TIMELINE FOR FLEMINGTON AND KENSINGTON
Year / Mon / Day / Event / Source1803 / - / - / Charles Grimes, Surveyor-General of NSW, travelled up the Saltwater (Maribyrnong) River and described the lands surrounding Flemington as being rich pasture, suitable for grazing sheep and cattle. / FKN85
1803 / - / - / James Fleming wrote in his journal of an exploratory trip up the Saltwater River, reporting that the land had “stony soil, stiff blue clay and no trees only some straggling oaks by the side of the river.” / MB
1835 / - / - / John Batman navigated the Saltwater River and claimed the land by treaty from the DouttaGalla tribe of Aborigines. / FKN85
1836 / - / - / Joseph Tice Gellibrand described the Saltwater River as “most beautiful”, with theland “very rich and consists of a succession of gentle hills and dales.” / MB
1840 / 3 / 03 / The first race meeting was held at Saltwater River Flat Racecourse (later known as Flemington Racecourse). / MB, FKN85
1847 / 12 / 08 / James Watson purchased from the Crown the tract of land that is now Flemington for £782 15s and 6p. / MB
1847 / - / - / The Rose and Thorn Hotel (later the Cricket Club Hotel and then the Vincent Liem Centre) opened opposite the Flemington Hotel. / MB
1848 / 3 / 07 / Flemington Hotel was licensed by James Dunbar. / EOM
1849 / - / - / James Watson sold the tract of land that is now Flemington to William Easey. / MB
1850 / - / - / The first of many annual Gymnastic Games held at Flemington Racecourse. / MB
1851 / - / - / Gold was discovered in Victoria. Mount Alexander Road, starting from Flemington Bridge was subsequently the beginning of the journey to Mount Alexander (Castlemaine) and the goldfields around Bendigo. / EOM
1853 / - / - / Hugh Glass paid William Easey £4,100 for the land now bordered by Racecourse Road, Ascot Vale Road, Kent Street and the Tullamarine Freeway / MB
1853 / 12 / 5 / A school began in a small cottage in Flemington village, moving the next year to a new school room and teacher’s residence next to Flemington Bridge, before being forced to close in 1858. / FKCS
1854 / - / - / Common School 250 opened on Hugh Glass’s property. / MB
1854 / - / - / The Victorian Parliament passed an Act to Prevent Further Pollution of the Waters of the River Yarra above the City of Melbourne, resulting in industries moving to Flemington and Kensington. / MB
1854 / - / - / Ad hoc postal services commenced in Flemington. / MB
1854 / 1 / 01 / The first school in the Flemington district was opened by the Independent Church on Boundary Road, with 42 students, and was later known as Flemington State School No.258. / FKCS
1856 / - / - / The Wesleyan Church opened in makeshift quarters on Mount Alexander Road, later becoming known as “Little Zion”. / MB
1856 / - / - / The Kensington Methodists granted a reserve facing Parsons Street for a church. / FKCS
1858 / 12 / 01 / Flemington National School opened, operating under this name until 1862. / FKN85
1858 / - / - / Newmarket Hotel was built. / MB
1859 / - / - / The stockyards were moved to Newmarket. / EOM, MB
1860 / - / - / The North Melbourne to Essendon Railway opened. / MB, FKN85
1860s / - / - / The saleyards at Elizabeth Street were moved to the Newmarket site. / FKN85
1861 / 12 / 23 / Borough of Essendon was proclaimed, following a petition from Essendon, Flemington and Kensington residents. / FKN85
1861 / - / - / The building of the abattoirs commenced. / FKN85, MB
1861 / - / - / The first Melbourne Cup was run at the Racecourse. / FKN85
1861 / - / - / Flemington and Kensington had a population of 1,291, with 265 houses or dwellings. / MB
1862 / 1 / 25 / The Borough of Essendon and Flemington was proclaimed. / MB
1862 / - / - / Flemington House, the home of Hugh Glass, was completed. / MB
1862 / - / - / Flemington National School changed its name to Flemington Common School, retaining this name until 1872. / MB
