View source for Black Rock, Victoria

{{for|the land formation near Barwon Heads|Thirteenth Beach}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type      = suburb
| name      = Black Rock
| city      = Melbourne
| state     = vic
| image     = File:Black Rock Victoria b.jpg
| caption   = 
| lga       = City of Bayside
| alternative_location_map = Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne
| coordinates = {{coord|37.972|S|145.021|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in metropolitan Melbourne
| postcode  = 3193
| pop       = 6,389
| pop_year  = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name=abs>{{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL20251 | name = Black Rock (Vic.) (Suburbs and Localities) | accessdate = 16 July 2022 | quick = on}}</ref>
| elevation = 16
| area      = 3.7
| est       = 
| stategov  = [[Electoral district of Sandringham|Sandringham]]
| fedgov    = [[Division of Goldstein|Goldstein]]
| dist1     = 18
| location1 = [[Melbourne central business district|Melbourne]]
| near-nw   = ''[[Port Phillip]]''
| near-n    = [[Sandringham, Victoria|Sandringham]]
| near-ne   = [[Cheltenham, Victoria|Cheltenham]]
| near-w    = ''[[Port Phillip]]''
| near-e    = [[Beaumaris, Victoria|Beaumaris]]
| near-sw   = ''[[Port Phillip]]''
| near-s    = ''[[Port Phillip]]''
| near-se   = [[Beaumaris, Victoria|Beaumaris]]
| local_map = yes
| zoom      = 13
}}

'''Black Rock''' is a suburb in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]], 18&nbsp;km south-east of Melbourne's [[Melbourne central business district|Central Business District]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.postcodes-australia.com/areas/vic/dandenong/black+rock|title=Postcode for Black Rock, Victoria (near Melbourne) - Postcodes Australia|website=postcodes-australia.com|access-date=2017-12-08}}</ref> located within the [[City of Bayside]] [[Local government areas of Victoria|local government area]]. Black Rock recorded a population of 6,389 at the [[2021 Australian census|2021 census]].<ref name=abs/>

==History==
The suburb was named after Black Rock House, a grand residence built by [[Charles Ebden]] in 1856, who had taken the name from [[Blackrock, Dublin|Black Rock]], [[Dublin]]. Ebden was an early [[Port Phillip]] pastoralist as well as being a businessman and parliamentarian representing the seat of [[Electoral district of Brighton|Brighton]] in the [[Parliament of Victoria|Victorian Parliament]]. Black Rock House is on the Register of the National Estate.

The northern part of the suburb between [[Beach Road, Melbourne|Beach Road]] and Bluff Road was one of the early estates in the parish of [[Moorabbin]] developed by Josiah Holloway in the 1850s. Named Bluff Town, sales were slower than in other areas and the suburb grew slowly.<ref name="b">{{Citation|last=Kingston Local History|title=Josiah Holloway|url=http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/article/123.htm|access-date=22 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121234920/http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/article/123.htm|archive-date=21 November 2008}}</ref>

One of the notable characteristics of the Black Rock shoreline is Red Bluff. The bluff's name comes from the oxidised iron in the cliffs which gives off a burnt orange colour. Either side of Red Bluff are many popular beaches and seaside destinations, including [[Half Moon Bay, Victoria|Half Moon Bay]], a setting for [[yachting]] since the 1890s.{{cn|date=November 2024}} A branch of the [[Royal Brighton Yacht Club|Brighton Yacht Club]] formed the [[Black Rock Yacht Club]] in 1919. A rock [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] was constructed and in 1926 the hull of the colonial naval vessel [[HMVS Cerberus]] was added to further protect the boat haven.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In 1888, the year after the railway was extended to [[Sandringham railway station|Sandringham]], a horse tram was provided between Sandringham and Black Rock, running on to [[Beaumaris, Victoria|Beaumaris]].{{cn|date=November 2024}} The service, which lasted until 1914, was replaced by an electric tram service (operated by the [[Victorian Railways]]) in 1919, which ran slightly inland of the horse tram service. In 1931, the line was cut back to Black Rock, and the entire line closed in 1956.{{cn|date=November 2024}} In 1910 a State primary school was opened in Black Rock which continues to operate to this day.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The first Post Office in the area was Red Bluff to the north, which opened on 17 April 1901 and closed in 1969. The first Black Rock Post Office opened on 23 April 1902, was renamed Half Moon Bay in 1922 and closed in 1968. The second Black Rock Post Office opened in 1922 near the corner of Bluff Road and Balcombe Road.<ref name="a">{{Citation|last=Phoenix Auctions History|title=Post Office List|url=http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Black*Rock* |access-date=27 January 2021}}</ref>

==Today==
Like many neighbouring suburbs, the residential development in Black Rock dates partly in the postwar period and due to active conservation movements for the protection of native plants beside roads and on heathlands, Black Rock boasts beautiful surrounds. There are many recreational reserves located throughout the shoreline and near the town centre. The major shopping centre in Black Rock, located at the intersection of Bluff, Beach and Balcombe Roads is home to the prominent Black Rock Clock Tower.

