Isn’t it remarkable how a suburb can be named after a single person? That’s the case with Ormond. The Melbourne suburb owes its identity to Francis Ormond. He was a pastoralist, politician and philanthropist.
Ormond lies 12 km south-east of Melbourne’s Central Business District. It is part of the City of Glen Eira local government area. In 2021, Ormond had a population of 8328.
Let’s delve into Ormond’s history. An Ormond Post Office first opened in 1870. It closed in 1884 but reopened in 1907. A second post office, Ormond East Post Office, operated from 1951 until 1981.
In 1905, Abraham Lewis started a timber mill here. It was in the market garden estates of Ormond. These estates were formerly known as East Brighton. The surrounding subdivision was beginning to grow. Later, in the 1930s and 40s, the Lewis family bought a larger piece of land. It was next to market gardens. This land was on the corner of Jasper Road and Jasper Street. A. Lewis & Company PTY LTD was built on this site. It remains in the same family ownership.
In the mid-1900s, the council renamed the street to Lewis Street. This avoided confusion. Both the main road and side street were initially named Jasper. People in the area simply referred to the street as “the one Lewis’s is on”. In the 1980s, Laurence Lewis Jr. donated Box Cottage. It came from the recently acquired Reitman’s concreting works. This neighbored the property. The cottage went to the Moorabbin Historical Society. It was removed piece by piece. It was then rebuilt in Joyce Park. Timber from the timber mill was donated. This ensured it was rebuilt to the original specification.
Originally, the mill supplied timber skirting. It also supplied architraves and framing materials to local builders. Many of these original styles can still be purchased today. Abraham Lewis’s descendants still manufacture the same timber mouldings. Three of the five generations currently assist in all areas of the business.
Today, Ormond offers glimpses of Port Phillip Bay. You can see them from some elevated homes in the south-west corner. The bay is about 4 km away. Ormond boasts numerous churches and parks. E.E Gunn Reserve is one of them. It is home to the Ormond Amateur Football Club. It also houses the Ormond Tennis Club, Ormond Cricket Club, and Ormond-Glen Huntly Baseball Club. Kilvington Grammar School is a private school on Leila Road. McKinnon Primary School is also located here.
The Ormond shopping strip is mainly on North Road. It has declined since its peak in the mid-20th century. North Road now carries large volumes of traffic. Yet, it still boasts an impressive array of restaurants. You can find over 10 different cuisine styles here. This variety reflects Melbourne’s multiculturalism.
The original housing stock in Ormond was mainly built between 1890 and 1950. Some minor infill occurred later. Californian bungalow-style houses are common. Many “dog box” cream brick apartment buildings were built in the 1960s. Property prices in Ormond have risen in the last 15 years. Higher quality developments have become common. You’ll see many modern three-storey apartment buildings. They are in and around the shopping strip on North Road.
The Ormond railway station services the suburb. It is on the frequent Frankston line.
Ormond offers a blend of history, community and modern living. It’s a suburb with a story etched into its streets and buildings. From its early days as farmland to its current status as a diverse and vibrant community. Ormond continues to evolve. It still retains its unique character.