1864 / - / - / The Flemington to Essendon Railway Line failed as an enterprise, with the rail line not used again until 1867. / MB
1865 / - / - / Flemington’s first regular mail service began. / MB, FKN85
1865 / - / - / The Wesleyan Church was built on Mount Alexander Road, with funds from Hugh Glass, with the old church moved from its site to the back of the new church. / MB
1865 / - / - / Lynch’s Bridge was in existence. / FKN85
1865 / - / - / Flemington had a total of 99 dwellings. / MB
1865 / - / - / The Prince Albert Hotel was built on Racecourse Road. / MVCCHS98
1866 / - / - / The Ridge was built on the Ridgeway, Kensington, by Edward Byam Wight, the first chair of the Borough of Essendon and Flemington. / MB
1867 / - / - / The state government bought the Essendon Railway Line, commencing a branch line to the Racecourse. / MB
1867 / - / - / Melbourne Corporation offices opened at the saleyards. / MB
1868 / - / - / Hugh Glass was paid £150 by Flemington Common School for land on which to build a new school. / MB
1868 / - / - / The new Flemington Bridge opened (Argus article Thur 16 July 1868). / Argus
1870s / - / - / Drainage of the West Melbourne swamps, allowing the land around Melbourne and Kensington to be used for industry and housing / MB
1870 / - / - / The Pastoral Hotel opened. / MB
1871 / - / - / The National Agricultural Society of Victoria held its first show on the old ground near the barracks in St Kilda Road. / FKN85
1871 / - / - / The branch line to Flemington Racecourse opened and was used for the Melbourne Cup. / MB
1871 / - / - / The Victorian Racing Club took control over the Flemington Racecourse. / MB
1872 / - / - / Hugh Glass died. / MB
1872 / 1 / - / The property of Hugh Glass was subdivided. / MB
1872 / - / - / A Catholic Church reserve was set aside at Church Street. / MB
1873 / - / - / Flemington Common School changed its name to Flemington State School, retaining this name until 1924.
1873 / 1 / 21 / Local landowners Wight and Coote attempted to establish a school in Kensington, but this was rejected, with another application lodged on 28 May 1875. / FTISOR
1875 / - / - / The government abolished road tolls, despite municipal protest (including tolls on Flemington and Macaulay Roads). / FKN85
1876 / - / - / Telegraph facilities were introduced. / FKN85
1876 / - / - / St George’s Anglican Church was built at Royal Park. / MB
1876 / - / - / Debney’s Tannery moved to its Mount Alexander Road site from Boundary Road, North Melbourne. / MB
1879 / 5 / 10 / The first major land sale occurred in Kensington, with well-known racing identity “Sam” P Davies purchasing land on the corner of Racecourse Road and Rankins Road (building the Palace Hotel within a few years). / FKCS
1880 / 7 / 28 / A decision was made to erect Kensington School, to accommodate 228 pupils. / FTISOR
1881 / 5 / 16 / Kensington Street School began in a building of 3 rooms, with a total enrolment of 228 children and 6 staff, costing £1,636. / FTISOR, FKN85, FKCS
1881 / - / - / The population of Flemington and Kensington was estimated to be just less than 2,000. / MB
1881 / - / - / Residents of Flemington and Kensington commenced revolting against the Borough of Essendon and Flemington. / MB
1881 / - / - / Flemington Meat Preserving Works commenced operations on a site on the Bagotville Estate close to the Showgrounds. / FKCS
1881 / - / - / The Catholic Church purchased land in Church Street on the corner of High Street for a church. / FKCS
1882 / - / - / The Colonial Bank in Rankins Road opened. / FKN85
1882 / - / - / Kensington Methodists were established in a small wooden church. / FKCS
1882 / 3 / 14 / Official severance of Flemington and Kensington from the Essendon and Flemington Council, with the Borough of Flemington and Kensington subsequently formed. / FKN85
1882 / - / - / 307 ratepayers were on the roll from Flemington and Kensington. / MB
1883 / - / - / Flemington and Kensington had a population of 1,811.
