History Essendon, Victoria

bill prescott designed grecian temple-style mansion earlsbrae hall frederick grey in 1890.

essendon , banks of maribyrnong river inhabited wurundjeri clan of woiwurrung speaking people of kulin aboriginal nation.

in 1803 charles grimes , james fleming first known european explorers maribyrnong area.

essendon named after village of essendon in hertfordshire, england. richard green, arrived in victoria in 1850s , settled near melbourne, native of essendon, hertfordshire, father isaac green either owner or tenant of essendon mill, , bestowed name of native village on district in had made new home.

in 1851 gold rush opened moonee ponds district miners travelling along mount alexander road castlemaine.

essendon post office opened on 18 august 1856.

in 1862 169 residents sought formation of borough of essendon , flemington.

on 9 january 1871, victorian railways services began between essendon , melbourne, following unsuccessful private railway operating 1860 until 1864.

in 1880s, local council resisted industrial development in form of cattle saleyards , brickworks, out of concern pollution of maribyrnong river. instead embarked on program create, in upper reaches, playground rowers, fishermen , swimmers.

in 1890, large mansion built in town. designed eminent architect r.a. lawson , built @ cost of £35,000. known earslbrae hall, home of collier mccracken, member of local brewing family. building houses lowther hall anglican grammar school.

in 1906 north melbourne electric tramway , lighting company opened electric tramway system linking essendon city. company supplied electric power neighbouring suburbs power station on mount alexander road, near intersection south street.