Belgrave, Victoria

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = suburb | name = Belgrave | city = Melbourne | state = vic | image = 2023-05-07 Belgrave Main Street.jpg | caption = Belgrave main street ([[Burwood Highway]]) | lga = Shire of Yarra Ranges | alternative_location_map = Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne | coordinates = {{coord|37.912067|S|145.3558|E|display=inline,title}} | postcode = 3160 | pop = 3,894 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name="abs">{{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL20188 | name = Belgrave (Suburbs and Localities) | access-date = 4 July 2022 | quick = on}}</ref> | area = 4.1 | est = 1851 | elevation= 200 | stategov = [[Electoral district of Monbulk|Monbulk]] | fedgov = [[Division of Casey|Casey]] | dist1 = 36 | location2= [[Ferntree Gully, Victoria|Ferntree Gully]] | dist2 = 7 | location3= [[Westfield Knox]] | dist3 = 11 | location1= [[Melbourne]] | near-nw = [[Upwey, Victoria|Upwey]] | near-n = [[Sherbrooke, Victoria|Sherbrooke]] | near-ne = [[Kallista, Victoria|Kallista]] | near-w = [[Tecoma, Victoria|Tecoma]] | near-e = [[Selby, Victoria|Selby]] | near-sw = [[Belgrave Heights, Victoria|Belgrave Heights]] | near-s = [[Belgrave South, Victoria|Belgrave South]] | near-se = [[Belgrave South, Victoria|Belgrave South]] | local_map = yes | zoom = 12 }}

'''Belgrave''' is a town and outer suburb in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], [[Australia]], located 36 km east of Melbourne's [[Melbourne city centre|central business district]], within the [[Shire of Yarra Ranges]] [[Local government areas of Victoria|local government area]]. Belgrave recorded a population of 3,894 at the [[2021 Australian census|2021 census]].<ref name="abs"/>

== History ==

Belgrave is situated in the foothills of the [[Dandenong Ranges]], on the lands of the [[Wurundjeri]] people of the [[Kulin nation|Kulin Nation]]. Belgrave was settled by Europeans in 1851.

Belgrave was named after an 1840s chapel in Leeds, Yorkshire, England; the name was carried by Mr and Mrs R.G. Benson when they came to Melbourne in 1856. Their sons, the Benson Brothers, settled in the Belgrave district in the 1870s. Though originally the area was known as "Monbulk" for the reservoir that lay near by, the town wasn't known as Belgrave until December 1904 when the railway station was renamed, and another suggested name for the town at that stage was Glassford.<ref>Reflections of the Past - Volume 3</ref> A Post Office opened in the area around 1904.<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=*Belgrave* | access-date = 19 January 2021 }}</ref> Many from Belgrave served in the [[World War I|First]] and [[World War II|Second World Wars]], and there is a war memorial in Belgrave.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/126473 | title = Belgrave War Memorial | website = Victorian Heritage Database | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref> The War Memorial was originally erected in the Main Street and unveiled on August 28 1920, but was moved to Terrys Avenue around July-August 1933 when the street was widened.

=== Belgrave Volunteer Fire Brigade ===

The local fire brigade was established by the local community in 1923. In 2023 it marked 100 years of service to the local community.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.belgravecfa.com.au/belgrave-fire-brigade-centennary | title = Belgrave Fire Brigade Centenary | website = Belgrave CFA | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref>

=== McDonald's rejection === In 1993, the [[Shire of Sherbrooke]] prepared a site specific amendment for land adjoining the Belgrave roundabout to facilitate the development of a 70-seat [[McDonald's]] restaurant including drive-through.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1993/V/general/3.pdf|title=Victorian Government Gazette|website=Online archive 1836-1997|publisher=Victorian State Government|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref> The proposal was unpopular attracting many objections from within the local community. The Panel approved the proposal but disallowed the drive-through. McDonald's decided not to proceed with the development. Application for a nearly identical proposal by the site owner was approved by [[Yarra Ranges Shire|Yarra Ranges]] Council in 1996 but lost on appeal at the Victorian Administrative Appeals Tribunal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/aat/1997/354.html|title=O'Halloran & Others v Yarra Ranges SC (1997/00871) [1997] VICCAT 354 (15 May 1997)|website=Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Victoria|publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001028/https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi%2Dbin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/aat/1997/354.html|archive-date=2018-06-20|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref> Despite protests by the locals, McDonald's opened at a site in nearby [[Tecoma, Victoria|Tecoma]] on 7 April 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hui |first=Jin |date=2023-07-28 |title=A timeline of the Tecoma McDonald's controversy |url=https://rangestrader.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2023-07-28/a-timeline-of-the-tecoma-mcdonalds-controversy/#:~:text=McDonald's%20opens%20its%20Tecoma%20store,around%206am%20on%20the%20day. |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Ranges Trader Star Mail |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Commerce == [[File:Belgrave, Victoria panorama.jpg|thumb|center|330px|Belgrave commercial district in April 2008]] Most of the commercial district of Belgrave is located on Main Street, which is at the end of [[Burwood Highway]]. There are also shops on Bayview Road, which is located just across the rail bridge. Belgrave has galleries and bookshops among various other shops and businesses.{{further| Puffing Billy Railway}} [[File:Puffing-Billy-Lok 6A (2).jpg|thumb|left|Victorian Railways NA class 6A at Belgrave station in 2002]]

