Montrose 3765 Montrose 3765

Montrose is a suburb on the north-western foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, 32 km. east of Melbourne.

Settlement of surveyed allotments occurred in the 1870s and the area was known as Mooroolbark South and Double Pitts. A primary school was built in 1880 and a Methodist church in 1888. A general store built in 1891 was named Rose Mont, which has been suggested as inspiring the name of the locality. In any event Montrose was the name generally used from the turn of the century.

The land at Montrose receives regular rainfall, about 60% more than Melbourne, which encouraged orchards, nurseries and cut flowers. During 1900-10 a Church of Christ, an Anglican church and a free library were established. A Progress Association was formed in 1911 and a community hall built in 1915. After the first world war Montrose's distance from the Croydon railway station became less of a disadvantage. Motor transport brought tourists and stimulated land subdivisions. Land sales were unspectacular, however, and orcharding continued, but by the mid 1920s some new houses and weekenders were evident. The landscape attracted excursionists and artists including Blanire Young who died in Montrose in 1935.

In the immediate post war years Montrose was a rural community with locals running roadside stalls to tap the passing tourist traffic to the Dandenong Ranges. However, an increasing birth rate required a baby health centre in 1949 and enlargement of the school. Reticulated water was installed in 1958, by when new housing was being built and Montrose was acquiring the role of dormitory suburb. In 1962 the voluntary fire brigade was unable to save 22 houses from a severe bush fire, but by 1970 Montrose's population had doubled in four years. The rural and forest back-drop were a strong attraction.

Montrose's identity has been strengthened by the building of a town centre (1986) which includes a large community hall, a library, a senior citizens' centre and a restored historic cottage. Between 1987 and 1996 the median house prices in Montrose were slightly under the median prices for metropolitan Melbourne.

The census populations of Montrose have been 133 (1911), 596 (1947) and 7,651 (1991).

---

❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Montrose 3765 






Update Page