Burwood is an inner eastern suburb of
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
,
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India
* Victoria (state), a state of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital
* Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
, 14 kilometres east of Melbourne's
Central Business District
A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...
, located within the Cities of
Monash and
Whitehorse
Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...
local government area
A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...
s. Burwood recorded a population of 15,147 at the
2021 census.
History
The first settlement in the area, known as Ballyshanassy, was surveyed in 1858. The settlement changed name to Norwood and subsequently Burwood in 1879. The Post Office opened on 1 May 1853 as Ballyshanassy and was renamed Burwood around June 1879.
The name "Burwood" (later "Invergowrie") was the name of a house built by
Sir James Palmer, in
Hawthorn West, in 1852. The original settlement was centred near
Burwood Cemetery
Burwood Cemetery is a cemetery in Burwood, Victoria in Australia. It dates back to 1858, and was originally known as Nunawading General Cemetery. It is known as a resting place of notable figures from Melbourne. The site is operated by Greater Me ...
and the Police Station, but the focus shifted to the intersection of
Warrigal Road
Warrigal Road is a major inner urban road in southeastern Melbourne, Australia. On weekdays, it is heavily trafficked as it runs through many major suburbs along its route, traversing some of Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs. These ...
and Toorak Road, with later commercial development. The suburb later spread westwards to the
Hartwell railway station
Hartwell railway station is a commuter railway station on the Alamein line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the eastern suburb of Camberwell, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It opened on 7 May 1906, with the curre ...
, which was renamed as
Burwood railway station.
By 1904, Burwood had a population of 600 and had a post office, two hotels, a savings bank and a number of churches. The township at that time was surrounded by farms and market gardens.
Albers' Daffodil Farm is typical of the local market gardens and was established in 1934. It operated on the site where
Deakin University
Deakin University is a public university in Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1974 with antecedent history since 1887, the university was named after Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia and a founding father of Australian Fede ...
's Burwood Campus is now located, until the site was sold to the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
in 1951.
The extension of the
Toorak Road tramline in 1912 was a catalyst for residential development in the area. Following
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, development headed east along
Burwood Highway
Burwood Highway (and its western section as Toorak Road) is a major transportation link with Melbourne's eastern fringe at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, linking the suburbs of Hawthorn and Belgrave. The highway is considered a major lin ...
to and beyond the neighbourhood of Bennettswood, where a post office has been open since 2 February 1954.
Allambie
The
Allambie Reception Centre for juvenile wards of the state was located at Burwood.
Burwood Boys Home
Burwood Boys' Home, originally located at 155 Warrigal Road, was founded in 1895 by Robert Campbell Edwards, who was concerned about the number of children living on the streets of Melbourne. The facility changed its name to Burwood Children's Home when girls began to be admitted after 1972. It was closed in 1986. The location is now used for Cameron Close retirement village.
Orana Methodist Children's Home
In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s the Methodist Church developed residential units (cottages) on the site of 87 Elgar Road, Burwood, for the care of abandoned and neglected children, children that were deemed wards of the state of Victoria. This site was sold and relocated to
Meadow Heights in 1989.
Princess Elizabeth Kindergarten for the Deaf
The Princess Elizabeth Kindergarten for the Deaf, the first facility of its kind in Australia, was opened on a site at 90 Elgar Road in 1950. It was later known as the Princess Elizabeth Junior School for Deaf Children.
Vision Australia
The Royal Victorian Institute of the Blind (now
Vision Australia
Vision Australia is a not-for-profit organization that acts as Australia's largest provider of services for blind or low vision people.
Background
Vision Australia was created in 2004 through the merger of the Royal Blind Society (RBS), the ...
) purchased of land on Burwood Highway in 1951 for a school, which was opened in 1959. This school was closed down in December 2009. The site was also used by St. Andrews Christian College from 1998 to 2010. It has now been replaced Greenwood business park and a large housing development.