Belgrave's most notable attraction is the [[Cultural heritage|heritage]] [[narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]], [[Locomotive#Steam|steam-operated]] [[Puffing Billy Railway]], which was reopened in 1962—after four years of restoration by volunteers—and travels through 24 kilometres of cool temperate rainforest, semi-urban development and rural farmland to [[Gembrook, Victoria|Gembrook]].<ref>{{Citation | title = Puffing Billy Steam Railway | publisher = Tourism Victoria | url = https://puffingbilly.com.au/ | access-date = 19 January 2021}}</ref> It is also the terminus of the [[Belgrave railway line]].

== Special events ==

Belgrave Survival Day<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burrinja.org.au/projects/belgrave-survival-day|title=Belgrave Survival Day|website=burrinja.org.au|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-01-11}}</ref> is an annual event held on 26 January to honour and celebrate Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their continuing culture and heritage.

The Belgrave Lantern Parade,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burrinja.org.au/projects/lantern-parade|title=Lantern Parade|website=burrinja.org.au|language=en-gb|access-date=2024-08-11|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20180314143824/https://www.burrinja.org.au/projects/lantern-parade|archive-date=14 March 2018}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> coinciding with the winter solstice, is also held each year. The main street is lined by hundreds of lanterns, accompanied by drummers, dancers and performers.

== Education ==

Belgrave is served by public primary schools in the neighbouring suburbs of [[Tecoma, Victoria|Tecoma]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-tecoma-3160/tecoma-primary-school/about-us | title = Tecoma Primary School | website = Good Schools Guide | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref> [[Selby, Victoria|Selby]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-selby-3159/selby-primary-school | title = Selby Primary School | website = Good Schools Guide | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref> and [[Belgrave South, Victoria|Belgrave South]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-belgrave-south-3160/belgrave-south-primary-school | title = Belgrave South Primary School | website = Good Schools Guide | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref> Upwey High School is the nearest public high school.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-upwey-3158/upwey-high-school | title = Upwey High School | website = Good Schools Guide | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref>

Two Catholic schools operate within Belgrave: St Thomas More's Primary School,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-belgrave-3160/st-thomas-mores-school | title = St Thomas More's School | website = Good Schools Guide | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref> and [[Mater Christi College]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-belgrave-3160/mater-christi-college | title = Mater Christi College | website = Good Schools Guide | access-date = 11 August 2024}}</ref> a girls' secondary school.

== Government and emergency services ==

Belgrave has a police station, which acts as the base for all police stations in the Dandenong Ranges Region. There is also the Belgrave Volunteer Fire Brigade on Bayview Road, which has been serving the community for over 80 years. It is also home to the Dandenong Ranges Fire Brigades Group HQ, from there, the CFA and Parks Victoria used to manage all major fires within the Dandenong Ranges, though this has moved to an Incident Control Centre in Ferntree Gully since the Black Saturday Fires of 2009. There is also an Ambulance station in Bayview Road.

There is a [[Centrelink]] office on the high side of Main Street. The State Member for the seat of Monbulk, [[Daniela De Martino]] MLA,<ref>{{cite web |title=Daniela di Martino |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/daniela-de-martino/ |website=Parliament of Victoria |access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref> has her Electoral Office in Belgrave. The closest [[Shire of Yarra Ranges]] office is in [[Upwey, Victoria|Upwey]] on Main Street.

==Sport and recreation ==

The Belgrave Town Park, just below the police station, provides a fine view over the town as well as a public space for events such as the annual Christmas carols. Just off the Belgrave-[[Hallam Road]] is the Belgrave outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and a playground.

The town supports both a cricket and [[Australian Rules]] football team which are located at Belgrave Recreation Reserve on Reserve Road. It is also the home ground of the Belgrave Junior Football Club. The Belgrave Cricket Club is affiliated with the Ferntree Gully And District Cricket Association, while the Belgrave Football Club competes in the [[Yarra Valley Mountain Football League]].<ref name="d">{{Citation|last=Full Points Footy |title=Belgrave |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Belgrave.htm |access-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516190421/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/belgrave.htm |archive-date=16 May 2008 }}</ref>

Belgrave has a park 3 km from the Main Street. During the summer months, Belgrave Pool is open. Belgrave pool is an outdoor 33m heated pool.

