Montrose, Victoria
Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Australian place
Montrose is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 33 km east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Montrose recorded a population of 6,900 at the Template:CensusAU.<ref name="ABS2021" />
Montrose varies in altitude from about 91 m to 324 m above sea level. Montrose covers an area of Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Montrose is situated at the foothills of Mount Dandenong.<ref name="vp">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
European settlers initially referred to the area of Montrose as South Mooroolbark, and used the land for farming during the late 1800s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The town was also informally called Double Pitts after the double-handed saw pit method used in the local timber industry.<ref name="walkabout">Template:Cite book</ref> The settlement was renamed to Montrose in 1892 by local landowner James Walker, whose son had a store on Colchester Road, Kilsyth named Rose Mont. A post office was opened in December 1898, and closed in July 1994.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Montrose was used extensively for orchards, partly due to its high rainfall. In 1911 the population of Montrose was only 133. However, residential development increased in the 1920s, providing accommodation for tourists and permanent residents.<ref name="vp" />
The Montrose Public Hall was funded by the local community and opened in July 1914, on the eve of World War I.<ref name="walkabout" /><ref name="vp" /> A monument for World War I was constructed in 1921, which also became a memorial for World War II in 1947.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population of Montrose boomed after World War II, resulting in many more young families. An infant health centre was opened in 1949.<ref name="vp" /> A bushfire in 1961 destroyed 23 houses. By the 1970s Montrose had become part of the sprawl of suburbs extending into the Dandenongs.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 2024, the (peak-hour) congested roundabout to the town was removed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Education
Template:See also Montrose incorporates two government primary schools:
- Montrose Primary School, located on Leith Road and established in 1880 (previously called Mooroolbark South Primary School and Double Pitts School)<ref name="vp" /><ref name="walkabout" />
- Billanook Primary School, located on Sheffield Road and established in 1980
Recreation
Montrose Recreation Reserve
The Montrose Recreation Reserve is home to several sporting clubs and a scout group, and provides a range of facilities including a playground and barbecues.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The reserve is a popular destination for families and features a playground largely made from a recycled plastic as well as some artwork by local artists.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sporting clubs
Montrose also has a range of sporting clubs:
- Montrose Tennis Club, adjacent to Montrose Recreation Reserve<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose Netball Club, located next to the Montrose Football Club<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose Social Soccer Club, based at Keith Hume Fraser Reserve<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose Football Club, home to the Montrose Demons which compete in the Eastern Football League<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose Cricket Club, based at Montrose Recreation Reserve and home to the Montrose Wolves<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose Calisthenics Club<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Community groups
- Montrose Coterie Group<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose & District Lions Club<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose Senior Citizens<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose CFA<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Montrose Environmental Group<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transport
The closest railway station is Mooroolbark railway station on the Lilydale line, approximately 5.7 km from Montrose.<ref>Template:Cite map</ref> Telebus services operate in the area, and passengers can request to be picked up or dropped off from home.Template:Citation needed
Churches
Notable people
Kevin Heinze was a pioneering presenter of gardening on television in Australia. He hosted a gardening program for ABC Television titled Sow What, which was mostly shot on location at his one-hectare home garden in Montrose, from 1967 to 1988. Heinze died on 1 September 2008, aged 80. In 2005 the garden was donated to the local shire council for public use.<ref name="walkabout" />
Montrose was home to the museum of the Australian author May Gibbs who created the Gumnut Babies series.