Boronia, Victoria
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Boronia is a suburb in
The area was originally occupied by the Wurundjeri, Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation, who spoke variations of the Woiwurrung language group.
History
Prior to European settlement, Boronia and surrounding suburbs were often visited by Aboriginals from the Westernport and Yarra Yarra tribes, hunting during the summer months in the Dandenong Ranges and its foothills. The Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation are the acknowledged traditional custodians of the land on which Boronia and all of City of Knox is located.[citation needed]
In its early days of European settlement, Boronia was predominantly an orchard, flower growing and farming area.[citation needed]
Boronia was named in 1915 by local Councillor A. E. Chandler (prior to this, Boronia was considered part of Bayswater). Chandler named the suburb Boronia after the plant, boronia, which grew on his property at The Basin. The plant was discovered by Ferdinand von Mueller, an Austrian botanist, who came to Australia during the colonial period.[citation needed]
Boronia railway station opened in 1920, leading to an influx of residents and Boronia Post Office opened on 1 October 1920.[2] A further influx occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.
Boronia's most impressive historical building is Miller Homestead. Originally built in 1888 for John Miller, who was originally from Bayswater, London and the first president of the Shire of Fern Tree Gully (from which the Shire of Knox separated in 1963), later proclaimed the City of Knox on 4th July 1969, and justice of the peace.[citation needed] The original property included stables and horse training facilities and was over 77 acres (310,000 m2) in size. The property was sub-divided in 1971. Miller homestead is classified by the National Trust of Australia (Vic).[citation needed]
Boronia is a tree-lined suburb, with views of the National Park and the city of Melbourne (from the foothills themselves). There are also nature reserves and extensive bike paths/lanes. Boronia includes sections of the Dandenong Ranges foothills and thus possesses many hills itself. It has the beautiful, natural, green backdrop of the hills and the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Knox City Council have endeavoured to protect this green backdrop to Melbourne by developing pro-environment planning guidelines.[citation needed]
For years, Boronia had been split in two by the
Community groups
There are numerous community and service groups in Boronia, including a Lions Club, a Rotary Club, the
The Boronia CFA Fire Station was located where the Boronia Junction and Woolworths supermarket now stands and after becoming both a permanently staffed CFA station along with volunteers it relocated to near the intersection of Scoresby and Boronia Roads where it is now a Fire Rescue Victoria Fire Station.
Sport and leisure
Amenities include a 24-hour gymnasium and Knox Leisureworks, a swimming pool and exercise centre proudly managed by Belgravia Leisure.
The suburb has an
Other activities include the Boronia Bowls Club, health and fitness centres, netball clubs, an internet cafe, swimming schools/clubs, martial arts schools, a pool club, rehabilitation clinics, bike paths and numerous small parks and playgrounds, Boronia Weightlifting Club and calisthenics schools. Knox Basketball Stadium, which was built in 1975 and slated for decommissioning in 2017,[5] is located in Boronia and is home to Knox Basketball Incorporated. There is also a library[6] and a radio-control car club and raceway in the basketball stadium precinct. A new Dance and Cheerleading school was opened in February 2008.
Boronia Soccer Club is based in the neighbouring suburb of
The Eastern Raptors play rugby league in NRL Victoria.
Retail
Boronia Junction, a relatively new shopping centre, was completed over 2000–2001. Boronia Junction includes an AMF Bowling Centre, a number of restaurants and a hairdresser. There has been a cinema in Boronia for many decades (although not continuously). Metro Cinemas opened in 2005 (in the former Village Cinemas complex in Dorset Square). Boronia boasts over 11 restaurants, including Indian, Thai, Malaysian, Chinese and Italian cuisine.
The other two shopping precincts in Boronia are Boronia Village and Dorset Square (including Boronia Mall). There is also the Dorset Arcade and Chandler Arcade, both run by the Boronia Chamber of Commerce. Boronia is currently[when?] being targeted by Knox City Council for rejuvenation, in consultation with resident interest groups. Major works are intended for the Dorset Square retail and entertainment precinct during 2008.
Dorset Calisthenics College is also located in Boronia.
Education
There are a number of kindergartens located in Boronia. There are also four primary schools in Boronia; Knox Central Primary School, Boronia Heights Primary, Boronia West Primary and St Joseph's Catholic Primary school.
Boronia K-12 College, established in 2012 merged with Boronia Primary School, Allendale Kindergarten and Boronia Heights College on Boronia Primary School's campus. It ran concurrently as the Rangeview Campus, until the Mountview Campus (Boronia Heights College) closed in 2014.
Boronia High School (also known as Tormore Secondary College) closed in 1991.
Newspaper
The offices of the Knox Leader weekly local newspaper (part of the
Places of worship
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Stradbroke_Road%2C_Boronia_Wesleyan_Methodist_Church_of_Boronia.jpg/220px-Stradbroke_Road%2C_Boronia_Wesleyan_Methodist_Church_of_Boronia.jpg)
There are a number of groups providing for the local community. These include; St Paul's
Wadi Street, Boronia, is also the location of the first Templer Community Church Hall in Australia. Built in 1957 entirely by local volunteer
In media
Boronia was the setting for the 2009 feature film Boronia Boys, in which two local residents attempt to fund an around-the-world trip by scavenging hard rubbish collections in the area.[7]
Notable former residents
- Davey Lane – Guitarist of rock band You Am I, grew up in Boronia.
- Shane Bourne – Comedian, attended Boronia High School. Has also made references to growing up in Boronia before it was a bona fide suburb.
- Ian Turpie – TV personality, attended Boronia High School in the early 1960s.
- Boronia was the residence of several members of the folk-pop band The Triangles.
- Bill Scott – 1980 Olympian[8]
- Professional wrestler, grew up in Boronia.
Street names
Many of the streets in Boronia follow a botanical theme, such as Sycamore Crescent, Cypress Avenue, Daffodil Road, Iris Crescent, Pine Crescent, Tulip Crescent, Hazelwood Road, Olive Grove and Oak Avenue. Others are named after important local residents; Chandler Road, Rathmullen Road, Dinsdale Road, Kleinert Road.
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Boronia (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 30 March 2021
- ^ Front page of The Melbourne Age 2 June 1952
- ^ Full Point Footy, Eastern Football League, archived from the original on 1 January 2009, retrieved 21 October 2008
- ^ "Knox Basketball Stadium to be decommissioned as council looks to build new mecca". Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- ^ Boronia Library: "ERL - Boronia Library". Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
- ^ "Boronia Boys (2009)". IMDB. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Bill Scott Biography and Olympic Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
External links
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)