Once known as Yálla-birr-ang by the Wurundjeri people, we’re now standing in Collingwood. This inner-city suburb is just a few kilometres from Melbourne’s heart. Collingwood’s story is etched in its very streets and buildings.
Collingwood officially became Collingwood in 1842. It was named after Baron Collingwood or maybe after a hotel named after him. Surveyor Robert Hoddle received the instructions from Superintendent Charles La Trobe. Subdivision and sale of land in Collingwood began in 1838. By the 1850s it was mostly complete.
Imagine the bustling streets during the Victorian gold rush. Collingwood’s population and economy boomed. Small dwellings, shops and churches sprang up everywhere. Collingwood became its own municipality in 1855. It was the first to break away from the City of Melbourne. Collingwood was proclaimed a town in 1873. Three years later it became a city.
Smith Street became the dominant shopping strip in the 1870s. Trams arrived in 1887. Collingwood’s grand public buildings rose in the 1880s. They include the post office and town hall. Collingwood even had a strong temperance movement. Two coffee palaces emerged including the grand Collingwood Coffee Palace.
At the turn of the century Smith Street rivalled Chapel Street. It was the place for suburban emporiums and department stores. The first G.J. Coles store opened here in 1912.
Since the 1950s Collingwood residents have fought to protect their suburb’s character. In 1958 residents rallied against slum reclamation projects. Demolition orders threatened 122 homes. In the 1970s residents protested against the F-19 freeway.
Collingwood is known for its mix of old and new. Nineteenth-century dwellings stand alongside modern developments. Industry and community blend here. Oxford and Cambridge Streets show this contrast. Imposing red-brick factories stand near old stone, brick and timber dwellings.
Smith Street is the coolest street in the world. Collingwood is also one of Melbourne’s gay villages. Collingwood’s story is one of transformation. It is a story of resilience and community. It is a suburb that has always been full of life. Collingwood continues to evolve while holding onto its unique spirit.