watsonia suburb profile
Within the City of Banyule local government area, Watsonia is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 kilometres to the north-east of the city’s CBD. At the time of the 2021 census, Watsonia had a population of 5,352.
History
The Wurundjeri people were the original owners of Watsonia. It bears the name of early landowner and developer Frank Watson.
In order to be subdivided and sold as farms, Robert Hoddle surveyed Watsonia in 1838 as a portion of the Keelbundora parish. Much of Watsonia was still included in John Brown’s enormous property holdings up until the 1870s. Frederick Augustus Nell bought the Grace Park region in 1877, and Frank Watson later bought it in the early 20th century. In 1924, Watson split the land into dwelling units. Prior to the 1940s, when real estate values started to decrease, the region was mostly rural.
Watson and other area landowners funded the construction of a railway station in order to draw in potential buyers for their properties. With the June 1924 sale of 44 allotments from the Grace Park Estate, next to the new railway station, subdivision officially got underway. The Mr. F. Watson-named Watsonia railway station, which opened on Monday, June 23, 1924, between the current Macleod and Greensborough Stations, was dedicated. The original plan was to call it Collins. The Watsonia Post Office opened somewhere in 1934.
To construct a noviciate for the Roman Catholic Jesuit Order, 40 acres of property near Watsonia were bought in 1931. A Jesuit seminary’s construction began in November 1932 with the laying of the foundation stone. In 1934, the study and retreat house became operational. The Watsonia Institution for Social Welfare opened its doors there in 1974. A few months later, the neighbourhood rejected plans to utilise the location as a temporary detention facility. The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) donated the site to the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1979 so that a Catholic secondary school could be built there. The 27-acre Loyola College campus was built in 1980. It is a part of the Ignatian Network, a global association of Jesuit and non-Jesuit schools.
The Hurstbridge railway line’s Zone 2 Watsonia Station is currently served by Metro Trains Melbourne. With a tunnel being built from Watsonia to Bulleen as part of the North East Link Project, Watsonia will be affected. Additionally, a new Greensborough Road boulevard with trees will run from Watsonia to Rosanna.
A historic vehicle event is organised annually by the Loyola College Alumni Association.
Statistics 78.0% of Watsonia’s inhabitants are Australian citizens. Other than Australia, the most frequent birthplaces are England (2.3%), China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) (2.0%), India (1.3%), Italy (1.0%), and Sri Lanka (0.8%).
Landmarks
The Watsonia Military Camp was formerly known as the Simpson Army Barracks, Yallambie, during World War II. On the land that once belonged to Ainslie Meares, this complex was constructed. For the barracks’ expansion, nearby land was bought in 1951.
Greensborough College, Loyola College, and Watsonia Primary School are a few nearby educational institutions.
The Watsonia Library is a welcoming, up-to-date community library with plenty of parking, close to the Watsonia train station, and in the heart of the town’s shopping district. A division of the Yarra Plenty Regional Library,
Sport
The Watsonia Football Club plays in the Northern Football League as an Australian Rules football side.
If you are experiencing any aches or pains, Rosanna Physio is located nearby and services the Watsonia area. Call their friendly reception on (03) 9457 2336 or book online.
public opinion
In their popular song Hello Cruel World from the early 2000s, the punk indie band Klinger describes a lengthy journey from St. Kilda to Watsonia north.
