Was Blackburn South always like this? Let’s step back in time together. This suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, has a story that might surprise you. Blackburn South is 16 km east of Melbourne’s Central Business District.
Prior to the 1950s, Blackburn South was mainly orchards. Orchard Grove, a main road, reminds us of this past. Some old farmhouses are still here. In the 1960s and 70s, Blackburn South was a working-class area. By the early 1980s, it had become more middle class.
The Blackburn South Post Office opened in 1954. It was renamed Blackburn South around 1957. Another post office, Kinkuna, opened in 1960. However, it closed in 1979.
Now, here is an interesting fact. The Blackburn South Sharps were a well-known group in Melbourne from 1972 to 1977. They were an early form of Australian bogans. Many photos of them around Blackburn South landmarks exist. These photos have been shown in exhibitions and documentaries.
Getting around Blackburn South is easy. Canterbury Road is the main east-west road. Middleborough Road and Blackburn Road run north-south. They connect to the Eastern Freeway. Laburnum train station is also nearby. Several Melbourne bus routes serve the area.
Blackburn South has many nice parks. Wurundjeri Walk Trail is great for a walk by the creek. Mirrabooka Oval and Eley Park have cricket ovals. Eley Park also has a tennis club. Smaller parks like Edinburgh Patch and Wardle Close offer green spaces.
For families, Blackburn South has several schools. Laburnum Primary School and Orchard Grove Primary School are here. St. Luke the Evangelist School is another option. Plus, there are preschools like Indra Pre-School and Holbury Children’s Centre. The suburb also has Aurora School and Blackburn English Language School.
Blackburn South High School closed. It became part of Forest Hill Secondary College. The old high school site is now home to Aurora School. Orchard Grove Primary School was formed in 1991. It combined four smaller schools. These were Blackburn South, Killoura, Mirrabooka and Warrawong Primary Schools.
Need to shop? Canterbury Road has a Woolworths and a McDonald’s. Smaller shops or milk bars are at Fulton and Holland Road, Indra Road, Vicki Street and Eley Road. Blackburn, Box Hill, and Forest Hill are also close by for more options.
For those seeking spiritual guidance, Blackburn South offers several places of worship. You’ll find Blackburn Christadelphians, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Evangelical Community Church and St. Edward the Confessor King Anglican Church.
Blackburn South offers a blend of history, community and convenience. From its orchard beginnings to its present-day amenities, it’s a suburb with much to offer. So next time you pass through, remember its interesting past and vibrant present.