Surely, you’ve heard of Malvern Star, Australia’s most well-known bicycle manufacturer. Malvern, a suburb of Melbourne, lies eight kilometres south-east of the city’s central business district. It sits within the City of Stonnington. In 2021, Malvern recorded a population of 9929.
Let’s step back in time. The Kulin people were the first to call this area home. The Yarra River and Gardiners Creek formed a natural border between the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri groups. Alfred Howitt noted that the rising ground near Wattletree and Dandenong Roads was known as Koornang, meaning rising ground. This name lives on in Koornang Road.
European settlement began in 1835. John Gardiner was among the first to establish a home here. A small hamlet called Gardiners Creek emerged. It faded with the gold rush. Gardiners Creek Road, now Toorak Road, led to Gardiner’s Homestead, now Scotch College in Hawthorn.
In the 1860s, the Gardiners Creek Roads Board evolved into the Gardiners Creek Shire. This later became the Malvern Council. The Malvern Post Office first opened in 1860 on Glenferrie Road. In 1892, it was renamed Malvern North. A new Malvern office opened on Glenferrie Road near Wattletree Road. It replaced the railway station office.
The shire hall, later the town hall, was built in 1886. It stands on the corner of Glenferrie Road and High Street. Extensions were added later. The Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust ran its first tram from the Malvern depot on May 30, 1910.
Malvern boasts several attractions. Malvern Central offers a range of shops. Glenferrie Road has even more shops, restaurants, and boutiques. Malvern Gardens on Spring Road features a fountain. It was built on a natural spring. The water is now powered by electricity.
The Malvern Town Hall, in the Second Empire style, hosts Stonnington City Council meetings. It’s opposite the Stonnington City Centre. The Malvern Police Station is also located here.
Several buildings hold significant heritage value. These include Stonington mansion, the Malvern tram depot and the former ES&A Bank on Glenferrie Road. The Malvern railway station is also notable. St Joseph’s Parish Church and De La Salle College tower building add to the area’s character.
The Malvern tram depot on Glenferrie Road serves various tram routes. Malvern railway station is a busy hub on the Frankston, Pakenham, and Cranbourne lines. Various bus stops also serve Malvern.
Several schools call Malvern home. These include De La Salle College, Malvern Primary School, and St Joseph’s Primary School Malvern. Malvern Central School has two campuses. One is on Spring Road for Years 3-6. The other is on Park Street for Prep to Year 2.
Many notable people have called Malvern home. These include cricketer Wes Agar, political commentator Andrew Bolt and actor Jason Donovan. Sir Robert Menzies, former Prime Minister of Australia, lived in Malvern. He is commemorated in the Robert Menzies Reserve.
In 1994, Malvern city merged with part of Prahran city to form Stonnington city. Malvern has evolved from its early settlement to a vibrant suburb. Its history is etched in its buildings, streets, and the stories of its people.