Once a haven and source of inspiration for Australia’s finest 19th century artists, the City of Whitehorse is today a near-perfect microcosm of much that makes Melbourne great.
Cosmopolitan, green and modern, yet possessing a rich and intricate history, the municipality has, in the last decade or so, become one of the city’s most prized residential locations.
A Brief History
As an official municipality, the City of Whitehorse is relatively young – it was established in 1994 subsequent to the merger of the cities of Box Hill and Nunawading. But as an area of Melbourne, Whitehorse and its suburbs have a remarkably colourful past.
Europeans began settling in the area we now know as Box Hill from the 1830s onwards. By the mid-1880s, the region had begun to attract the attention of a group of young painters who set up a small camp on the banks of Damper (now Gardiners) Creek. Together, they formed a movement that would become known as the Heidelberg School. Members of the movement - Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and Charles Conder, to name just four - are now considered to be among Australia’s greatest artists.
For trivia buffs, the Whitehorse name comes from a statue that stood at the front of the district’s first two-storey building, the White Horse Hotel.
Some of the Suburbs
· Blackburn
· Box Hill
· Forest Hill
· Mitcham
· Mont Albert
· Nunawading
· Surrey Hills
· Vermont
Community and Culture
At the start of this century, almost one third of Whitehorse’s residents were born overseas. This rich cultural mix has turned the municipality into a hub for high-quality international cuisine, with central Box Hill in particular now enjoying a reputation as the place to go for an A-grade Asian culinary experience outside the CBD.
Transport
One of the great advantages that come from living in Whitehorse is the ability to live close to the city without living close to the city.
Residents wax lyrical about the green spaces; quiet, tree-lined streets and relaxed atmosphere, and yet are usually within half an hour of the CBD by train, tram, bus or car.
· View Metlink’s guide to public transport in Whitehorse click here
Parks And Gardens
There are more than 300 parks in the City of Whitehorse, and some are among the finest examples of suburban reserves in Australia.
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary is both a focal-point for community leisure activities and a crucial habitat for native flora and fauna.
Yarran Dheran in Mitcham is a vast expanse of publicly-accessible bushland on the banks of Mullum Mullum creek.
Wattle Park is a nearly century-old park comprising a lawn tennis court, nine-hole golf course and an historic chalet. It’s ideal for picnics, weekend wanders and dog-walking.
Useful Links
· Visit the City of Whitehorse website click here