Langwarrin, Victoria
| Langwarrin Melbourne, Victoria | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Langwarrin | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 38°09′04″S 145°10′52″E / 38.151°S 145.181°ECoordinates: 38°09′04″S 145°10′52″E / 38.151°S 145.181°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 21,371 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 901.7/km2 (2,335/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3910 | ||||||||||||
| Area | 23.7 km2 (9.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Frankston | ||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hastings | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Dunkley | ||||||||||||
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Langwarrin is a semi rural suburb on the urban fringe of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 42 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is Frankston City. At the 2011 census, Langwarrin had a population of 21,371.[1]
Langwarrin is bounded in the north generally by Valley Road, in the east by Dandenong-Hastings Road, in the south by Robinsons Road and in the west by the route of the proposed extension of the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and by McClelland Drive to the north of the suburb.
History
Langwarrin had two post offices opening after the arrival of the Stony Point railway in 1889, Langwarrin Railway Station on 9 September 1889 and Langwarrin away from the railway on 26 September 1889. Langwarrin closed in 1893 and Langwarrin Railway Station was renamed Langwarrin in 1913.[2]
Geography
It has good access to the City via The Western Port Highway, South Gippsland Highway and Monash Freeway. Cranbourne-Frankston Road which runs east-to-west through Langwarrin is a two-lane-each-direction carriageway, recently widened to cater for this growing population, in part helped by a number of housing developments.
Until December 1994 Langwarrin was part of the City of Cranbourne, formerly the Shire of Cranbourne. At this time the suburb was moved into City of Frankston as part of statewide reform of local government.
Langwarrin Flora and Fauna reserve (formerly Langwarrin Military Reserve)
Langwarrin's most prominent landscape feature is its large Flora and Fauna reserve (formerly the Langwarrin Military Reserve). The nature reserve has many walking tracks and is an ideal place for quiet recreation activities such as walking, nature study and photography.
The Langwarrin Military Reserve was established in 1886 at what was then deemed to be a strategic elevated location for the defence of Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne from seaborne attack. Over time it was extended to its present size of 509 acres (2.06 km2).[3]
Prior to World War I the reserve was used mainly for temporary encampments of volunteer soldiery from throughout Victoria held at Easter or after New Year. These were held here in 1888, 1891, 1894, 1896, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904 and 1910 as evidenced by the dates the Langwarrin Camp Post Office was open.[2] The Langwarrin railway station was opened in 1888 next to the facility; in the same year a failed attempt was made to sell allotments on a new township of Aldershot adjoining the reserve. On the outbreak of World War 1 the reserve was used for the detention of enemy aliens (predominantly Germans) and from 1915 a military hospital for combatants with venereal disease was established.
After World War II the reserve was used occasionally for military training, until 1974 when it came under control of the Balcombe Military Camp and was used for training of Army Reserve and school cadet units etc.. In 1980 the reserve was leased to the Victorian Ministry of Conservation and in 1982 the State Government purchased the reserve from the Commonwealth Government.
Today all the buildings are gone. Remaining evidence of past use include earthworks, drainage and foundations and changes in the pattern of vegetation following regrowth after clearing.
Recreation
Langwarrin is home to the following parks and attractions:
- Langwarrin skatepark, which has been open for several years.
- Lloyd Park. A sport park that has netball and tennis courts. It has three football grounds. It also has a scout centre. It has a football club room which could also be used for cricket.
- Cruden Farm, the home of the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch with its gardens is sometimes open to the public and various events are held there throughout the year.
McClelland Gallery
The McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park is a prominent gallery, set in eight hectares of landscaped bushland, featuring a sculpture park. It was named in honour of renowned Frankston artists, Nan McClelland and Harry McClelland. The McClelland Award is Australia's richest sculpture prize, and is awarded by the gallery biennially (supported by the gallery's patron and Langwarrin resident, the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch).[4]
Sport
Langwarrin has a soccer club Langwarrin SC competing in the Victorian State League Division 1 which is the third tier of Australian soccer behind the Victorian Premier League and the national A-League.
An Australian Rules Football club, the Langwarrin Kangaroos, compete in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League as well as being one of Victoria's largest junior football clubs.[5] Langwarrin is also well represented by basketball, tennis, netball, cricket and dancing clubs.
Lloyd Park is a large local sporting venue, that has facilities for netball, tennis and football.
Langwarrin Pony Club and the Peninsula Adult Riders Club provide cross-country, dressage and show jumping facilities for equestrian enthusiasts at the Langwarrin Equestrian & Recreation Reserve.
Shopping
Langwarrin has two main shopping centres: The Gateway Shopping Village (owned by Centro Properties Group) - home to a Coles supermarket and 40 specialty stores and Langwarrin Plaza Shopping Centre, home to a Safeway supermarket.
There are also a number of small shopping strips, including Long Street, and at the corner of North Road and Warrandyte Road.
Fires
Langwarrin has had many fires, the most recent on 21 January 2009 where a fire broke out just near Pindara Boulevard. The fire burnt 14 hectares. There was also a large fire in the Langwarrin Flora And Fauna Reserve in December 1999.
Schools
- Woodlands Primary School
- Elisabeth Murdoch College (formerly Langwarrin Post Primary School (1984-1986), Langwarrin Secondary College (1987-2004))
- Langwarrin Park Primary School
- Langwarrin Primary School
- St. Jude's Primary School
Notable residents
- Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Australian socialite and philanthropist; mother of media mogul Rupert Murdoch
- Nevil Shute, English-born novelist
- Sir Daryl Lindsay, Australian artist (resided at the now heritage-listed Mulberry Hill)
- Lady Joan Lindsay, Australian author, famous for writing Picnic at Hanging Rock (also resided Mulberry Hill)
- Stephen Sutherland, English-born, Australian olympic boxer
- Michael Paynter, Australian musician SonyBMG. He sang at the memorial service for the 2009 Black Saturday bush fires.
- Luke Parker (Australian footballer), Australian Rules Footballer Sydney Swans
- Jarred Moore, Australian Rules Footballer Sydney Swans, Australian Rules Football Assistant Coach North Melbourne Football Club
- Bailey Wright, Australian football player for English club Preston North End
See also
- Langwarrin railway station
- City of Frankston - the local government area of which Langwarrin is a part.
- List of Frankston people - notable people from the City of Frankston (including Langwarrin).
References
- 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Langwarrin (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- 1 2 Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
- ↑ "Entry AHD5871". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ↑ Herald Sun - Melbourne artist Rick Amor wins McClelland Award, 19 November 2007
- ↑ Full Point Footy, Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, retrieved 21 October 2008