==Population==
In the 2016 Census, there were 6,159 people in Black Rock. 71.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 6.6% and New Zealand 1.9%.  83.8% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Greek at 2.2%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 38.1%, Catholic 21.4% and Anglican 15.8%.<ref name=census>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC20250|name=Black Rock (Vic) (State Suburb)|access-date=13 April 2018|quick=on}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
* The HMVS Cerberus - A [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] in [[Half Moon Bay, Victoria|Half Moon Bay]] formed by the sunken wreck of Australia's first ironclad warship, [[HMVS Cerberus]]
* Black Rock Clock Tower - A large four sided public clock mounted on a tall brick structure in the middle of a roundabout at the intersection of Beach Road and Balcombe Road.  A popular starting point for cycle rides along Beach Road including the (in)famous [[Hell Ride, Melbourne|"Hell Ride"]].
* Black Rock Life Saving Club founded in 1928, continues to serve the local community today.
* Black Rock House - a grand residence built by Charles Hotson Ebden in 1856
* 'The Rock' - fine Edwardian residence on Beach Road near the clock tower
* Red Bluff cliffs - cliffs along the beach in Black Rock located next to Half Moon Bay

==Parks and gardens==
* Black Rock Gardens and Playgrounds<br />Location: Opposite Clock Tower, Beach Road
* F.G. Tricks Reserve<br />Location: Cnr Bluff Road and Fern Street

==Sport==
The suburb has an [[Australian Rules]] football team competing in the [[Southern Football League (Victoria)|Southern Football League]].<ref name = "d">{{Citation|last=Full Point Footy|title=Southern Football League|url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/southern_football_league.htm|access-date=21 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101204948/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/southern_football_league.htm|archive-date=1 January 2009|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Golfers play at the course of the [[Royal Melbourne Golf Club]] on Cheltenham Road.<ref name="golf">{{Citation|author=Golf Select|title=Royal Melbourne|url=http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=578|access-date=11 May 2009}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Notable former residents==
* [[Shane Warne]], Australian cricketer 
* [[Richard E. Butler]], ITU Secretary-General
* [[Edward Bertram Johnston]], politician
* [[Andrew Lauterstein]], Olympic swimmer
* [[Donald Alaster Macdonald]], journalist
* [[James Manson (Australian footballer)|James Manson]], former [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] premiership player
* [[Alan Marshall (Australian author)|Alan Marshall]], writer and story teller
* [[Kirstie Marshall]], aerial skier and Victorian state politician.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Aerial perspective of Black Rock, facing south along Port Philip Bay. Jan 2019 b.jpg|Aerial view of Black Rock, looking south along Port Philip Bay.
File:Aerial perspective of the Rock suburb relative to Port Philip Bay and the Melbourne CBD January 2019.jpg|Aerial view of Black Rock relative to Port Philip Bay and Melbourne CBD.
File:Aerial perspective of Black Rock Gardens and the iconic Black Rock clock tower. January 2019.jpg|Aerial view of Black Rock Gardens.
File:Black Rock Victoria Clock Tower b.jpg|The Black Rock Clock Tower is synonymous with the Melbourne suburb of Black Rock, next to the suburb of [[Beaumaris, Victoria|Beaumaris]]. The clock tower is often used as a reference point for cyclists riding along the popular Beach Road.
File:Black Rock Catholic church Victoria b.jpg|St Josephs Catholic Church at Black Rock 
File:Blackrockyachtclub2024 b.jpg|Yacht club at Black Rock
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[City of Sandringham]] – Black Rock was previously within this former local government area.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/ Bayside City Council Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040511085919/http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/multimedia/gazetteer/list/blackrock.html Australian Places - Black Rock]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090917231550/http://my3193.com.au/ Community website]

{{City of Bayside suburbs}}

[[Category:Suburbs of Melbourne]]
[[Category:Suburbs of the City of Bayside]]
[[Category:Port Phillip]]