A suburb northeast of Melbourne’s central business district is what you see before you. This is Heidelberg. It is a place rich in history and artistic legacy. Heidelberg recorded a population of 7360 at the 2021 census.
Let’s uncover the story of Heidelberg. It was once a large town outside Melbourne. Heidelberg was absorbed into the expanding city after World War II. Heidelberg even had its own central business district. It also had its own municipality named the City of Heidelberg.
The name “Heidelberg” might sound familiar to art enthusiasts. It lends its name to the Heidelberg School. This was an impressionist art movement. It flourished in and around Heidelberg in the late 19th century.
Imagine stepping back to 1838. Land in Heidelberg was sold by Crown auction. Melbourne was only three years old then. This makes Heidelberg one of Australia’s earliest rural allotments. By 1840, Warringal was established. It was a surveyed township. Warringal was an Aboriginal term for “eagle’s nest”. Later, a land agent renamed Warringal to Heidelberg. He named it after the German city of Heidelberg.
However, the name wasn’t always secure. During World War I, anti-German sentiment arose. The Heidelberg City Council considered changing the name. Georgetown was a prominent suggestion. It honored British Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Despite public debates, the name Heidelberg remained.
Transportation played a crucial role in Heidelberg’s development. In 1841, the Heidelberg Road Trust was formed. This predated the Melbourne Town Council. By the late 1840s, the road had a toll bar. It also had a Macadam surface. This enhanced Heidelberg’s reputation. It became known as a desirable place for views and rural estates. Joseph Hawdon built his Gothic Banyule Homestead in 1846. It overlooked the Yarra Valley.
The Post Office first opened in 1853. It was named Warringal. In 1865, it was renamed Heidelberg. Heidelberg was proclaimed a Shire in 1871.
Heidelberg’s rural scenery attracted artists in the 1880s. Houses were vacant and available at low rents. This was due to the absence of public utilities and a railway. Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, and Frederick McCubbin relocated to Eaglemont in 1888. They formed the Heidelberg School of Australian art.
Heidelberg was proclaimed a city in 1934. However, its rural space exceeded its urban area. The Heidelberg Town Hall was built in 1937. Development clustered around Heidelberg Road. It also clustered along the Melbourne to Hurstbridge railway line.
The Heidelberg Shopping Centre is on Burgundy Street. It has recently been revived. It had become rundown in the 1980s. A new supermarket and trendy cafes have revitalized the area. House prices have increased. Heidelberg Central is home to the historic Old England Hotel.
Today, Heidelberg stands as a testament to its rich past. It has evolved from rural allotments. It became an artistic hub and a thriving suburb of Melbourne. Its history is etched in its streets. It is also in its buildings and cultural identity. Heidelberg continues to inspire and captivate all who visit.