The City of Boroondara has a long-established reputation as a residential district of the highest quality.
Encompassing a number of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs, the area is bounded by the Yarra River to the west, the Eastern Freeway to the north, and the Monash Freeway to the south.
A Brief History
Before white settlement, the area was occupied by a Wurundjeri clan of the Woiwurrung people. In 1837, speculator John Gardiner (and his family) was the first European to settle in the area - Gardiner’s Creek, which runs through the municipality, from Hawthorn to Blackburn, is named after him.
The name Boroondara was taken from the Woiwurrung language – it was translated to “where the ground is thickly shaded”. However, the City of Boroondara didn’t officially come into being until 1994, when the cities of Kew, Hawthorn and Camberwell merged.
· Discover more about Boroondara’s history click here
Some of the Suburbs
· Ashburton
· Balwyn
· Camberwell
· Canterbury
· Glen Iris
· Hawthorn
· Kew
· Surrey Hills
Schools
Perhaps more than anything else, Boroondara is renowned for its schools. Famous names like Xavier College, Carey Grammar, Methodist Ladies College (MLC), Scotch College, Genazzano College and Trinity Grammar are some of the private schools with main campuses in Boroondara.
The area’s state schools also have outstanding reputations, among them Canterbury Girls, Balwyn High, Kew High and Camberwell High.
Transport
As a well-established, inner-suburban municipality, Boroondara is extremely well serviced by public transport.
The Lilydale, Belgrave and Alamein railway lines all run through the area, as do nearly a dozen tram services. There are also numerous bus services.
Commuting by car is made easier by major freeways in the north and south.
· View Metlink’s guide to public transport in Boroondara click here
Shopping
Boroondara is famous for its well-preserved traditional shopping strips. The best example is unquestionably Maling Road click here in Canterbury, as attractive for its historical significance, as it is for its sumptuous shopping options.
There are also larger retail hubs along Burke Road in Kew and Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn.
Parks And Gardens
Victoria has long been known as the Garden State, in no small part thanks to Boroondara’s nearly 500 hectares of parkland.
Most of the area’s green wedges are steeped in history, and many of them are bisected by waterways, walking tracks and cycling paths.
· Find out more about Boroondara’s Parks and Gardens click here
Useful Links
· Visit the City of Boroondara website click here