Belgrave, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belgrave Melbourne, Victoria
Belgrave main street (Burwood Highway)
Belgrave Location in Melbourne
Population	3,894 (2021 census)
• Density	950/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Established	1851
Postcode(s)	3160
Elevation	200 m (656 ft)
Area	4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi)
Location	36 km (22 mi) from Melbourne 7 km (4 mi) from Ferntree Gully 11 km (7 mi) from Westfield Knox
LGA(s)	Shire of Yarra Ranges
State electorate(s)	Monbulk
Federal Division(s)	Casey
Suburbs around Belgrave: Upwey Sherbrooke Kallista Tecoma Belgrave Selby Belgrave Heights Belgrave South Belgrave South

Belgrave is a cool town and outer suburb located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's about 36 kilometers east of Melbourne's city center. Belgrave is part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. In 2021, about 3,894 people lived here.

History of Belgrave

Belgrave is nestled in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. This area is the traditional land of the Wurundjeri First Nations people. European settlers first arrived in Belgrave in 1851.

The town got its name from a chapel in Leeds, England. Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Benson brought the name to Melbourne in 1856. Their sons later settled in the Belgrave area in the 1870s. The area was first called "Monbulk" because of a nearby reservoir. It wasn't officially known as Belgrave until around 1903. A Post Office opened in 1904. Many people from Belgrave bravely served in the two World Wars. There is a war memorial in town to remember them.

Community Decisions

In 1993, there was a plan to build a McDonald's restaurant in Belgrave. Many people in the community did not like this idea. They raised a lot of objections. The plan was approved, but without a drive-through. McDonald's decided not to build the restaurant. A similar plan was proposed again in 1996. It was approved by the local council but later stopped after an appeal.

Belgrave Volunteer Fire Brigade

The local fire brigade in Belgrave is made up entirely of volunteers. These amazing people help keep the community safe. The brigade was started by local residents in 1923.

In 2023, the Belgrave Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrated 100 years of service. They are currently located on Bayview Road.

Businesses in Belgrave

Most of Belgrave's shops and businesses are on Main Street. This street is at the end of the Burwood Highway. You can also find shops on Bayview Road, just across the railway bridge.

Belgrave has many interesting places to visit. You can find art galleries and bookshops. Some businesses focus on organic and fair trade products. There's a Woolworths supermarket for groceries. You can also find hairdressers, a pharmacy, a butcher, and a bakery. There are also cafes, restaurants, and fast food places. The town has a cinema, a pub, and a few bars. You can also find banks, a tattoo studio, and a public library.

Fun Things to Do in Belgrave

Locomotive 12A on the famous Monbulk Creek trestle bridge near Belgrave

Belgrave is famous for the Puffing Billy Railway. This is a historic narrow-gauge steam train. It was reopened in 1962 after volunteers worked hard to restore it. The train travels 24 kilometers through beautiful cool rainforest and farmland. It's a fantastic way to see the area! Belgrave is also the starting point for the Belgrave railway line.

Other cool places nearby include The 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully. You can also explore Sherbrooke Forest and Sherbrooke Falls. These are all part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Social Life and Events

Belgrave has a park about 3 kilometers from Main Street. The Cameo Cinema is a popular spot with eight screens. Cinema 1 dates back to the 1930s. There's also an outdoor cinema that's open during the summer.

Belgrave has a lively music scene. You can catch live acts at places like Sooki Lounge and 12 Bar Belgrave. There's even a recording studio in town. During summer, you can cool off at Belgrave Pool. It's an outdoor, heated pool that's 33 meters long.

Belgrave is known for its cool cultural events. Belgrave Survival Day happens every year on January 26. It's a chance to celebrate Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander cultures. The Lantern Parade is another special event. It happens around the winter solstice. Hundreds of lanterns light up the main street. Drummers, dancers, and performers join in the fun.

Schools in Belgrave

Belgrave itself does not have any state schools. These are located in nearby suburbs like Tecoma, Selby, and Belgrave South. Upwey High School is the closest state high school.

There are two Catholic schools in Belgrave. St Thomas More's Primary School was founded in 1963. It's on Reynolds Hill, overlooking Belgrave. Mater Christi College is a secondary school for girls. It is located on Bayview Road.

Getting Around Belgrave

Belgrave railway station is located behind the main street shops. The Puffing Billy steam train station is just beyond it. Electric trains from Belgrave go to Melbourne CBD via Ringwood. Puffing Billy travels to Gembrook.

Bus services are available throughout Belgrave. They can take you to places like Oakleigh, Lilydale, and Gembrook. Major roads like Burwood Highway also provide access to Melbourne's city center.

Parks and Nature

Belgrave has several public parks and reserves. These include Belgrave Lake Park, Belgrave Recreation Reserve, and Borthwick Park. The Dandenong Ranges National Park is also nearby.

Belgrave Lake Park

Belgrave Lake Park is a small nature reserve. It surrounds Belgrave Lake, south of Belgrave town center. This park is important for connecting wildlife areas. It helps animals move between Dandenong Ranges National Park and other natural spaces. The park is used for both recreation and protecting nature.

Wildlife in the Park

Monbulk Creek flows through the park. This creek is home to amazing wildlife like platypus and water rats. In the trees, you might spot sugar gliders. The park has many tall Eucalyptus cypellocarpa trees, also known as mountain grey gum. Along the creek, you'll find Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. viminalis (manna gum) and Acacia dealbata (silver wattle) trees.

Park History

Belgrave Lake was built in 1893. It was made to supply water to the town of Dandenong. Water flowed through pipelines to farms in the Lysterfield area for many years. The pipeline was eventually closed sometime after the 1970s.

Local Media

Belgrave has its own local newspapers. These include The Free Press Leader and The Ferntree Gully-Belgrave Mail. The local radio station is 3MDR on 97.1FM.

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