Croydon Real Estate
Croydon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Croydon had a population of 22,029.
History
Dating back to the 1840s land was first utilised for grazing and the first road cut through the area now known as Croydon was initially known as Sawmill Road, as a sawmill was nearby. Later it became known as Oxford Road, and became Mt Dandenong Road some time in the early 1900s.
Owing to the silvery-white grass and coarse in texture, the area we know now as Croydon was first called "White Flats."
In 1868 parcels of land were surveyed and the first habitations were constructed out of wattle and daub. These were later rebuilt in timber and the area prospered in sheep, beef and dairy farming and sawmills. Orchards were soon established and thrived, crops included apples, cherries, pears, peaches and plums. Indeed several street names in and around Croydon, now reflect the impact orchards had on "White Flats"
In 1874 Cobb & Co ran horses and carts to the area (Brushy Creek).
In 1882 a single track railway line was constructed through to Lilydale. Built on the now current station site, known then as the Warrandyte Railway Station. Travellers would travel by rail to the then unnamed station, and were then faced with a horse AND coach ride to Warrandyte, some 10 km north, which was not well received by the vast majority of travellers, believing the Yarra River was close by.
The origin of the name is English and was proposed by one Mr George Lacey in the 1880s. A resident of the Croydon area, suggested the name after the English town of his wife's birth.
From the mid 1880s Croydon started to develop and Mr James Hewish built not only his home, but several other business ventures including a General Store, Newsagency, a butchers shop, hotel and planted various orchard trees. Several street names around the centre of Croydon reflect its previous usage. The Post Office opened on 1 December 1883 after the railway arrived and was known as Warrandyte Railway Station for some months until the station name was changed to Croydon. A Nelson's Hill Post Office opened in the area in 1902 and was renamed Burnt Bridge in 1979.[3]
In 1908 Croydon Hall, Mt Dandenong Road was built. (Now home to EV's entertainment Centre).
In 1912 Croydon was proclaimed and gazetted a town.
In 1925 the Croydon section of the Lilydale line was electrified, and Lilydale a month later. Croydon Station was rebuilt in the 1990s. As part of its increasing passenger traffic the bus station or interchange was revamped in the early 2000s and is used by Croydon Bus, Invicta and Ventura buses.
In the early 1920s a Monday market began, it included live animals, chickens, birds and other small animals. Being a noted landmark and meeting place for locals from neighbouring suburbs, until the site was redeveloped in the 1980s. A Monday market still exists but is not the drawcard it once was.
Originally Croydon was part of the Shire of Lillydale. In 1957 A request was submitted for Croydon to leave the Shire of Lillydale and become its own entity. Becoming a municipality in 1961. Then City of Croydon until 1994, when it was absorbed into City of Maroondah.
Croydon Today
Main Street Croydon is still the thriving hub and currently has over 187 traders, from eateries, clothing, music, toys, hairdressers, a cinema and many others. The Main Street has ample parking on and behind the shops.
The Croydon Market Complex as it is now known, has been subject to several development applications including one for a small cinema complex to be built, which did not eventuate. The key tennant being Coles Supermarkets and 15 or so smaller traders including a newsagent, chemist and various clothing, eateries, florist and bakeries. In the early 2000s the site was expanded to include an Aldi supermarket, taking over part of the existing carpark on the Kent Avenue side of the block.
Croydon is also served by the Arndale Centre, Mt Dandenong Road and Civic Square, opposite the Croydon Park, which has in excess of 20 retail outlets of size and type.
During the late 1990s and early 2000 onwards, Croydon's housing density and type changed and increased with the advent of 'dual-occupancy' Many of former large housing blocks, were sold and redeveloped.
Residents have since then seemed to feel slightly aggrieved with some actions in the new City and have more than once stated at Council meetings and in the local newspapers over the years that they are 'second cousins to those in Ringwood."
The Croydon area is served by two weekly newspapers, The Maroondah Journal and The Maroondah Leader.