Travancore

Did Sir John Madden ever imagine his Travancore Mansion would lend its name to an entire Melbourne suburb? Travancore, nestled between the Tullamarine Freeway and Mount Alexander Road, is a hidden gem just a short trip from the city’s heart. This small suburb, with a population just over two thousand, boasts a rich history intertwined with the former Indian kingdom of the same name. Sir John Madden, a Victorian Chief Justice with a passion for exporting horses to India, purchased Flemington House in 1906 and renamed it Travancore Mansion. This grand estate became the heart of the area. When the mansion’s land was subdivided in the 1920s, the streets echoed Madden’s connection to India. Street names like Baroda, Lucknow, Bengal, Cashmere, and Mangalore offer a glimpse into the suburb’s unique origin. Some houses even reflect the Old English architecture found in the former Travancore region of India. Sadly, Travancore Mansion itself was demolished in the 1940s. The site is now home to the Travancore campus of Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health Service. However, a piece of the mansion lives on at Flemington Primary School, where its ornate gates stand as a reminder of the past. Travancore also houses the Essendon tram depot, a notable landmark on the Victorian Heritage Register. The suburb has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Following a fire that destroyed the Lombard Paper Factory, the site was redeveloped with modern residential towers. These towers now define the southern edge of Travancore. This once-hidden suburb is becoming increasingly popular, its blend of history and modern development drawing new residents to its charming streets.