Kingsbury, Victoria

Kingsbury is an established suburb with the majority of homes established in the 1960s from either weatherboard or brick. Recently there has been an increased number of new housing developments in the area with Kingsbury following close trend from neighbouring suburbs Reservoir and Preston largely due to the large block land size and close proximity to public transport and Melbourne CBD. The suburb of Kingsbury previously had a golf course running through it before being built over in the 1960s for new housing developments. One side of Kingsbury's street names are made up of golfing terms; Green Avenue, Eagle Avenue, Flag Street, Bunker Avenue, Club Avenue, Golf Avenue, and The Fairway. The other half of Kingsbury's street names reference famous poets from across the world; Lowell Avenue, Whittier Street, Scott Grove, Bradshaw Street, and Keats Avenue.

History

Settlement of the area dates from the late 1830s, with land used mainly for farming. Growth took place from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. Significant development did not occur until the post-war years, particularly from the 1960s, spurred by the opening of La Trobe University in 1967. Kingsbury had a golf course and that stretched along the western side of the Darebin Creek in Creek Valley which has now been built over with housing estate The Kingsbury Bowls club located at Arch Gibson Reserve was formed in 1978. The club has a bronze statue of Kingsbury, one of only three which was presented by the 2nd and 14th battalion to Kingsbury Bowls Club and is a symbol of the clubs link to the war hero

Public transport

The nearest train station is the Reservoir railway station, on the South Morang railway line. The suburb is also served by the 561 bus route from Macleod railway station on the Hurstbridge railway line, and tram route 86 which runs down Plenty Road between Docklands and Bundoora RMIT, which touches Kingsbury between Stops 56-60.

Education

There are currently two primary schools and a University in Kingsbury; Kingsbury Primary School, Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary School and La Trobe University. In 2011, Kingsbury Primary School named its new building the Isurava Centre for Learning after the field in New Guinea in which Bruce Kingsbury fell.

Secondary education in Kingsbury is provided in nearby suburbs and notable schools include Parade College in Bundoora, an all-boys Catholic School run by the Christian Brothers, Loyola College a co-ed Catholic School from Years 7-12. St. Peters College Preston, a co-education Orthodox School for students from Prep - Year 12, Macleod College, a state Prep - Year 12 school located near Kingsbury and Reservoir District Secondary College, a state secondary college from Years 7 - 12.

Parks

Kingsbury has both reserve parkland and playgrounds available throughout. Kevin P Hardiman Reserve which carries through it the Darebin Creek bike trail the reserve also has a children's playground. C.W Kirkwood reserve and Link Playground are also located in Kingsbury. Bundoora Park is also located in close proximity to Kingsbury. Bundoora Park is a 180 hectare parkland set in natural bushland beside the Darebin Creek. The public parklands at Bundoora Park provides a number of playgrounds, waterways and free BBQ facilities.

Demographics

The most common ancestries in Kingsbury were Australian 16.5%, English 13.3%, Chinese 12.5%, Italian 8.1% and Vietnamese 5.8%. 46.3% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) 11.5%, Vietnam 6.2%, India 4.6%, Italy 4.3% and Malaysia 2.5%.

Religion

According to the 2006 Census, the majority of Kingsbury's population are Catholics. Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church is the local Catholic centre. For other religions, the nearest Buddhist Temple is Linh Son Buddhist Temple located on Radford Road, Reservoir and the Mosque located in nearby Preston.

Projects

Kingsbury is planning to construct a monument and memorial of Bruce Kingsbury VC in one of their parks. They are still raising funds to do so. There is currently a bronze statue of Bruce Kingsbury located at the Kingsbury Bowls club, the statue is one of three in existence.

Sport and leisure

Kingsbury has a wide range of sporting facilities within the area and nearby. It holds two football/cricket grounds, a tennis club with four courts, basketball facilities which is home to the 'Kingsbury Comets', a lawn bowls club and boxing gym which is home to Brizzy Brothers boxing which has operated in Kingsbury since 1989. Within close proximity is the Reservoir Leisure Centre, the Reservoir Community Sports Centre which includes basketball, netball and hockey, La Trobe University Sports Centre and several other multi-purpose sporting grounds. The Kingsbury community market has been running for over 30 years every Sunday from Kingsbury Drive at Latrobe University. The market is popular for selling plants, produce, handcrafts, bric-a-brac and much more.

References

↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kingsbury (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 July 2011.

Suburbs of the City of Darebin, Melbourne, Victoria

Alphington Bundoora Fairfield Kingsbury Macleod Northcote Preston Reservoir Thornbury

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