Bundoora Melbourne, Victoria
Aerial view of Bundoora, 2017
Bundoora Location in metropolitan Melbourne
Coordinates	37°41′42″S 145°03′50″E / 37.695°S 145.064°E / -37.695; 145.064
Population	28,068 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	1,870/km2 (4,850/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3083
Area	15 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
Location	15 km (9 mi) NE of Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Banyule City of Darebin City of Whittlesea
State electorate(s)	Bundoora
Federal division(s)	Cooper Jagajaga Scullin
Suburbs around Bundoora: Lalor Mill Park Greensborough Plenty Reservoir Thomastown Bundoora Watsonia Watsonia North Kingsbury Heidelberg West Macleod

Bundoora is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 km (9.3 mi) north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District,^[2] located within the Cities of Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea local government areas. Bundoora recorded a population of 28,068 at the 2021 census.^[1]

Bundoora is the headquarters of La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) also has a campus situated in Bundoora.

History

The Bundoora area was originally inhabited by the Kurnaj-berring tribe of the Wurundjeri clan. Prior to European settlement, there were several large wetlands that were utilised by members of the Kurnaj-berring tribe.^[3]

Bundoora Farm and Cafe from above, June 2023

Europeans first arrived in the Bundoora area, known at the time as the Parish of Keelbundora, in 1835. The land for surveyed in 1837 by William Wedge-Drake, to allow for the sale of land. The land has previously been owned by members of the Port Phillip Association, such as John Batman, who grazed their sheep there without regard for the Wurundjeri clan. The land was subsequently auctioned in Melbourne in 1838, with Bundoora being sectioned off into two areas of approximately 400 hectares. The land was purchased by well-off individuals and land speculators, who resold the land within a few months, this time in blocks of 40 to 120 hectares (100 to 300 acres). It was primarily used for sheep grazing and grain production.^[3]

Bundoora Post Office opened on 1 October 1863.^[4]

In 1899, John Matthew Vincent Smith, a well known horse breeder, purchased a 242-hectare (600-acre) property known as "Bundoora Park". The property was used to raise racing horses. A competition was held in the same year to design a homestead for the property. Sydney Herbert Wilson, who designed the Malvern Town Hall, claimed the prize of 50 pounds. The Bundoora Homestead^[5] remains a significant example of Queen Anne style Federation architecture.^[6]

The Floridia Cheese Company was formed in 1955 by the Montalto family, after purchasing a small factory in Bundoora.^[7]

Geography

Aerial panorama of Bundoora from above, facing the Melbourne skyline, June 2023

Bundoora is a very large suburb, spanning from Preston in its south-west, up to Plenty in the north-east, and covering three local government areas. Bundoora is home to Mount Cooper, located within Bundoora Park, a large (180ha) public park, and is often claimed to be Metropolitan Melbourne's highest point.

Bundoora is situated on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people, and the name "Bundoora" is derived from "Kelbundoora", the name of a 19th-century Wurundjeri man.^[8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, there were 28,653 people in Bundoora.

• The most common ancestries in Bundoora were English 14.8%, Australian 14.2%, Chinese 12.4%, Italian 9.6% and Irish 5.5%.
• 54.3% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 10.2%, India 3.4%, Italy 2.3%, Greece 2.0% and Sri Lanka 1.9%.
• 50.2% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 11.0%, Italian 4.1%, Greek 3.7%, Macedonian 3.3% and Arabic 3.1%.
• The most common responses for religion were Catholic 27.1%, No Religion 27.0% and Eastern Orthodox 9.3%.^[9]

Local sites

Historic Bundoora Homestead and Art Gallery

• Big Daddys, a well-known pizza establishment, originated in Bundoora, and was the protagonist in the Melbourne $5 Pizza Wars of the early 2000s. It has now been bought-out by the Pizza franchise Domino's.
• Although, technically in Thomastown, the Bundoora All-Weather Market was until recently a major Melbourne market. This market has been demolished and replaced by a homemaker centre.
• Greensborough Lanes is a bowling alley that, despite its name, is located in Bundoora.
• University Hill is a business park home to the Australian Headquarters of Continental AG, NOVA iT GROUP and Bundoora BMW with many others, and a Hotel to serve visitors to the area.
• Uni Hill Factory Outlets, a DFO-style discount shopping mall, was opened at University Hill in November 2008. It was originally known as Brand Junction.

Education

Health Sciences Building, La Trobe University

La Trobe University Bundoora Campus aerial panorama, facing south towards the city skyline, September 2023

• La Trobe University, established in 1964, is Victoria's third university, with Bundoora being the location of its flagship campus.
• RMIT University's Bundoora West Campus is located at the terminus of the tramline. Further down the road is the East Campus area, home of RMIT's Wind Tunnel.^[10] It is also home of the RMIT University Sports Statistics Research Group.
• Bundoora Secondary College is a coeducational public secondary school.
• Parade College is a Catholic independent secondary school for boys .
• Loyola College is a Catholic independent secondary school in the Ignatian tradition, bordering Bundoora and Watsonia.
• The Concord School, for students with additional learning needs.
• Northside Christian College
• Norris Bank Primary School
• Bundoora Primary School is Victorian school no.1915, currently located at Balmoral Avenue, Bundoora.^[11][12] The original school was built in 1877 and located at 222 Plenty Road, Bundoora.^[13] This building is now the home of Nino Child Care Centre.^[14]
• St Damian's Catholic Primary School

Healthcare

• Northpark Private Hospital
• Bundoora Extended Care Centre, part of the Northern Health Network. A sub acute hospital providing medical care for over 100 inpatients and community outpatients.
• La Trobe Private Hospital

Transport

Sport

• Bundoora has a football team competing in the Northern Football League.^[32]
• Golfers play at the Bundoora Park Public Course on Plenty Road,^[33] at the course of the Strathallan Golf Club on Main Drive^[34] or at the course of the Kings Park Golf Club on Plenty Road.^[35]
• Bundoora is also home to the Bundoora Brumbies Baseball Club, with the club competing in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League in B and D grade division, with reserves teams in both B reserve and D reserve. The club also has a Women's team that competes in the Baseball Victoria Summer League Women's section.
• The City Football Academy, administrative and training headquarters of A-League club Melbourne City FC is located in Bundoora, adjacent to the La Trobe University main campus.
• The Home of the Matildas, the administrative and training headquarters of the Australia women's national football team and A-League Women club Melbourne Victory FC is located in Bundoora, adjacent to the La Trobe University main campus.
• The Victorian Rugby Centre of Excellence, which serves as the home ground of Melbourne Rebels Women and where Rugby Victoria's administration, sport development programs and high-performance training is based, is located in Bundoora, adjacent to the La Trobe University main campus.

Facilities

Nearby libraries include Watsonia Library, Diamond Valley Library and Mill Park Library, which are operated by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.

Notable residents

• Clinton McKay – Australian cricketer
• Gotye – an Australian musician who studied at Parade College.
• Pseudo Echo – a pop music band
• Peter Helliar – comedian
• James Wharton – an Australian racing driver

Books on Bundoora

Kenna, Len In the Beginning there was only the land Bundoora, Vic. Lions Club of Bundoora, 1988 ISBN 0731623177

See also

• City of Preston – Parts of Bundoora were previously within this former local government area.
• Shire of Diamond Valley – Parts of Bundoora were previously within this former local government area.
• Electoral district of Bundoora

References

• Australias First Microsoft Centre
• Bundora Homestead History

External links

• Australian Places – Bundoora