Public reserves in Belgrave include Belgrave Lake Park, Belgrave Recreation Reserve, Borthwick Park, Violet Larsen Reserve and Dandenong Ranges National Park.

=== Belgrave Lake Park ===

A small reserve surrounding Belgrave Lake and located south of Belgrave town centre. It is an important biolink between Dandenong Ranges National Park and Birdsland as well as Lysterfield Lake Park. The park has a combined focus of recreation and conservation. Monbulk creek flows through the area and is important for wildlife such as [[platypus]] and [[Rakali|water rat]]. In the trees, arboreal mammals include the [[sugar glider]] and also would have been a habitat for the yellow-bellied glider. The reserve is dominated by ''Eucalyptus cypellocarpa'' (mountain grey gum) on the slopes. Along the riparian zone (adjacent to creek) the dominant plant species are ''Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. viminalis'' (manna gum), ''Acacia dealbata'' (silver wattle).

Belgrave Lake was constructed in 1893 to supply water to Dandenong. Water flowed by pipeline to Heany Park in Rowville and then by aqueduct and pipeline through Churchill Park and on to Dandenong. From 1924 water supply to Dandenong was discontinued but the pipeline continued to supply water to farms in the Lysterfield area. Fern Tree Gully Shire leased the pipeline from 1940 to 1950.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rlcnews.org.au/stories/the_changing_landscape/heany_park.php |title=RLHP Local Stories: Heany Park |publisher=Rlcnews.org.au |access-date=2010-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220120029/http://www.rlcnews.org.au/stories/the_changing_landscape/heany_park.php |archive-date=20 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heanyparkscouts.com/History.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-08-04 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711155833/http://www.heanyparkscouts.com/History.pdf |archive-date=11 July 2011 }}</ref> The pipeline was still in use in the 1970s and was closed some time after that.

== Transport == [[Belgrave railway station]] is located behind the main street shops, with the steam train Puffing Billy just beyond it. Belgrave suburban electric trains go to [[Melbourne central business district|Melbourne CBD]] via [[Ringwood railway station, Melbourne|Ringwood]]. Puffing Billy goes to [[Gembrook railway station|Gembrook]].

Major roads include [[Burwood Highway]], Wellington Road, Ferntree Gully Road and Belgrave-[[Hallam Road]], all providing access to the city centre of [[Melbourne]].

== Media == Belgrave's local newspapers are ''The Free Press Leader'', and ''The Ferntree Gully-Belgrave Mail''. The local radio station is [[3MDR| 3MDR 97.1FM]].

== Gallery == <gallery mode = packed> File:Belgrave Shops.jpg File:Jellyfish lantern, Belgrave Lantern Parade 2013.jpg File:Puffing Billy (3708462529).jpg File:Belgrave Railway Station.jpg File:2023-05-07 Belgrave Train Station.jpg File:Sherbrooke Forest Belgrave.jpg File:Micawber Tavern.jpg File:Belgrave - panoramio.jpg File:BelgraveStation1.jpg File:Puffing Billy Loco 12A at Belgrave.JPG File:Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge.JPG File:Puffing Billy Railway Line Closeup.JPG File:Belgrave rail trail.jpg File:Puffing Billy Railway Station at Belgrave.JPG </gallery>

==See also== * [[Belgrave railway line]] * [[Belgrave Lantern Festival]] * [[Puffing Billy Railway]] * [[Belgrave (Puffing Billy) railway station]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Wikivoyage|Belgrave}} * [http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Yarra-Valley-and-Dandenong-Ranges/Destinations/Belgrave.aspx Belgrave] - Official government tourism site. * [http://www.belgrave.net.au Belgrave Township—Belgrave Traders Association] * [https://easterndandenongranges.com/ Eastern Dandenong Ranges] * [http://www.3mdr.com 3MDR 97.1FM] * [https://www.belgravesouthps.vic.edu.au Belgrave South Primary School] * [http://www.materchristi.edu.au Mater Christi College] * [http://www.smbelgrave.catholic.edu.au/ St Thomas More Primary School] * [http://www.menziesps.vic.edu.au Menzies Creek Primary School] * [http://www.sherbrooke.vic.edu.au Sherbrooke Community School] * [http://belgrave.vic.cricket.com.au/ Belgrave Cricket Club] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050312064924/http://www.belgravefc.vcfl.com.au/ Belgrave Football Club] * [http://www.foxsportspulse.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-6157-80456-0-0/ Belgrave Junior Football Club] {{Shire of Yarra Ranges suburbs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belgrave, Victoria}} [[Category:Suburbs of Melbourne]] [[Category:Suburbs of Yarra Ranges Shire]]