City of Monash History
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The City of Monash was created on 15 December 1994 when an order of the State Government of Victoria was made which resulted with the merging a substantial portion of the former City of Oakleigh with the whole of the former City of Waverley. With a population of 166,000, the municipality is situated in south-east Melbourne, about 20 km from the CBD. Monash facilitates several features of Melbourne. Monash University is the key organisation within the area along with the Waverley Park and Jells Park. Several shopping centres are located within and nearby Monash, namely The Glen, Brandon Park, Chadstone, Knoxfield and Forrest Hill Chase. Major roads run through the area - Springvale Rd, Princes Hwy, Warrigal Hwy, High St Rd, Huntingdale Rd, Stephensons Rd, Monash Hwy and Blackburn Rd. The City of Monash was once hunting grounds for the Aboriginal tribe of Boonoorung.
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[edit] The First Settlers
[edit] Aboriginals
For thousands of years before European settlement the tribe of Boonoorung dwelled in the green, lush land between Nunawading and Mordialloc. Their talents of music and physical activity were greatly pleasing for early settlers, namely, Alexander McMillan and James Clow. When camped in Mulgrave, the natives lived off emus and kangaroos which were abundant in the area. Their hunting grounds extended up to the Yarra Yarra River (now the Yarra River) to the north-west, the Dandenong Mountains to the east and the hills down to Port Phillip Bay to the south and south-west. The most famous Aborigine of the Boonoorung people was the tribal elder Derrimut, to whom the first colonists constructed a monument in the Melbourne Cemetery. As European pioneers and squatters acquired the surrounding land, the Boonoorung tribe was slowly dispersed.
[edit] Thomas Napier and Alexander Scott
Thomas Napier was a Scottish builder who came to New Holland (Australia) in the early 1830’s. Arriving in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), he proceeded to the Port Phillip District (Melbourne) and bought up property at present day Collins St. He then built several residential abodes, but soon turned to the career of a squatter. In 1839, Thomas settled on the banks of the Dandenong Creek. He built his homestead somewhere in Jells Park. He was the first European settler in the Mulgrave Parish.
Soon after, he quit being unsuccessful in squatter settling and returned to building homes. In 1841, Thomas Napier sold his property to Alexander Scott. Alexander then named the run Bushy Park Run because of the native fauna. When Alexander died, his faithful wife, Madeline took control of the land and, with the help of the Drew family, managed it until 1846. Meanwhile, Thomas Napier had returned to the Port Phillip District and today, Essendon and Fitzroy are named after him.
[edit] Reverend James Clow
On August 1838, Rev James Clow bought Corhanwarrabul Run, land 36-miles from Dandenong Creek in the vicinity of Wellington Rd. He had associated with natives and had found them to be friendly and talented in many unique skills. His homestead was named Tirhautan and was located on the north side of Wellington Rd.
[edit] The Scotchmans Creek Run
The area of present day Mount Waverley once was full of creeks and bushland. One main creek that flowed into the Yarra River was Scotchmans Creek. In January 1840, John McMillan leased five square miles of land which had a focal point of Scotchmans Creek. The boundaries of the run extended from Princes Hwy (Dandenong Rd) south-east to Wellington Rd, north along Springvale Rd and east along Waverley Rd. John ran cattle, grew vegetables and planted trees native to Europe. By April 1845, the McMillan’s had a herd of about 400 cattle. Later when John sold the property it passed into the hands of Dutchman, Van Amstel. Van Amstel Park in Mount Waverley is named after Van Amstel.
[edit] The Township of Waverley
n 1852, Dr James Silverman retired to New Holland to seek his fortune as a pioneer. Buying 160 acres for £760 on the corner of High St Rd and Stephensons Rd, he surveyed and subdivided the land, naming it the Township of Waverley. This name was later used for the naming of suburbs and then for a municipality.
[edit] Other Pioneer Settlers
The area of Mulgrave/Waverley was settled by successful pioneers. The area specialised in fruits. In 1849, Joseph Jells purchased land on present day Jells Road. With a frontage on Dandenong Creek, Jells Park was named after him.
Next door John Wheelers lived, having settled on July 28 1854. Wheeler’s claim was 100 acres in area and was located south of Jells’ run. The area is now known as Wheelers Hill and includes land further south to the hills. Another settler in this area was Thomas Armstrong who settled further south of Wheelers. Armstrong’s property was separated by Bennett’s property and bordered Wellington Rd.
The most famous settler was pioneer Sir Redmond Barry. Redmond was a judge who passed sentences on several bushrangers including Ned Kelly. Redmond owned two large properties in Monash. Syndal was situated near present day Syndal Station and occupied 114 acres. St Johnswood was situated further north-west and occupied 160 acres.
Other settlers included John Dummie, Patrick Brennan, Hugh and Mary Rourke, John Gallaghers and Bennetts.
[edit] From Parish to City
Southern NSW (now State of Victoria) had settlements at Port Phillip in the centre, Portland to the west and Gippsland to the east. Settlers first settled at Port Phillip District (Melbourne) and had sailed along the east coast and settled along the shore lines. A shipping service between Gippsland and Melbourne was created, but it soon became obvious that a road service was required to link the settlements over land. In 1851, the State of Victoria was established and the construction of a road linking St Kilda to Dandenong was approved. (Princes Hwy/Dandenong Rd) On completion, the route passed through the south-west corner of the Parish of Oakleigh/Mulgrave where the village of Oakleigh was located. Shortly following, a telegraph line was built and in 1865, Cobb and Co coaches began operating as a transportation service. These coaches made a one-stop journey back and forth, the stop at Oakleigh Village.
On 19 January 1857, the Parish of Mulgrave and Oakleigh were gazetted as the Road District of Mulgrave and Oakleigh respectively. These two road districts later merged as the Shire of Oakleigh on 1 December 1871. On 13 March 1891, the Shire of Oakleigh split when the south and centre ridings formed the Borough of Oakleigh, renaming the rest as the Shire of Mulgrave.
In 1949 and again in 1959, land was ‘transferred’ from Mulgrave to Oakleigh. The size of the Shire of Mulgrave now was reduced to 23 square miles. The Shire of Mulgrave and Borough of Oakleigh progressed through World War One, the Great Depression and World War Two. New Shire offices were later opened at Notting Hill. In April 1961, the Shire of Mulgrave was gazetted as the City of Waverley, the name taken from Dr James Silverman’s property- Township of Waverley. At the same time, the Borough of Oakleigh formed the City of Oakleigh. Finally, on 15 December 1994, the City of Waverley and most of the City of Oakleigh merged back as The City Of Monash.
