Yarraville, Victoria
Yarraville is an inner-western suburb of Melbourne, Australia, 8 km from Melbourne's Central Business District. It is in the local government area of the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2016 census, Yarraville had a population of 14,965.[1] It previously has had a large Greek population.
Yarraville Melbourne, Victoria | |||||||||||||||
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Yarraville | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 37.817°S 144.890°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 14,965 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 2,672/km2 (6,920/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 3013 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Location | 8 km (5 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | City of Maribyrnong | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Williamstown | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Gellibrand | ||||||||||||||
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Formerly a working-class suburb, in recent years Yarraville has experienced rapid gentrification due to its close proximity to the Melbourne CBD. The suburb lies immediately north of the West Gate Bridge, and immediately west of its namesake, the Yarra River. Features of Yarraville include C.J. Cruickshank Park, Yarraville Oval, Beaton Reserve, Yarraville Gardens, Stony Creek and the Yarraville Village Shopping Strip.
History
Yarraville Post Office opened on 1 September 1872.[2]
Yarraville Village
Located near Yarraville railway station on Anderson and Ballarat Streets, this area of the suburb is renowned in Melbourne for its unique character, architecture and quality of village life. Anderson and Ballarat Streets, in the heart of the Yarraville Village, are lined with refurbished 19th century buildings and dotted with neighbourhood cafés, restaurants and boutique shops.
This village atmosphere is anchored by the restored Sun Theatre and the adjacent Sun Bookshop, a prominent landmark in the Yarraville community with its unique art deco architecture and its 6 cinemas. Notable examples of Edwardian and Victorian architecture can be found in Yarraville.
The Yarraville Village is home to many award winning restaurants and cafes. A reflection of Melbourne's multicultural nature, Yarraville offers an array of world cuisine styles including Greek, Italian, Modern Asian, Indian, Cambodian, Thai, Chinese and Modern Australian.
Retail shops in the village provide an eclectic shopping experience, from books to the work of a local artist, to quality clothes, shoes, gifts, jewellery, wines and gourmet foods.[3]
Transportation
Public transport
Yarraville railway station is a suburban train station located in the centre of the village area, 20 minutes from the Melbourne CBD. The station is serviced by all trains on the Williamstown line, but skipped by express services on the Werribee line. The station is located near Anderson Street in Yarraville Village, access via Birmingham Street to the North (for trains heading towards the City), and Woods Street on the South (heading away from the City). Yarraville station is within the Zone 1 region of Melbourne's public transport ticketing system.[4]
Several bus routes also service the suburb:[5]
- 223 Yarraville – Highpoint SC via Seddon, Footscray RS (every day). Operated by Transdev Melbourne.
- 409 Highpoint SC – Yarraville via Victoria University Footscray, Footscray RS (every day). Operated by CDC Melbourne.
- 411 Footscray – Laverton via Geelong Road, Altona Gate SC, Altona, Altona Meadows (every day). Operated by CDC Melbourne.
- 412 Footscray – Laverton via Geelong Road, Altona Gate SC, Altona, Altona Meadows (every day). Operated by CDC Melbourne.
- 414 Footscray – Aircraft via Geelong Road, Laverton North (Monday to Saturday). Operated by CDC Melbourne.
- 432 Yarraville – Newport via Altona Gate SC (every day). Operated by Sita Bus Lines.
- 431 Yarraville – Kingsville (Monday to Saturday). Operated by Sita Bus Lines.
- 472 Moonee Ponds – Williamstown via Ascot Vale, Flemington Racecourse, Footscray, North Williamstown RS (every day). Operated by Sita Bus Lines.
- 944 City – Werribee via Spotswood, Newport, Hoppers Crossing (Saturday and Sunday mornings). NightRider service, operated by Dysons.
Road
Residents of Yarraville have concern about the negative effects of the growing number of trucks using the residential streets. In 2005 the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) was set up by the local community to protest the rising number of trucks. Residents believe they cause excessive noise pollution and air pollution, threatening the health and safety of all in Yarraville.
On 5 April 2006, a large protest organised by residents and MTAG was held in a busy Yarraville intersection, calling for restrictions towards trucks. The large turnout of the protest gained press attention including all major newspapers and network television. This still continues to be a major issue in the Yarraville district.[6]
Places of worship
There are many religious organisations and places of worship in Yarraville, including Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Orthodox and Uniting Church.
Yarraville also houses the Victorian International Buddhist College and Greek Orthodox Language school.
