Glenroy is located in the northwest of the City of Merri-bek, and is bounded by the Western Ring Road in the north, the Moonee Ponds Creek in the west, New Road, Victoria Street and Rhodes Parade in the south and West Street, Hilton Street, Box Forest Road and the Upfield railway line in the east.
Prominent features include the private Northern Golf Club, a major retail district centred on the Glenroy railway station and the Northern Memorial Park extension to the Fawkner General Cemetery.
History
The area was originally home to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, before British colonisation and settlement of the Melbourne area started in 1835.
The Glenroy Estate bounded by the Moonee Ponds Creek, Camp Road, the Northern Golf Club (inclusively) and Rhodes Parade, was purchased in Sydney in 1838 by speculators Hughes and Hosking. The Camerons may have owned it as part of a Run before survey or just leased it from the speculators, and are credited with giving Glenroy its name. However, Donald Angus Kennedy, who bought the estate in the mid-1840s, bestowed the name according to his 1864 obituary in The Argus. Kennedy's mother was Grace (née Cameron).[2]
Initial development in the area started with a small settlement around the North East railway line at the end of the 19th century, with the Glenroy Post Office opening on 22 October 1888.[3]
After World War II, significant development occurred when organisations such as Australian National Airways, the War Services Homes Commission and the Housing Commission of Victoria developed large areas of Glenroy. Residential development continued rapidly through the 1950s, and a Glenroy East Post Office opened in 1958 (closing in 1977).
Demographics
In the 2016 census, there were 22,245 people in Glenroy. 49.3% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were India 6.3%, Italy 4.0%, Pakistan 4.0%, Nepal 3.5% and Lebanon 2.4%. 41.6% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Arabic 8.4%, Italian 6.1%, Urdu 4.5%, Turkish 4.2% and Nepali 3.8%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 27.2%, Islam 18.7% and No Religion 17.1%.[4]
Prominent road infrastructure is also provided, with Pascoe Vale Road running through the east of the suburb and the Western Ring Road forming the suburb's northern boundary. Other arterials within the suburb include Daley Street, Glenroy Road, Hilton Street, Plumpton Avenue, and Widford Street.
Golfers play at the course of the Northern Golf Club on Glenroy Road.[14]
Glenroy is home to the Glenroy Cricket Club, who compete in the VTCA. The club shares their home ground with the Glenroy Football Club and is located on the north-east corner of the Northern Golf Club, on Glenroy Road.
Glenroy is home to professional track star Mina Eskander.[citation needed]