Vermont South, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vermont South Melbourne, Victoria
Morack Road, Vermont South
Vermont South Location in Melbourne
Postcode(s)	3133
Area	6.3 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Location	26 km (16 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Whitehorse
State electorate(s)	Glen Waverley
Federal Division(s)	Deakin
Suburbs around Vermont South: Forest Hill Vermont Wantirna Burwood East Vermont South Wantirna South Glen Waverley Glen Waverley Wantirna South

Vermont South is a suburb in Melbourne, Australia. It is about 26 km (16 miles) east of Melbourne's city centre. In 2021, about 11,954 people lived here.

The eastern edge of Vermont South is the Dandenong Creek. This creek flows from the Dandenong Ranges all the way to Port Phillip. Most of Vermont South was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This happened after builders bought the apple orchards that used to be in the area.

History of Vermont South

Before European settlers arrived, Vermont South was thick bushland. The Wurundjeri people lived here. They are Indigenous Australians from the Kulin nation. They spoke a language called Woiwurrung. The Wurundjeri were hunters and gatherers. They camped near the creeks and gullies, especially in the area now known as Bellbird Dell.

Early European Settlers

The first European settlers came in the 1850s. They were woodcutters and charcoal burners. Later, farmers came and leased land. They worked on the land to gain full ownership. At first, they built temporary huts. Later, they built stronger timber cottages.

For many years, apple orchards covered the land. But in the 1950s and 60s, more houses were needed. So, the orchards were divided into smaller blocks for homes. In 1966, the local council bought a large piece of land. This land, from an orchardist named Cecil Rhodes, became Bellbird Dell. Other orchards were bought for new housing areas.

Vermont South was also home to the Australian Gun Club in the 1960s and 1970s.

Changes to Bellbird Dell Creek

In 1972, heavy rains caused flooding. This was because more houses meant more water running off the land. Bellbird Dell Creek was then put into underground pipes. The natural creek disappeared. The area around it became a public park.

The Vermont South Post Office opened on October 22, 1974. This happened as the suburb grew.

Famous Places in Vermont South

Pin Oak Court, also known as Ramsay Street from Neighbours

Pin Oak Court in Vermont South is a very famous street. It is the real-life filming location for "Ramsay Street" in the Australian TV show Neighbours. Many tourists, especially backpackers from the UK, visit on Neighbours tour buses.

Vermont South also has the Nunawading Motorcross Track. It is located near Burwood Highway. Behind the track, there are walking trails. These trails connect to Dandenong Creek. There is also a great lookout point. This lookout is on top of a man-made hill. This hill is what's left of an old rubbish tip that closed in the 1970s.

Walking and Cycling Trails

The walking and bike trails here are part of the Dandenong Creek Trail. These trails connect to bigger bike paths in eastern Victoria. You can ride to places like the Mount Dandenong National Park. Other parks like Nortons, Napier, and Jells Parks are also connected.

Sportlink is another important building in the area. The Burvale Hotel is named because it is at the corner of Springvale Road and Burwood Highway.

Shopping and Businesses

The Vermont South Shopping Centre is on Burwood Highway. It has large main stores and many smaller shops. You can find fast food places and other services there too.

On the south side of Burwood Highway, there used to be the main office and labs for the Australian Road Research Board. Much of this land has now been sold. A retirement village has been built there.

In late 2005, the biggest Bunnings Warehouse in the world was built in Vermont South. The Australian TV show Better Homes and Gardens even filmed a special episode there.

Getting Around Vermont South

The Government of Victoria extended tram route 75 in 2005. It now goes all the way to the Vermont South Shopping Centre. Before, it stopped at Burwood East.

Bus Connections

A special Transit Bus Link was also added. This bus travels along Burwood Highway to Westfield Knox Shopping Centre. This bus is called the "Knox Transit Link." It runs almost all day, matching the tram timetable. This makes it easy to switch between the tram and the bus.

In November 2007, bus services improved. There is now an hourly service on Sundays. Buses also run until 9 pm every day of the week.

Other bus routes also serve Vermont South:

• 732: From Box Hill to Upper Ferntree Gully
• 736: From Mitcham to Blackburn
• 742: From Ringwood to Chadstone Shopping Centre
• 902 SmartBus: From Chelsea to Airport West

All these bus routes run seven days a week.

