Thornbury, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thornbury Melbourne, Victoria
View of Thornbury from above looking towards the Melbourne CBD
Thornbury Location in Melbourne
Population	19,005 (2021 census)
• Density	3,650/km2 (9,500/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3071
Elevation	69 m (226 ft)
Area	5.2 km2 (2.0 sq mi)
Location	7 km (4 mi) NE of Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Darebin
State electorate(s)	Northcote
Federal Division(s)	Cooper
Suburbs around Thornbury: Coburg Preston Bellfield Coburg Thornbury Ivanhoe Brunswick East Northcote Fairfield

Thornbury (pronounced ⁱ/ˈθɔːrnbəri/) is a lively suburb located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) north-east of Melbourne's main city center. Thornbury is part of the City of Darebin local government area. In 2021, about 19,005 people lived there.

Thornbury is bordered by two creeks: the Merri Creek to the west and the Darebin Creek to the east. The main part of Thornbury is often called Thornbury Village. You can find it where High Street meets Normanby Avenue and Clarendon Street. Thornbury is a long, narrow suburb, much wider from east to west than from north to south. It sits between the suburbs of Northcote and Preston. For over 100 years, Thornbury was part of the City of Northcote. This is why many people still see it as closely connected to Northcote.

Exploring Thornbury's Past

How Thornbury Got Its Name

The name Thornbury comes from a property owned by an early settler named Jobbo Smith. He named his property in 1850 after a farm near where he grew up in England.

Thornbury in the 1800s

By 1890, cable trams ran along High Street, connecting Northcote to Preston. This made it easier for people to travel around. In 1901, a railway line was built to the west of Thornbury. This line connected the area to the central city train network. You can still see the old cable tram engine house at 628 High Street today. It used to hold the engines and sheds for the trams.

Thornbury in the 1900s

Many important buildings were constructed in the 20th century. For example, St Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1916.

Thornbury's Landscape and Buildings

Understanding Thornbury's Ground

The ground in Thornbury is mostly made of old sedimentary rocks. These rocks are part of the Melbourne Formation. Near the Merri Creek and Darebin Creek, you can also find river sediments. These creeks form the western and eastern edges of the suburb.

Thornbury's Unique Buildings

There's a special area in Thornbury called the Thornbury Park Estate Precinct. This area has many different types of old houses. You can find homes built in the Victorian era, the late Federation period, and between the two World Wars. Recently, the local council created a temporary protection plan for these buildings. This happened after residents worried that old houses, some over 100 years old, were being torn down to build new apartments. This plan helps save these historic homes from demolition.

Thornbury's Economy and Shops

The main place for shopping in Thornbury is the High Street strip. This area is centered around Thornbury Village. You can also find smaller shops on parts of St Georges Road, Wales Street, and Station Street. The Northcote Pottery, which started in 1897, was a well-known business that closed in 2007.

Thornbury also has a history of industry. Near Dundas Street and Station Street, you can find many warehouses and factories. Some of these are metal recycling centers.

Getting Around Thornbury

Walking and Cycling Paths

The Merri Creek Trail and Darebin Creek Trail are popular paths. They run along the western and eastern borders of Thornbury. People love to use these paths for cycling and walking.

Public Transport Options

Train Services

Thornbury has one train station called Thornbury Station. It is on the Mernda line, which connects to other parts of Melbourne.

Tram Services

Two tram routes serve Thornbury, both run by Yarra Trams:

• Route 11: Travels from West Preston to Victoria Harbour in Docklands.
• Route 86: Goes from Bundoora RMIT to Waterfront City in Docklands.

Bus Services

Seven bus routes also help people get around Thornbury:

•  250 : From Melbourne CBD (Queen Street) to La Trobe University.
•  251 : From Melbourne CBD (Queen Street) to Northland Shopping Centre.
•  350 : From Melbourne CBD (Queen Street) to La Trobe University, using the Eastern Freeway.
•  510 : From Essendon station to Ivanhoe station, passing through Brunswick West, Moreland station, Thornbury, and Fairfield.
•  552 : From North East Reservoir to Northcote Plaza via High Street.
•  553 : From Preston to West Preston via Reservoir.
•  567 : From Northcote to Regent station via Northland Shopping Centre.

Learning in Thornbury

Thornbury has many schools for students of all ages:

• Thornbury Primary School (opened in 1915)
• Wales Street Primary School (opened in 1891 as 'Prince of Wales Park State School')
• Penders Grove Primary School
• Thornbury High School (its name changed in 2005)
• Holy Spirit School (Catholic) (opened in 1953)
• St. Mary's Primary school (Catholic) (opened in 1920)
• Distance Education Centre: This center helps students learn from home. It shares a location with the Victorian School of Languages near the Darebin Creek.
• Nestoras Greek College

Sports and Recreation

The Darebin International Sports Centre (DISC) is a major sports hub in Thornbury. It's located in John Cain Memorial Park near the Darebin Creek. DISC is home to:

• Football Federation Victoria (for soccer)
• The State Lawn Bowls Centre
• The State Cycling Centre, which has an indoor cycling track.

The Northcote Public Golf Course is also in Thornbury, close to the Merri Creek. Thornbury is home to Flinders Park and the Holy Trinity Cricket Club (HTCC).

Parks and Green Spaces

Thornbury has many parks and gardens where people can relax and play:

• Strettle Wetland (near Merri Creek)
• Northcote Municipal Golf Links
• Mayer Park
• Sir Douglas Nichols Reserve
• Penders Park (with electric barbecues and a playground)
• Hayes Park (which has an oval)
• John Cain Memorial Park (includes the Darebin International Sports Centre, soccer fields, and the cycling and lawn bowls centers)
• Clyde Jones Reserve (with a playground and grassy area)

Famous People from Thornbury

Several well-known people have connections to Thornbury:

• Bill Lawry – a famous Australian cricketer and sports commentator.
• Jane Hall – an actress and radio personality.
• Normie Rowe – a popular singer and TV personality.
• Vince Colosimo – an actor and TV personality.

Images for kids

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  View of Thornbury from above looking towards the Melbourne CBD