1883 / 6 / 20 / Flemington and Kensington Library opened. / FKN85
1883 / 12 / 21 / First Agricultural Show at Ascot Vale during the Melbourne Cup week. / FKN85
1883 / - / - / St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church congregation commenced, after being initiated by Marie Urie, daughter of James Urie, mayor of Flemington and Kensington, with the first services in the Flemington and Kensington Hall on Racecourse Road. / FKCS, MB
1884 / - / - / Flemington and Kensington Council floated its first loan of $15,000, all spent on street-making. / FKN85
1884 / - / - / Additions to Kensington Street School completed. / FKN85
1886 / - / - / Flemington and Kensington had a population of 4,825. / MB
1886 / 7 / 04 / St Brendan’s Church opened. / FKN85
1886 / - / - / Council elections included a plebiscite on relocating the saleyards, with 532 (a 2-1 majority) voting for the relocation. / MB
1887 / 3 / - / West Bourke Times (the only local newspaper from the 19th Century) was founded by FS Neale, with the offices located on Racecourse Road between Pridham and Eastwood Streets, appearing to close in 1909. / MB
1887 / 11 / - / Holy Trinity, Kensington opened its church. / FKCS
1888 / - / - / St Stephen’s Church’s foundation stone was laid, with a commemorative coin struck by James Urie. / MB
1888 / - / - / Flemington Kensington Bowling Green opened. / MB
1888 / - / - / Kensington Skating rink (ice-skating) opened on the corner of Rankins Road and Smith Street. / FKCS, MB
1888 / - / - / The new Flemington Post Office was designed. / MB
1889 / - / - / Construction started on the new Flemington Post Office. / FKN85
1889 / - / - / A Royal Commission into sanitary conditions in Melbourne heard the idea that the Saleyards and abattoirs be moved to another site. / FKN85
1889 / - / - / Land for the Post Office was purchased for £200. / MB
1890 / - / - / Flemington and Kensington had a population of 9,069. / MB
1890 / - / - / Construction completed on the new Flemington Post Office, having started in 1889. / MB, FKN85
1890 / - / - / A timber Catholic School (St Brendan’s) and brick Catholic Church were built, under the control of the Sisters of Charity. / MB
1890 / - / - / NZ Loan and Mercantile Company moved its wool and grain stores to Kensington. / FKCS
1891 / - / - / Flemington Court House and Police Station were both completed. / MB
1892 / - / - / Land in Bellair Street was purchased for building the new Flemington and Kensington Town Hall. / MB
1892 / 11 / 09 / Flemington-Kensington Bowling Club opened (Essendon Gazette, Thu 10 Nov 1892). / EG
1892 / - / - / The model working man’s cottage was constructed at 17 Lee Street by the YarraYarraBowkett Building Society. / MB
1894 / - / - / The Victorian Racing Club fenced Flemington Racecourse off from locals, who had earlier used the grounds as their greatest recreational reserve. / MB
1898 / - / - / Melbourne City Council took over control of the operations of the saleyards from a lessee (during that year 1,301,011 sheep and 91,635 cattle were sold). / MB
1901 / - / - / Flemington and Kensington Town Hall was completed, at a cost of £6,000. / FKN85
1901 / - / - / A by-law was passed by the Flemington and Kensington Council to make it illegal to drive livestock through Flemington and Kensington between 8am and 10pm. / MB
1902 / - / - / The creation of “A Greater Melbourne” was proposed. / MB
1902 / - / - / Holy Rosary Church, Kensington, began in Derby Street, later moving to a brick church on the corner of Ormond Street. / FKCS
1904 / 1 / - / Kimptons Flour Mills burned down. / FKN85
1905 / 6 / 25 / Ratepayers of Flemington and Kensington voted 771 to 348 in favour of unification with Melbourne. / MB
1905 / 10 / 30 / Flemington and Kensington together with North Melbourne became part of the City of Melbourne, under the title of Hopetown Ward. / FKN85, EOM
1905 / 6 / 22 / Essendon and Flemington Tramway had its first rails laid by Premier Bent. / FKN85
1906 / - / - / Saltwater River’s name was changed to the Maribyrnong River, upon request of Essendon River League. / MB
1906 / - / - / A plebiscite was conducted on trams, with 2,874 for and 146 against. / MB