Parks and Green Spaces

Vermont South has many local parks. These include Billabong Park, Charlesworth Park, Terrara Park, and Tyrol Park. The Dandenong Valley Metropolitan Park is also nearby.

Bellbird Dell Park

Bellbird Dell is a special natural park in the north of the suburb. It is a long park, about 1.4 km (1500 yards) long. It covers 17.5 hectares (43 acres). The park is named after the bellbirds you can hear there. Most of the park is thick bush. However, there are walking trails, wetlands, and pretty lakes. You can find open grassy areas with picnic tables.

If you like walking, 'The Dell' offers short or long strolls. Dogs must be on a leash here. The main paths are shared with cyclists. You can see and hear birds and frogs. In spring, you might see beautiful wildflowers. Victoria's state flower, the pink heath (Epacris impressa), grows wild in some parts of the park.

Hanover Reserve in Vermont South has a playground for kids. It also has swings that are easy for everyone to use. A guide called "Walking and Wheeling in Whitehorse" shows some of the parks and trails in the area.

Schools and Learning

Vermont South has several schools and learning centres:

• Emmaus College – For students in Years 7-12.
• Vermont South Special School
• Weeden Heights Primary School – Opened in 1980.
• Livingstone Primary School
• Holy Saviour Primary School
• Barriburn Pre-School
• Birralee Pre-School Association
• Terrara Pre-School Association
• Vermont South Children's Services Centre

Clubs and Sports Facilities

Vermont South has many clubs and places for sports and activities.

Vermont South Club

The Vermont South Club offers Tennis, Darts, and Bowls. In 2007, the Bowling Clubhouse started a big upgrade. It can now hold 120 people, up from 60. They also improved access for people with disabilities, toilets, showers, and kitchen areas.

Sustainability Street Hubs

Sustainability Street hubs help communities learn about being eco-friendly. They teach people how to share ideas and take action. Vermont South is one of the places with these hubs. The program has four stages: learn, plan, do, and teach.

Sportlink Indoor Sports Facility

A new $8 million indoor sports centre called Sportlink opened in 2009. It is on Hanover Road. Famous netball player Sharelle McMahon spoke at the opening. She even helped umpire a community netball game.

Sportlink is a great place for many sports. You can play netball, basketball, indoor soccer, badminton, and volleyball. Local sports clubs use it as their home. To celebrate the opening, they had a 'Come and Try Day'. People could see the new building, watch sports, and join in fun activities. Sportlink has four indoor and four outdoor courts. It also has a multi-purpose room, a community room, a café, and change rooms.

Vermont South Skateboard Ramp

There is a skateboard ramp at Lookout Trail Park. It is at the corner of Morack Road and Burwood Highway. The ramp is a vertical half pipe. It is built to international standards and is great for advanced skaters.

Soccer Clubs

The Whitehorse United Soccer Club is located in Vermont South. The men's team has done very well. The women's team has also been promoted to a higher league.

Other clubs and facilities include:

• Vermont South Tennis Club
• Vermont South Cricket Club
• Whitehorse School of Physical Culture
• Morack Golf Course
• Holy Saviour Tennis Club
• Livingstone Netball Club
• Hi-Lites Netball Club
• Lions Club of South Vermont Inc.

Churches in Vermont South

You can find several churches in Vermont South:

• Vermont South Evangelical Church
• Holy Saviour Catholic Church
• Anglican Church of the Holy Name of Jesus
• Evangelical Church

Community Services

The Vermont South Metropolitan Fire Brigade (South Vermont Fire Station No. 28) is on Highbury Road. It moved there in 1999. The building even won an award for its design.

The Vermont South Community House helps people of all ages. It offers courses and activities. It was started in 1976. It shares information and speaks up for the community. In 2008, the Community House won a Whitehorse Sustainability Award.

Library and Recycling

The Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library has a campus in Vermont South. It has over 421,000 items. These include books, magazines, music, and games. Joining the library is free. They also have books and other items in Chinese.

The Whitehorse Recycling and Waste Centre is also in Vermont South. It handles green waste and other recycling.

Images for kids

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  Morack Road, Vermont South