Think of sand dunes and wetlands. That’s what Aspendale was like before European settlement. Now, let’s explore this Melbourne suburb. Aspendale lies 27 km south-east of Melbourne’s Central Business District. It sits within the City of Kingston.
Aspendale’s story begins long before European settlers arrived. Indigenous Australians occupied this land for thousands of years. The Bunurong people were the custodians when Europeans began farming. They altered the landscape.
Much of Aspendale’s wetland was drained in the late 1800s. Today, Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Ramsar site offers a glimpse of the past. It shows what Aspendale once looked like. Migratory birds from around the world still visit these wetlands.
Aspendale got its name from a racehorse. James Crooke owned a mare named Aspen. Aspen won the Newmarket Handicap in 1880 and 1881. Crooke purchased land near the present Aspendale railway station. He named his racecourse and pleasure ground Aspendale.
The Aspendale racecourse opened in 1891. A railway station followed to serve the racing crowd. The station was initially named Aspendale Park Race-Course. It was later renamed Aspendale in 1905.
House building was slower than race crowds. Aspendale Post Office opened in 1908. A district school opened in 1913. Oddly, it was located 2 km away in Edithvale. Aspendale North school opened in 1925. It is now simply Aspendale Primary School.
By the 1920s, Aspendale boasted a shopping center. It had grocers, butchers, and a post office. There was also a timber merchant, confectioners, tea rooms, and a garage. Churches and estate agents indicated residential growth.
The Aspendale racecourse closed in 1931. It later became a motor racing venue. After the war, the space was used for housing. In 1928, Mordialloc District High School opened in Aspendale. It sat on a scrub-covered site near Mordialloc Creek.
Aspendale’s coastal location shapes its identity. Many street names reflect this nautical heritage. You’ll find streets named Foam, Longbeach, and Dolphin. Other streets honor the area’s Indigenous past. Yallambee, Iluka, and Tarlee are examples. Some streets were named after racehorses Marabou, Lincoln, and Gothic.
Aspendale Life Saving Club dates back to 1926. It is currently being rebuilt. This shows the suburb’s ongoing connection to the beach.
After World War II, Aspendale grew residentially. Houses were built on former farms and market gardens. Aspendale High School opened in 1959. The CSIRO opened an atmospheric physics laboratory.
The Catholic Church established a presence. A church opened in 1961 followed by a primary school in 1965. Aspendale Technical School was damaged by fire in 1971. It closed in 1992 despite community protests. The site is now a sports oval, community hall, and housing.
Today, Aspendale offers a blend of history and modern life. It has schools, parks, and of course the beach. The suburb retains its neighborly spirit. Aspendale continues to be a desirable bayside suburb.