Drive-in theatre
The Burwood Skyline, opened in February 1954, was Australia's first
drive-in theatre
A drive-in theater/theatre or drive-in cinema is a form of movie theater, cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, c ...
. Operated by
Hoyts
The HOYTS Group of companies in Australia and New Zealand includes HOYTS Cinemas, a cinema chain, and Val Morgan, which sells advertising on cinema screens and digital billboards.
The company was established by dentist Arthur Russell in Melbo ...
, it had a 652 car capacity, later increasing to 743. The drive-in was located near the intersection of Burwood Highway and McComas Grove, in a natural
amphitheatre
An amphitheatre (American English, U.S. English: amphitheater) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ('), meani ...
setting, provided by the
Gardiners Creek
Gardiners Creek, originally known as Kooyongkoot Creek, is an urban stream in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and part of the Yarra River catchment.
Apart from a few sparse surviving remnant riparian bushlands, the majority of the creek's leng ...
Valley. The screen was located on a high point on the other side of the creek from the viewing area. The first film publicly screened was ''
On the Riviera
''On the Riviera'' is a 1951 Technicolor musical comedy film made by 20th Century Fox. Directed by Walter Lang and produced by Sol C. Siegel from a screenplay by Valentine Davies and Phoebe and Henry Ephron, it is the studio's fourth film ba ...
'', starring
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; ; January 18, 1911 – March 3, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, singer, and dancer. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and rapid-fire novelty songs.
Kaye starred ...
and
Gene Tierney
Gene Eliza Tierney (November 19, 1920November 6, 1991) was an American stage and film actress. Acclaimed for her great beauty, Tierney was a prominent Leading actor, leading lady during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. Sh ...
. The drive in was very popular in its early years, often causing traffic jams in the local area. A playground was provided for children, which included a motorised
carousel
A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (International English), or galloper (British English) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The seats are tradit ...
.
Following a decline in audience numbers over a number of years, the drive-in closed on 22 June 1983, with a screening of ''
We of the Never Never'' and ''
Local Hero.''
Population
In the 2016 Census, there were 15,019 people in Burwood. 46.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 17.5%, India 4.1%, Malaysia 3.1%, Sri Lanka 2.9% and England 1.9%. 49.3% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 18.1%, Cantonese 4.5%, Greek 3.3%, Sinhalese 2.2% and Vietnamese 1.7%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 37.9% and Catholic 17.9%.
Geography

Burwood is bounded to the north by Riversdale Road, the northern boundary of Deakin University,
Gardiners Creek
Gardiners Creek, originally known as Kooyongkoot Creek, is an urban stream in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and part of the Yarra River catchment.
Apart from a few sparse surviving remnant riparian bushlands, the majority of the creek's leng ...
and Eley Road, the east by Middleborough Road and to the west by Warrigal Road. The southern boundary runs near to Carlyle and Zodiac Streets, then along Gardiners Creek and subsequently, in approximate alignment with Ashwood Drive, Montpellier Road, Arthur Street, Huntingdale Road and Highbury Road.
The most prominent features of the Burwood landscape are the large buildings constructed along Burwood Highway at Deakin University, include Building C (The
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919) was an Australian politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Australia, prime minister of Australia from 1903 to 1904, 1905 to 1908, and 1909 to 1910. He held office as the leader of th ...
Building). A new multistoried modern building has also been constructed just adjacent to the Burwood Highway. This is building BC.
Shopping centres
The main Burwood shopping centre is located at the intersection of Warrigal Road and Burwood Highway. Another shopping strip is located at Bennettswood, to the east, on the corner of Burwood Highway and Station Street.
Education
University
*
Deakin University
Deakin University is a public university in Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1974 with antecedent history since 1887, the university was named after Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia and a founding father of Australian Fede ...
– Burwood Campus
Secondary schools
*
Emmaus College – Year 9 Campus
*
Mount Scopus Memorial College
Mount Scopus Memorial College, commonly known as Mount Scopus, or just Scopus, is an independent Modern Orthodox Jewish comprehensive co-educational early learning, primary, and secondary day school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Burwoo ...
