Suburb Profile - South Morang · Ristic Real Estate

Suburb Profile - South Morang

South Morang is located 23 kilometres northeast of Melbourne’s city centre and covers an area of approximately 19 square kilometres.

Before the arrival of European explorers and farmers, the area now called South Morang was inhabited by the Wurundjeri balug and Wurundjeri Willam clans. In 1824, William Hovell and Hamilton Hume were the first Europeans to set foot in what is now the City of Whittlesea. On 14 December 1824, they wrote in their journals:

“Having passed through the first plain… myself and Mr Hume ascended a high but single hill. In front we saw a very gratifying sight. This was a very extensive plain extending from west to south east for several miles, level but in parts some hills arose of a conical shape, with only here and there a few trees upon them. And all the soil of best quality.”

John Batman, the explorer responsible for founding the settlement on the Yarra River (later to become the City Of Melbourne), settled his pastoral group in South Morang in the 1830’s. By 1840, the area was owned by rich landowners. By the 1850s, the area was used for farming. Lots of evidence of the farming, such as dry stone walls, can still be seen today. In 1852, William Ford Cleeland bought 256 hectares and sundivided and sold the land, doubling his money. Individual land holdings have decreased in size over time. European settlement started from 1870s with the post office opening in November 1873 followed by the first primary school in 1877.

The railway from Melbourne to here was finished in 1889. The old South Morang railway station served the Whittlesea steam railway line until the 1950s. It was further north than the current station.

In 2015 there were an estimated 21,000 people living in South Morang with a 9 per cent increase forecast by 2036 to 23,100. In 2015, 25 per cent of residents were aged between 35 to 49 years.

Schools, Kindergartens and Child Care

Planning and development

The Planned developments within South Morang:

Council is advocating to the state government to invest in a Civic Precinct on the Civic Centre at Ferres Boulevard that potentially includes:

Magistrates’ Court
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal
County Court
Victoria Police
Community Correctional Services
Social services, non-government agencies, businesses and residential development
Extension of the South Morang train line to Mernda – total cost of $600 million
Extend of the number 86 tram line from RMIT University Bundoora to the South Morang Transport Hub and then through The Lakes Boulevard to join with Plenty Road.
Completion of Findon Road between Williamsons Road and Gorge Road in order to ease current traffic congestion and dangerous traffic conditions. Findon Road is the only planned main east-west arterial road north of the Metropolitan Ring Road.

The South Morang Local Structure Plan (1997) guides development within the South Morang area, but can be subject to change. READ IT HERE

Population

In 2015 there is an estimated 21,000 people living in South Morang with a 9 per cent increase forecast by 2036 to 23,100. In 2015, 25 per cent of residents are aged between 35 to 49 years. The number of people aged 50 plus is expected to almost double by 2036.

Births

It is estimated there will be 386 births in South Morang in 2015 (7 births per week on average) and by 2036 this is expected to decrease to 357 births per year (6 births per week on average).

Diversity

The most common languages spoken other than English are Macedonian, Italian and Greek and the most common countries-of-birth other than Australia include India, Italy and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Families and households

In 2014 there are 6,831 dwellings. This is expected to increase to 8,244 dwellings by 2036 with around half of all households consisting of couples with children (51 per cent).

Employment

The most common types of occupation are clerical and administrative workers (18 per cent), with more residents working in manufacturing and retail than any other industry.

Education

There are proportionally more residents who are attending school (primary, secondary and pre-school) compared with the broader population of Greater Melbourne (21 per cent versus 16 per cent).

Travelling in and out

About 70 per cent of households have access to 2 or more vehicles with residents more likely to drive a car to work, compared with the broader population of Greater Melbourne (74 per cent).

Advocacy priorities for South Morang

Council is advocating for the state government to duplicate Plenty Road from Riverdale Boulevard to Bridge Inn Road and install traffic lights at Plenty Road and Bridge Inn Road, Mernda.

Westfield are currently develop an entertainment and leisure precinct at their Plenty Valley shopping centre.

The new development is occurring at the western end of the centre, close to South Morang Train Station.
Once completed the precinct will include:

Redevelopment works are expected to be completed by early 2018. More info here

Sources:

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