Watsonia, Victoria

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Watsonia
city = Melbourne
state = vic


caption = Watsonia Shops
lga = City of Banyule
postcode = 3087
pop = 4905 (2006) Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC21719 | name = Watsonia (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2007-09-25 | quick = on]
area = 2.4
est = 1924
propval = $300,000 [ [http://www.domain.com.au/public/suburbprofile.aspx?suburb=Watsonia&postcode=3087 Watsonia] , accessed 27 November 2006]
stategov = Bundoora
fedgov = Jagajaga
dist1 = 19
location1= Melbourne
dist2 =
location2=
near-nw = Bundoora
near-n = Watsonia North
near-ne = Greensborough
near-w =
near-e = Greensborough
near-sw = Macleod
near-s = Yallambie
near-se = Yallambie

Watsonia is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Banyule. It is named after early property developer and landowner Frank Watson.

At the 2006 census, it had a population of 4905.

History

Watsonia originally belonged to the Wurundjeri people. [http://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Content.aspx?TopicID=677 Banyule City Council - About the City] , Accessed 14 March, 2007]

Watsonia was surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1838 as part of the parish of Keelbundora, for subdivisional sale as farms.Until the 1870s, much of Watsonia remained part of the vast property holdings of John Brown. The Grace Park area was purchased in 1877 by Frederick Augustus Nell, and then by Frank Watson [http://web.archive.org/web/20060824192842/www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/multimedia/gazetteer/list/watsonia.html Monash University archives] , Accessed 25 March, 2007] in the early twentieth century. Watson subdivided the property for housing in 1924. The area remained primarily rural until the 1940s, when property prices became affordable.

Watson and other landowners paid for the establishment of a railway station in order to attract property buyers. Watsonia railway station was named after Watson. Watsonia train station was opened on Monday 23 June, 1924, between the existing Macleod and Greensborough stations. The current Watsonia Station is in Zone 2 on the Hurstbridge Railway Line and is currently served by Connex.

Landmarks

Watsonia has the Simpson Army Barracks, Yallambie which was originally known as the Watsonia Military Camp during World War II. This complex was built on the property formerly owned by Ainsley Meare. In 1951, surrounding land was purchased for the extension of the barracks.

Watsonia is also the home to Watsonia Primary School, one campus of Greensborough College and Loyola College.

References

External links