1906 / - / - / Flemington State School formed a cadet corp. / MB
1907 / - / - / Minifecs Flour Mills was built. / FKN85
1907 / - / - / 2,016,301 sheep and 106,248 cattle were sold at the Newmarketsaleyards. / MB
1908 / - / - / Street lighting started the change to electrification. / FKN85
1909 / - / - / Debney’s Tannery was destroyed by fire, with Melbourne City Council later creating a tip on the site. / EOM
1909 / - / - / Convent of Mercy and Teachers’ Training College commenced in “Ailsa”, the mansion on Mount Alexander Road (demolished in the 1970s). / FKCS
1910 / - / - / Flemington House was purchased by John Madden, lawyer and horse breeder. / MB
1910 / - / - / A new brick infant school opened on Wellington Street, with the senior school built in 1914 next door. / FKCS
1910 / - / - / JJ Holland took over the secretariat of the Flemington-Kensington ALP branch from PercClarey. / MB
1912 / - / - / Wights Hill (the area bounded by Epsom and Footscray Roads) was divided up for housing. / FKN85
1912 / - / - / Sisters of Mercy took over the Sisters of Charity at St Brendan’s School. / MB
1913 / 11 / 1 / Newmarket Theatre opened (possibly on 31.10.13), run by the Newmarket Picture Theatre Ltd, incorporated on 13.09.12 (including local butcher William Pridham and local printer George Brown). The theatre was later known locally as “the Flea House”. / MB, FKN85
1914 / - / - / St Brendan’s School was completed, construction having started in 1913. / MB
1915 / - / - / Holy Rosary School started. / FKCS
1916 / - / - / There were conscription campaigns (for and against) at the Kensington Town Hall in 1916 and 1917. / FTISOR
1916 / - / - / Melbourne Cup was postponed due to flooding. / FKN85
1917 / - / - / Boy Scouts started in Kensington. / FKN85
1918 / 10 / 06 / The first electric train ran from Newmarket to Flemington Racecourse. / FKN85
1918 / - / - / The Travancore Estate was subdivided. / MB
1919 / - / - / Kensington Town Hall was used as a hospital during the influenza epidemic. / FTISOR
1923 / 9 / 15 / 88 passengers were injured when two trams collided on Mount Alexander Road, Flemington (Argus, Mon 17 Sep 1923). / Argus
1923 / - / - / St Brendan’s Church was completed. / MB
1924 / - / - / Park View, Racecourse Road, was completed. / EOM
1925 / - / - / St George’s Anglican Church moved to its new church on Baroda Street from Royal Park. / MB
1925 / - / - / Final lots were subdivided at Travancore. / MB
1925 / - / - / The tramline along Mount Alexander Road was extended from Flemington Bridge to the new West Coburg route along Abbotsford Street, ending the 500m walk to the interchange. / MB
1925 / - / - / Flemington School of Domestic Arts opened on the site of the Flemington National School, retaining this name until 1937.
1926 / - / - / Travancore Mansion (Hugh Glass’s former Flemington House) was sold to the state government. / MB
1926 / - / - / Melbourne Town Planning Commission recommended that the saleyards and abattoirs be moved to Derrimot (near Werribee). / FKN85
1928 / - / - / Holy Rosary Church commenced being built in Gower Street, Kensington. / FKCS
1932 / - / - / Flemington-Kensington Returned Services League (RSL) formed. / MB
1933 / - / - / Travancore Mansion (Flemington House) was officially opened as a residential special school and outpatients clinic for mentally retarded children. / MB
1937 / - / - / Flemington School of Domestic Arts changed its name to Flemington Girls School. / MB
1939 / - / - / Pumps were installed near Macaulay Bridge to alleviate the problem of flooding around the Moonee Ponds Creek. / MB
1939 / - / - / Arthur Calwell, future Federal Member for Melbourne and ALP Leader, returned to live in Flemington, residing in Baroda Street, Travancore (where he lived for the rest of his life). / MB
1941 / - / - / The Debney family sold the area called Debney’s Paddock to Melbourne City Council for £99,832. / MB
1941 / 3 / - / Melbourne City Council promised to create a recreation space on Debney’s Paddock. / MB
1943 / - / - / Travancore Home for Children (the former Flemington House) was emptied and used as a hospital for about 300 US serviceman. / MB
