Notting Hill History

Wilkinson's Bakery on the Southwest corner of Ferntree Gully Road and Blackburn Road, 1888


The Notting Hill History Project is underway. As part of the opening of the Neighbourhood Centre there will be an exhibition on the history of the estate. The items for the display are being collected with the assistance of a grant from the Local History Grants Program.

A little on our history. Originally our suburb was known as Barkers Hill, MJ Barker being an early resident in the district but was renamed when a settler by the name of Thomas Wilkinson setup camp in the area because of his association with Notting Hill in London (although this is disputed as he actually came from Lincolnshire).
He was a Cobb & Co carrier of both parcels and passengers between Prahran and Ferntree Gully and in the late 1870s his house became the Half Way House Hotel (now the Notting Hill Pub) as a source of refreshment on their journey through the area, and finally he then became postmaster at the Notting Hill Post Office.
Within our estate, there was a creek called ‘Mile Creek West’ which had two branches at the northern end crossing over Ferntree Gully Rd joining into a main section which ran south along side the primary school’s eastern boundary and
continued on. These branches of creeks came from the southern boundary within the well known ‘Thomas Napier’s Historical Scotchmans Creek Grazing Run’.
The local aboriginal tribe from our area where called ‘Boonoorong’. Research indicates that the name of one of our avenues ‘Akuna’, draws from the Koori name meaning ‘Clear Water’.
Historically, the people from Notting Hill,when gathered together, have strong voices and have paved the way in several aspects. They were heard through many channels of both Council & Education Departments.
Our estate was and is known as Westerfield and was Australia’s first completely pre-planned neighbourhood by AV Jennings in the late 1950s, and early 60’s with approximately 8 different house plans to choose from - designed to provide modern living in a complete community with a character and atmosphere of distinction.

Recent House Auction Action in Notting Hill

Recently this house on Westerfield sold at auction for $457,250 after some energetic and spirited bidding.
Apart from a free Saturday morning's entertainment what does this mean for local house values - any ideas or thoughts?

Appearing in Your Letterbox Soon - The Latest Notting Hill News

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Notting Hill News Part 2

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In the News: Planning Backlash

High density apartment developments encroaching Notting Hill with an appetite for the school grounds next


FROM Camberwell to Moonee Ponds, normally sedate and polite people are joining a movement that could eventually mean trouble for the Bracks Government.
John Masanauskas May 07, 2007 12:00am Herald Sun

These unlikely suburban warriors are opposed to Melbourne 2030 -- a plan to fit more than one million extra people into the city over the next 20 years. Under the plan, much of the growth should occur in so-called activity centres, high-rise apartments built around transport and business hubs.
The best known proposal involves Camberwell station, mainly because of high-profile opponents Geoffrey Rush and Barry Humphries.
For members of protest group Planning Backlash, the big issue is that many developers are destroying neighbourhoods by over-developing existing residential sites.
Ann Reid, from Malvern East, said replacing single house blocks with multi-unit and dual occupancy developments was making people angry.
"There's more traffic congestion, a loss of open space, loss of trees and loss of neighbourhood character," she said. "This dogma of growth is destroying the suburbs."
Marion Quartly, from Notting Hill, said residents were concerned two public schools that were closed were being replaced by hundreds of houses.
Monash University demographer Dr Bob Birrell said building approval figures showed the Government's plan to move people into activity centre apartments wasn't working. He said the apartments were too expensive, and more than a third of dwellings now built in Melbourne comprised so-called opportunistic in-fill.
"This is where an existing house is demolished and replaced with several units or a unit is built in the backyard of an existing home. It's fundamentally changing the nature of suburbia, but in-fill is not discussed in Melbourne 2030 at all."

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From BRAG

Locals Begin the Revegetation of the Wetland

On Saturday locals joined together to begin the revegetation of the wetland area in Notting Hill. With the help of Monash University ground staff who prepared the ground native plants were put in to create a new bushland areas around the small dam.
More planting will occur as we raise further funds to pay for more plants.





And a little clean up of the rubbish in the area too. Old thongs and plastic anyone?

Followed by coffee and scones all round