Mentone, Victoria

Mentone Melbourne, Victoria
Mentone Beach
Mentone
Population:	11,238(2006) [1]
Postcode:	3194
Area:	7.5 km² (2.9 sq mi)
Location:	21 km (13 mi) from Melbourne
LGA:	City of Kingston
State District:	Sandringham, Mordialloc
Federal Division:	Isaacs
Suburbs around Mentone: Cheltenham Cheltenham Moorabbin Airport Beaumaris Mentone Parkdale Port Phillip Port Phillip Parkdale

Mentone is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 21^[2] km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston. At the 2006 Census, Mentone had a population of 11,238.

It is known locally for its beach which extends from the cliffs in Beaumaris and ends at Warrigal Road where it meets Parkdale.

Mentone is associated with the Heidelberg School of Australian artists.

History

A holiday at Mentone, 1888, oil on canvas by Charles Conder.

Mentone was originally founded as a resort town named after the Italian spelling of the formerly-Italian French town Menton. In order to keep with the Italian resort theme many streets in Mentone were named after Italian cities for example, Cremona Street, Florence St, Venice St and Milan St. The development of Mentone began in the late 1800s, the Post Office opening on 16 May 1884.^[3]

According to the ABS 2006 Census, the median individual income in Mentone is $533 per week, which is higher than the Australian average of $466 per week. However, the median household income in Mentone is $1,008 per week, which is lower than the Australian average of $1,027 per week.^[1]

Shopping

Mentone is home to a lively shopping area along Como Parade West, Balcombe Road and surrounding streets and laneways. This shopping strip offers a wide range of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, clothing stores, supermarkets, travel agents, fancy dress, craft, home, book stores and more. A second commercial area has grown along Nepean Highway; this may expand as the former Nylex factory site between Nepean Highway and Warrigal Highway is redeveloped into a bulky goods retail precinct.

In late 2010 Thrift Park shopping centre went through with a $35-million redevelopment. The redevelopment included demolishing the original centre that was 'ageing' and building a larger Woolworths supermarket with 30 additional stores.^[4] The centre officially opened in December 2010.^[5]

Politics

In terms of State and Federal Government Mentone is situated in the Electoral district of Mordialloc and Sandringham for state parliament and the Electoral district of Isaacs in the federal system. Current trends show the majority of Mentone voters supporting the Liberal party; however Mentone is currently represented by Labor members in both state and federal parliament due to the Labor voting tendencies of other suburbs in its electoral district.^{[citation needed]}

2004 Federal Election   Liberal 50%   Labor 37%   Greens 8.5%   Family First 1.9%   Democrats 0.9%	2001 Federal Election   Liberal 48%   Labor 35%   Democrats 7.7%   Greens 5.9%   Independent 1.2%
2006 State Election   Liberal 43%   Labor 39%   Greens 8.6%   Family First 3.8%   Independent 1.5%	2002 State Election   Liberal 46%   Labor 42%   Greens 10.2%   Independent 2.2%

Transport

Mentone is located on the Nepean Highway. Mentone is serviced by a variety of Metlink public transport bus and Metro Trains Melbourne services, focused on the Mentone railway station.

Entertainment and leisure

Mentone is home to the Mentone Hotel, a historical building overlooking the bay. The Nighthawk Cafe, Bar & Restaurant (formerly Nighthawk Blues) is one of very few live music venues in the south eastern suburbs. There are a lot of fast food outlets like Hungry Jack's, KFC and Subway. The beaches and life saving clubs also provide leisure space as do the parkland and oval near the council offices. Mentone is also home to numerous sporting clubs including football, tennis, lawn and ten-pin bowling.

Mentone Lawn Bowling Club

Established in the early 1900s Mentone Lawn Bowling Club has a long history including an Australian Champion.

The club is near the centre of the suburb. Mentone have been promoted to the Premier Division for the 2010-11 season.

Museum

The Australian National Aviation Museum, formerly called the Moorabbin Air Museum, is located in Moorabbin Airport (Harry Hawker Airport).

Schools

• Kilbreda College - A Catholic Secondary School for girls, founded in 1904. The school is owned and administered by the Brigidine Sisters.
• St Bede's College - A Catholic Secondary School for boys, founded in 1938. It is administered by the De La Salle Brothers.
• Mentone Grammar School - Co-ed since 2006, Kindergarten to Secondary Education. The school competes in the AGSV (associated Grammar Schools of Victoria).
• Mentone Girls' Grammar School - An Anglican school for girls from ELC to year 12, founded in 1899.
• Mentone Girls' Secondary College
• St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
• Mentone Primary School

Notable people

• Ian Meckiff, Test cricketer
• Eddie Perfect, Actor, singer, comedian and composer

External links

• Mentone Baptist Church

Coordinates: 37°59′06″S 145°04′08″E / 37.985°S 145.069°E / -37.985; 145.069

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Mentone (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC21443&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2007-09-17. 
2. ^ http://www.postcodes-australia.com/areas/vic/dandenong/mentone
3. ^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country=, retrieved 2008-04-11 
4. ^ http://mordialloc-chelsea-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/in-the-market-for-better-shopping-in-mentone/
5. ^ http://www.kingstonbusiness.com.au/Content/Pub/ContentDetail.asp?lngContentID=283