– Gandel Campus
*
Presbyterian Ladies' College
Primary schools
* Wattle Park Primary School
* Burwood East Primary School
* St Scholastica's Primary School
Sports and recreation
Parks in the suburb include
Wattle Park and Gardiners Creek Reserve, the latter which has a shared
bicycle and pedestrian path. Sports facilities include Bennettswood Sports Ground and Bennettswood Bowling Club. Burwood Reserve and Burwood Bowling Club are located in nearby
Glen Iris Glen Iris may refer to:
*Glen Iris, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne
**Glen Iris railway station
*Glen Iris, Western Australia
Glen Iris is a suburb of the City of Bunbury in the South West region of Western Australia.
Glen Iris is located on ...
.
Golfers play at the course of the Wattle Park Public Golf Club, on Riversdale Road.
The suburb is home to an
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...
team, the Emmaus Animals, who compete in the Saturday Football League. Their home ground is at Bennettswood Reserve, adjacent to
Deakin University
Deakin University is a public university in Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1974 with antecedent history since 1887, the university was named after Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia and a founding father of Australian Fede ...
.
The
Eastern Lions Soccer Club compete in the
National Premier Leagues of Victoria first division and are located at Gardiners Reserve.
Transport
The principal north–south roads are Warrigal Road, Elgar Road, Station Street and Middleborough Road, while the principal east–west roads are Riversdale Road, Burwood Highway and Highbury Road.
Two
tram
A tram (also known as a streetcar or trolley in Canada and the United States) is an urban rail transit in which Rolling stock, vehicles, whether individual railcars or multiple-unit trains, run on tramway tracks on urban public streets; some ...
routes serve the suburb;
*
Route 70 –
Waterfront City Docklands to
Wattle Park; travels along Riversdale Road, the northern boundary of the suburb, before terminating at the intersection with Elgar Road
*
Route 75 –
Etihad Stadium Docklands to
Vermont South; travels along
Burwood Highway
Burwood Highway (and its western section as Toorak Road) is a major transportation link with Melbourne's eastern fringe at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, linking the suburbs of Hawthorn and Belgrave. The highway is considered a major lin ...
through the whole suburb
There is no train service in the suburb, with
Burwood railway station located in the adjoining suburb of Glen Iris.
There are a number of
bus routes
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used in ...
, which connect the suburb to surrounding areas.
Retirement villages
Burwood has two
retirement village
A retirement community is a residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves. Assistance from home care agencies is allowed in some communities, and activities and socialization opp ...
s; Fountain Court, on Station Street and Cameron Close, on Warrigal Road.
There are also aged care facilities, including Elizabeth Gardens, in Elizabeth Street, Highwood House, in Warrigal Road and Burwood Hill, in Edwards Street.
Notable people
*
Nazeem Hussain
Nazeem Hussain is an Australian comedian, actor, television and radio presenter.
He is best known as the creator and star of two television comedy shows, '' Legally Brown'' and '' Orange Is the New Brown''. He has also has multiple comedy sp ...
, Comedian, Actor, Television and Radio Presenter
*
Flea
Flea, the common name for the order (biology), order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by hematophagy, ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult f ...
, from the
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...
, was born and lived in the suburb, until he was 5 years old.
See also
*
City of Box Hill
A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
– Parts of Burwood were previously within this former local government area.
*
City of Camberwell
The City of Camberwell was a Local government in Australia, local government area about east of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1914 until 1994.
Histo ...
– Parts of Burwood were previously within this former local government area.
*
City of Waverley
The City of Waverley was a local government area about east-southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1857 until 1994.
History
Waverley was first incorporated as the Oakl ...
– Parts of Burwood were previously within this former local government area.
References
External links
Map of Burwood (street-directory.com.au)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burwood, Victoria
Suburbs of Melbourne
Suburbs of the City of Monash
Suburbs of the City of Whitehorse