Community
Arts and culture
The area possesses a few musical collectives including the Footscray – Yarraville City Band and the Yarraville Mouth Organ Band. The main film society in the area is the Sun Theatre, located in Yarraville Village. There is also the Yarraville Community Centre which provides a range of resources, classes, activities and services for all ages and abilities.
Yarraville Markets is held on the first Saturday & Sunday of each month. The market is held in the Masonic Hall (Corner of Willis Street & Canterbury Street Yarraville) from 10 am till 3pm. Everything sold at the market is handmade and/or Australian Made.
Festivals
The 38th annual Yarraville Festival[7] was held on Sunday, February 18th 2018 in the Yarraville Village and continues to be a major cultural event in the community. The festival caters for more than 25,000 people and is professionally operated by a team of dedicated volunteers that reside in Yarraville. Street performers, carnival amusements, art exhibitions, teddy bear picnics, fashion parades, poetry readings, market stalls and performances across many stages, provide an array of entertainment for all.
Since 2016 the annual Albanian Australian Community Festival has been held at Yarraville Gardens after relocating from Footscray park in 2015.
Sport
Swimming facilities for Yarraville residents are at the Yarraville Swim Centre, 3 Roberts Street West Footscray and at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre, Maribyrnong, located next to Highpoint Shopping Centre. The aquatic centre also provides yoga, gym facilities and other recreational activities.
There are many sporting clubs located in Yarraville such as:
- Yarraville Glory Football Club (soccer), established in 1966 and with a rich Greek and local heritage.
- Footscray Baseball Club
- Yarraville Cricket Club
- Seddon Cricket Club
- With its neighbouring suburb Yarraville has an Australian Rules football team, Yarraville-Seddon Eagles, competing in the Western Region Football League.[8] They are located at Yarraville Oval)
- Footscray Hockey Club
- Footscray Lacrosse Club
- South Park Rangers Soccer Club
- Yarraville Tennis Club
- Yarraville Trugo Club
- Footscray ANA Cricket Club
Cyclists in Yarraville are represented by MazzaBUG, the Maribyrnong Bicycle User Group.
Media
Yarraville was also the backdrop of the 1999 feature film The Wog Boy, and was mentioned in the 1992 Australian film Spotswood.
Yarraville was also the location for the Network Ten TV series ‘The Wrong Girl’. Yarraville was chosen for its unique village and inner city location.
Two free, weekly suburban newspapers are distributed in Yarraville. The Maribyrnong Leader is part of the News Corporation-owned Leader Newspapers group and The Mail is part of the Fairfax Community Newspapers Victoria. Both are distributed every Wednesday.
Education
Primary schools in the immediate Yarraville area are:
- St. Augustine's Primary School (Previously known as St. Augustine's College, Yarraville)
- Kingsville Primary School
- Wembley Primary School
- Yarraville West Primary School
Many local residents are currently campaigning for a high school to be built in the area.[9]
Notable people
- Rebecca Barnard – singer, songwriter, choir leader
- Gordon Binns - ornithologist, born in Yarraville.
- Ross Hannaford – Australian rock guitarist with Daddy Cool, The Pink Finks & The Mighty Kong (now deceased)
- Adam Hills – comedian and host of Spicks and Specks lives in Yarraville.
- Ali McGregor – opera singer, actress and cabaret performer
- Luke Mathews - Australian Olympic athlete
- Dave O'Neil – comedian, radio personality and former cub scout
- Liam Picken - Australian Rules Football Player (Western Bulldogs)
- Nicola Roxon – Former Attorney-General of Australia, Minister for Health and Member of Parliament for Gellibrand[10]
- Albert Tucker- artist, was born in Yarraville in 1919.[11]
- John A. Tully – author and historian at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia
See also
- City of Footscray – the former local government area of which Yarraville was a part
- City of Maribyrnong – the local government area of which Yarraville exists
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Yarraville (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
- Council, corporateName=Maribyrnong City. "404 Error". maribyrnong.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- Council, corporateName=Maribyrnong City. "404 Error". maribyrnong.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- "Home". metlinkmelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- Maribyrnong Truck Action Group
- http://yarravillefestival.com.au/yarraville-festival-2018-date-announcement/
- Full Points Footy, Yarraville Seddon, retrieved 15 April 2009
- "SKYHigh". skyhigh.org.au. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- Farouque, Farah. "A straight shooter". smh.com.au. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- "Albert Tucker Biography". bightoncemetery.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.