Is it possible for a place named Bayswater to be nowhere near a bay? Bayswater in Melbourne might seem geographically confused at first. It sits about 27 kilometers east of Melbourne’s bustling Central Business District. Despite its landlocked location, Bayswater boasts a rich history. The name actually originates from a property called “Bayswater House” owned by James John Miller, a prominent figure at The Basin. The name stuck, eventually being adopted by the local school and then the train station in 1894. Bayswater’s story is also intertwined with the arrival of German Templers in the late 1940s. These families, recently released from the Tatura Internment Camp, sought a new beginning. They established a strong presence in Bayswater, building a Community Centre on Elizabeth Street, a retirement village, and even partnered with the Australian German Welfare Society to build the Tabulam Nursing Home. Today, Bayswater is a blend of residential and industrial areas, its history visible in its architecture, its diversity, and the stories whispered on the wind.
Kororoit Creek
Is this where the river meets the sea? This is Kororoit Creek. It flows right here through Melbourne’s western suburbs