finally closed to passenger traffic in 1927.
20th century
The electric tram system was extended along Cotham Road to terminate at Burke Road, Deepdene, on 30 May 1913. The line was extended along Whitehorse Road, through Balwyn to terminate at Union Road, Mont Albert, on 30 September 1916.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Balwyn Cinema opened as a single screen theatre in 1930.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was converted into a three-screen cinema in February 1994, after it was acquired by Palace Cinemas.<ref name = BHS-Oct-2023>Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Rp
A considerable number of local churches, such as the Deepdene Methodist Church, were constructed during the post-World War II boom of suburban development in the area.Template:Citation needed
Balwyn's status as an affluent suburb has seen middle to upper-middle-class families from suburbs such as Kew and Brighton move to the area for the suburb's relatively large block sizes and proximity to some of Victoria's best private schools, including those in the neighbouring suburbs of Canterbury and Kew. Some of the initial development of the suburb occurred along the Whitehorse Road tramline, along which the Wade handbag and the Jarvis Walker fishing rod factories were once located.Template:Citation needed
21st century
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The south western part of Balwyn was excised as the suburb of Deepdene in 2010.<ref name = "CoB">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2005, Balwyn Cinema was converted into a five-screen cinema, and had its foyer restored after a major flood, uncovering the original 1930s tiled floor.<ref name = BHS-Oct-2023/>Template:Rp It also served as the head office of Palace Cinemas until 2016, when the head office was moved to South Yarra.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2016, four more screens were added. In March 2017, another two screens were added, which makes 11 screens in total.<ref name = BHS-Oct-2023/>Template:Rp
Balwyn is consistently ranked as one of Melbourne's five most exclusive suburbs. The heritage-protected Reid Estate,<ref>Template:Cite VHD</ref> between Mont Albert and Whitehorse Roads, contains many architecturally significant Interwar houses.
The suburb was lampooned by the Skyhooks in their single, Balwyn Calling, and was once described as "arguably Melbourne's most maligned".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Geography
Localities
Balwyn East
A small area adjacent to Mont Albert North is sometimes known as Balwyn East. This name is generally used to refer to parts around the East Balwyn Shopping Centre at the intersection of Union Road and Belmore Road.Template:Citation needed
Landmarks
Balwyn is home to the Maranoa Botanic Gardens, Australia's first botanical garden dedicated to indigenous flora.
Economy
The main shopping area is located around the intersection of Whitehorse Road and Balwyn Road.
Transport
Road
Whitehorse Road runs east–west along the ridgeline through the centre of Balwyn. Balwyn Road runs north–south from Koonung Creek Reserve (adjacent to the Eastern Freeway) to Canterbury Road.
Public transport
Tram
The 109 tram line runs from Port Melbourne to Box Hill via Whitehorse Road.
Bus
The following bus routes go to or pass through Balwyn:
- 284 – Doncaster Park & Ride – Box Hill Station via Union Road<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 285 – Doncaster Park & Ride – Camberwell via North Balwyn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 302 – City – Box Hill Station via Belmore Road and Eastern Freeway<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 304 – City – Doncaster SC via Belmore Road and Eastern Freeway<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 302-304 – Combined City – Box Hill – Doncaster SC<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 548 – Kew (Cotham Road) – La Trobe University Bundoora<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
Active transport
The two main designated north-south cycling routes are along Balwyn Road and the Anniversary Trail. Mont Albert Road is similarly classified as the main east-west route.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Almost all roads and streets in Balwyn have sealed footpaths and several parks provide connections between neighbourhoods. Some older parts of Balwyn have service lanes to the rear of properties, an uncommon feature for a suburb outside of the inner city of Melbourne.Template:Citation needed
Education
Preschool
- Balwyn East Kindergarten
- Yongala Preschool
Primary
Secondary
Sport
The suburb has an Australian Rules football team, the Balwyn Tigers. Their home ground is Balwyn Park. There are several junior teams including the Balwyn and Greythorn Jets, competing in the Eastern Football League.<ref name="d">Template:Cite web</ref>
It also has the Balwyn Cricket Club.<ref name=bcc>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Warwick Capper – former Australian Rules footballer, singer, actor and media personality, resident of Balwyn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Olivia Deeble – Home And Away actress
- Steve Hooker – former pole vaulter and olympic gold medallist, grew up in Balwyn<ref name="hooker">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kathy Jackson – former national secretary of the Health Services UnionTemplate:Citation needed
- Jane Kennedy – semi-regular panellist on television chat show The Circle, grew up in Balwyn<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Belle Bruce Reid – Australia's first female veterinarian, established the Balwyn Veterinary Surgery<ref>Template:Australian Dictionary of Biography</ref>
See also
- City of Camberwell – Balwyn was previously within this former local government area.
- Bonjour Balwyn – A 1971 Australian independent film.
- Electoral district of Balwyn – An electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1955–1992).