1944 / - / - / 6,206,550 sheep passed through the NewmarketSaleyards. / MB
1945 / - / - / Travancore Mansion (Flemington House) was demolished. / MB
1946 / - / - / Burge Brothers Factory, Racecourse Road, was completed. / EOM
1950s / - / - / Land and properties bought by compulsory order by the state government in the area surrounding Derby Street, Kensington. / FKN85
1951 / - / - / 700 residents petitioned Melbourne City Council asking it to implement its existing plan to make Debney’s Paddock a sports ground. / MB
1953 / - / - / The Victorian government decided upon the ultimate removal of the saleyards and abattoirs. / FKN85
1955 / - / - / JJ Holland, who held the seat of Flemington in the Victorian Parliament for the previous 25 years, died. / MB
1957 / - / - / The Housing Commission announced that walk-up flats would be built at Debney’s Park, conducting an inquiry. / MB
1958 / - / - / Houses on Victoria Street were demolished to make way for the walk-up flats, with protests and some local outcry. / MB
1959 / 1 / 31 / The last movie was screened at the Newmarket Theatre (“Flea House”). / MB
1959 / 4 / - / The Newmarket Theatre reopened as Vesuvio, showing Italian movies until June 1960. / MB
1960 / 11 / - / The Newmarket Theatre operated as a dance hall until February 1962. / MB
1962 / - / - / The Newmarket Theatre operated as a wedding reception centre until early 1964, with the internal theatre demolished during June/July 1964. / MB
1964 / - / - / The Australian Ballet School was established on Mount Alexander Road. / MB, FKN85
1964 / - / - / The Holland Park flats were built (walk ups in Altona and Derby Streets, Kensington). / FKN85
1965 / - / - / The Holland Court high-rise housing estate commenced being built. / MB, FKN85
1968 / Flemington and Kensington Library was opened on Racecourse Road. / FKN85
1970 / - / - / St Stephen’s Church was burned down. / MB
1971 / - / - / Flemington Post Office receives a “C” classification rating from the National Trust. / FKN85
1975 / 4 / - / The Kensington Community Health Centre was established, after petitions and lobbying, driven by a Mrs Bryant (with a Flemington Centre opened in 1978). / MB
1975 / - / - / A Joint Parliamentary Select Committee reported that the Saleyards and abattoir should be phased out by 1984. / FKN85
1975 / - / - / Debney Meadows Primary School was opened, with 575 children enrolling (the majority hailing from Turkey, followed by Yugoslavia). / MB
1976 / - / - / Language classes for children from Turkish and Chinese families started at Debney Meadows Primary School, stopping after a few years. / MB
1978 / - / - / The Flemington News, a community newspaper, started, later called The Flemington Kensington News. / MB
1978 / 9 / - / Flemington Community Health Centre opened in the Presbyterian Church manse on Wellington Street before moving to 40 Shields Street. / MB
1970s / - / - / Macaulay Community Credit Cooperative Ltd was formed in the late 1970s. / MB
1980 / - / - / Flemington Kensington Legal Service was established, in large part due to the efforts of local MLA for Flemington, Neil Cole. / MB
1982 / - / - / The Flemington Tenants Association was formed, with the impetus being “the dilapidated conditions on the Flemington estate”. / MB
1983 / - / - / The Lynch’s Bridge Project (regarding the redevelopment of the saleyards, abattoirs and surrounds) began. / MB, FKN85
1984 / - / - / Flemington Community Enterprises (FCE) was formed, as an umbrella organisation for High Rise Security Services and North West Conveyancing Services, to reduce unemployment in Flemington. / MB
1985 / - / - / The abattoirs site was rezoned. / EOM
1985 / 10 / - / The Freeway Link Action Group (FLAG) began lobbying against the proposed western bypass. / MB
1990 / 7 / - / The Women’s Peace Garden in Epsom Road, Kensington was completed. / FKN
KEY TO SOURCES
FKN85Flemington/Kensington News Vol.1, No.2, 24 May 1985
EOMEncyclopedia of Melbourne
MBMarcus Breen,
FTISORFlemington: Town in the Shadow of a Racecourse
FKCSFlemington Kensington Conservation Study
MVCCHS98Moonee Valley City Council Heritage Study 1998
ArgusArgus Newspaper
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