St James & Police Station c1920s - courtesy Darebin Heritage Collection
Northcote History
Welcome to this site on Northcote History.
Covering Alphington, Fairfield, Northcote, Thornbury & Westgarth.
Northcote is a dynamic and interesting northern suburb of Melbourne (Victoria, Australia for our international readers). It has a fascinating history from farming, wealth, industry, depression, poverty, migrants, gentrification and now apartment dwelling with cafe culture.
Featured image:
Former Bastings (Johnson's) General Store c1900. Demolished in 1970s.
Aug 2021 Update:
Reprising July talk on 'Park Cr, and life south of Heidelberg Rd'. Zoom with Yarra U3A.
History Snippets added above on top line.
Revisionist History:
Early Northcote's story is often about the tale of Lower and Upper Northcote. A third settlement is little mentioned - that of Dr Peter McArthur's development of SS107. More information to follow on this early settlement.
About Northcote:
In 1925 the Municipal Directory of Victoria described Northcote:
(Note: Much of Fairfield and Alphington was not included within Northcote until 1962.)
"Area – 2850 acres, Population – 36,129, Dwellings – 9109
Important, flourishing, manufacturing city with two post, telegraph and money order offices and court house. “Carnegie” public and free lending library (8200 vols) costing £3950. Handsome town hall and municipal buildings, one boys and two girls colleges; three state schools, denominational school, three banks, two savings banks, five hotels, insurance agencies, thirteen churches and Homes of Little Sisters of the Poor.
Two bowling greens, six parks totalling 40 acres, one with cricket ground and handsome pavilion and grand-stand.
Industries established – three brickworks, tannery and leather works, high class furniture manufacture, three timber yards with joinery and saw milling works, hat manufacture, wicker works, glass bottle and two coach building works, boot and shoe manufacture, wool-yarn spinning; also dairy farms.
Fine shops and business establishments; residential portion having handsome residences. [Ruckers Hill having] Extensive view reaching from the [Port Phillip] Bay on south to Mt Macedon on north.
"Height above sea-level, 254 feet. Basaltic and gravelly formation. Good blue-stone for building purposes and gravel for footpaths and drives. [Nil mention of extensive clay deposits for brick, pottery & tile making.]
"Railway, Cable and Electric Trams, [Buses, Horse drawn Cabs]."
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Check out the About page for much info about Northcote including extensive timeline and stages of development. 1884 overview. Full Index to W G Swift's 'History of Northcote' (1928).
The News page has latest updates.
This website has grown out of the author's over 35 years of historical research. In addition includes details from various talks and presentations. Most recent being the U3A class of 2015, 2017.
For insights into early Northcote life click on 'Tours'. There are quite a few. FHM's 1872 gives a child's perspective.
Click on People for the stories of significant contributors to Northcote's dynamism!
For a quick overview of Northcote's history. Here is a 'Short Chronicle of Events'. A full version is under 'About - Timeline'.
Take your time to browse through the site for a whole range of material. Including full index to W G Swift's 1928 History of Northcote.
Subjects nearing completion include -
SS 107, Dr Peter McArthur, Identification & description of Arthurton Estate / Park, Tour of St Georges Rd to Gumbri (Batman) Park, Tour of South Preston - Gowerville.
History Snippets - Trivia
Griffeth family of former Lamoka, Park Crescent, Fairfield. Owned 'Tow Bays Nursery' at Mooroduc. They were early instigators of Fruitgrowers Cooperative of Victoria.
"There's a Northcote connection to most things ..."
page updated 7 Aug 2021