Perhaps you have heard that Doncaster was once an orchard area. Today, we are here in Doncaster. It is now a residential suburb. Did you know that Doncaster is located 15 km east of Melbourne’s Central Business District?
Let’s delve into the history of Doncaster. In 1841 Frederic Unwin bought 5120 acres of land. This included most of present-day Doncaster. He paid one pound an acre. The area was sometimes known as Unwin’s Special Survey.
The Doncaster region was settled in the 1860s and 1870s. Predominantly German settler orchardists populated the area. The German community was named Waldau. However, the name Doncaster gradually became commonly accepted. A Lutheran church was the first one in Doncaster. It was built in 1858. A Lutheran school opened in 1860. A denominational school opened in 1861. The Doncaster Post Office opened on 17 May 1860.
Schramm’s Cottage is an historic stone cottage. It was originally located on Doncaster Road. It sat at the site of the fountain next to the Municipal Offices. In the 1970s it was relocated to the site of the original Lutheran Church building. This is on Victoria Street. The remains of the Waldau Cemetery are located in the grounds of Schramm’s Cottage. Approximately 150 burials took place there between 1853 and 1888.
Doncaster was the location of the first electric tram to run in Melbourne. This was in 1889. The tram started in Doncaster and ended in Box Hill. This was about 3.5 km away. Consequently, this was named “Tram Road”. The service did not earn any profit. It ended in 1896. This was due to feuds with land holders and financial problems. The main road through Doncaster is Doncaster Road. It was formerly named Main Street.
Doncaster remained an orchard area until the 1970s. Most houses were built from the 1950s to the 1980s. In the 1960s and 1970s, Doncaster was very sought after. Many famous builders chose the area. They built their project homes. Some very modern designs remain. However, some are disappearing due to redevelopment.
The Winter Park estate on High St is a good example of modern design. It is also a “cluster housing” project. In the 1960s and 1970s, Doncaster had a predominantly English ancestral descent population. Now it has a large Chinese descent population. After several years of stagnant progress, it has become a boom suburb for developers.
The Wurundjeri people are the formally recognised traditional owners for the area in which Doncaster is located. They are represented by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
In 1969, Westfield Doncaster was built on the corner of Doncaster and Williamsons Roads. It is a well-known shopping complex in Melbourne. It was renovated and extended in the early 1980s and again in the early 1990s. From September 2006 to October 2008, it went through a large revitalisation. This improved and enlarged the centre dramatically.
As we conclude our visit to Doncaster remember its transformation. From orchards to a sought-after residential hub Doncaster has a rich tapestry of history woven into its streets.