Didn’t Somerville start as an orchard town? Somerville sits on the Mornington Peninsula. It is 49 km south-east of Melbourne’s Central Business District. Somerville is within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. The 2021 census recorded Somerville’s population at 11767.
Somerville forms an urban enclave with Hastings, Bittern, Crib Point, and Tyabb. Statistically, it is part of Greater Melbourne. The size of Somerville is approximately 38 km2. Somerville has experienced significant population growth. This growth has occurred over the last twenty-five years.
The Somerville Post Office opened on November 21 1870. It closed in 1893. The railway arrived in Somerville in September 1889. Somerville station was initially one mile from Lower Somerville Road. The town center was also there. It was relocated to its current site in the 1890s. Somerville Railway Station Post Office opened on August 15 1890. It was renamed Somerville in 1907.
The Somerville Hotel was built in the early 1900s. The Mechanics’ Hall was also built then. They formed part of the Station Street shopping strip. Historical buildings once lined the railway’s north side. These buildings burned down in 1987. This was an act of vandalism.
From the early 1900s to World War II, Somerville was known for its fruit orchards. A harvest festival was held yearly. Special trains ran from Flinders Street station. They transported people to the festival.
During the late 1980s and early to mid-1990s, Somerville’s population increased. A number of housing estates were created. The Somerville war memorial was unveiled on November 4 1923. It stood at the intersection of Frankston Flinders Road and Eramosa Road West. Due to increasing population and traffic, the memorial was moved in 1966. It was relocated to Clarinda Street. From November 2014 to April 2015, the memorial was moved again. This time it was moved to the Fruitgrowers Reserve. The cenotaph was restored. Markers were added to tell the area’s history. Trees were planted to remember lost soldiers.
An avenue of honour was originally located on Eramosa Road East. Plane trees lined the road in 1917. Each tree represented a Somerville resident who fought in World War 1. The local Shire removed these trees in the 1970s. Footpaths were laid in their place. In early 2013, a new avenue of honour was planted along Station Street. It features ornamental pear trees.
Today, Somerville is experiencing urban growth. The residential area is expanding around its retail and commercial hub. Somerville has a vast shopping district. It includes Woolworths, Coles supermarkets, Target, and Aldi. There are also specialty shops. The iconic Somerville Hotel is a well-known landmark.
Many parks and playgrounds are scattered throughout the area. These include the Jones Road Oval and the Fruitgrowers Reserve. Award-winning coffee shops are located in Somerville.
The Mechanics’ Hall hosts local bands and school concerts. In 2015, a storm ravaged Somerville. It ripped the roof off the hall. The roof was restored the following week. Peninsula Pottery Industries operated from 1901 to 1979. It made bricks for some of Somerville’s historical buildings. These include St Andrews Anglican Church and the Somerville Hotel. All historical kilns and chimneys were removed in 2004. The clay pottery reopened in 2015.
Inghams has a large factory north of Somerville. It employs many town residents. Inghams is an Australian-based poultry supplier.
Somerville has three primary schools. These are Somerville Rise Primary School, Saint Brendan’s Catholic Primary School. Somerville also has one secondary school. This is Somerville Secondary College.
Somerville has a strong sporting club culture. This includes the Somerville Football Club and the Somerville Cricket Club.
Somerville continues to grow. It honors its past. It embraces the future.