Vermont South

Is it possible for a suburb to be born from orchards? Vermont South is living proof that it is. Right here, where houses now stand, fruit trees once dominated the landscape. Vermont South, a suburb 19 km east of Melbourne’s Central Business District, owes its existence to the developers who bought these orchards in the late 1960s and 1970s. The name “Vermont” itself, meaning “green hill” in French, hints at the area’s verdant past. Before European settlement, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation roamed this land. They hunted, gathered, and camped along Dandenong Creek, which still forms Vermont South’s eastern boundary. European settlers, some disillusioned by the goldfields, began clearing the land, selling timber for firewood in Melbourne. They built their homes, some from wattle and daub with bark roofs, and planted crops like hay, potatoes, and other root vegetables. By the 1880s, orchards began to take over, reaching their peak in the 1930s. But the transformation of Vermont South began in 1968 when East Burwood was split into two suburbs: Vermont South and Burwood East. This marked the beginning of a residential boom. The Burwood Rise estate, built between 1968 and 1971, was the first major housing project in Vermont South. It aimed to attract shoppers to the nearby Forest Hill Shopping Centre. One can almost imagine a young couple driving down Burwood Highway in 1969, spotting display homes wrapped in plastic, and deciding to buy a block. The new primary school, the local shopping centre, and the Burvale Hotel were big draws. Vermont South’s commercial scene also blossomed. The Burvale Hotel, built in 1969, became a popular live music venue, even hosting AC/DC in 1975. The Vermont South Shopping Centre, opened in 1974, offered 40 specialty stores, a department store, a supermarket, a Chinese restaurant, and a service station. It underwent a major renovation in 2021, modernizing its look and upgrading the Coles supermarket. In 2005, Vermont South became home to Australia’s then-largest Bunnings Warehouse, a massive 16,550m2 site. Vermont South has also played a role in television history. Pin Oak Court, a cul-de-sac in Vermont South, has served as the fictional Ramsay Street in the long-running soap opera, Neighbours, since 1988. Other Vermont South locations have also featured in the show. Even singer-songwriter Adele visited Pin Oak Court in 2017, highlighting Vermont South’s surprising connection to popular culture. So, from orchards to a bustling suburb, from timber sales to television fame, Vermont South has evolved dramatically. It stands as a testament to the ever-changing nature of our urban landscapes.