MELTON HERITAGE

By the early 1990s, residents from Vietnam, South Africa, and Malaysia were the fastest growing demographic in the shire.^[1]

As the Melton East growth corridor was being developed in this period, Melton City Council proposed to divide the area into several separate suburbs. The names of these new suburbs were chosen to reflect the history and geography of the area. Burnside was named for James and Rachel Burnside, who settled there in the 1860s. Ravenhall was the name of a former rail spur and explosives factory in the same location.^[2] Hillside, named after a local farm, was gazetted as a suburb as part of the development of East Melton and became one of the fastest growing communities.

A fourth new suburb was proposed, consisting of land adjoining Taylors Road. The Melton & District Historical Society suggested the name Stoney Park, because the area contained ‘the worst of the dry stone ground’, but the council felt this would be seen as overly negative.^[3] Instead, the suburb was named after the Mortons, a longstanding farming family in the area.^[4] This suburb later became Taylors Hill, named in 2000 for another established local family.

Caroline Springs

In the 1990s, local businessman turned developer George Gilbertson and his daughter, Christine, had a vision for a new suburb in Melton built entirely from scratch: Caroline Springs. The name was chosen for the area’s historical connection to Caroline Chisholm, a welfare worker who built shelters for diggers and their families traveling along the nearby Mt Alexander Road to the goldfields in the 1850s.^[5] By 1997, the construction of Caroline Springs was underway and the following year, the first three villages were launched: Chisholm Park, Brookside and Springlake. The first block of land sold for $53,000 and residents began moving in.^[6]

By 2011, the population of Caroline Springs had grown to 20,366 people and the area boasted 10 schools, a police station, civic centre, library, retirement village, shopping complex, multiple recreation facilities, childcare facilities, and a wide range of community groups and events.^[7] The final allotments of land were released for sale in 2011 and after 14 years of growth, developers and residents celebrated the successful completion of the project.^[8]

The story continues

Today, 130 different nations are represented amongst the City of Melton’s population, including India, the Philippines, New Zealand, Malta and Vietnam. Recent migrants from African and Asian countries make up a significant proportion of new residents.^[11]

Another vital part of this vibrant multicultural mix is the diverse group of First Nations residents who call Melton home and who maintain ongoing custodianship of the land. Some are part of the three Traditional Owner groups of the Kulin Nation, while others belong to other nations and clans from across Australia. Protected cultural heritage sites such as the Bullum Bullum camp site in Burnside continue to provide crucial cultural links to the land.^[12]

Over the decades, Melton has been defined by continual expansion. With each new era, the community grew and shifted and its needs changed. As new neighbourhoods appeared fresh challenges arose, the council and community, as well as individuals within the municipality, have risen to meet them. Today, the City of Melton is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia, home to more than 185,000 people and with a forecasted population of 485,000 by 2051.^[14] With continued care, thoughtful development and community commitment, Melton is sure to continue on its journey as a city that always looks to the future.