Belgrave is a town and outer suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 36 km east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Belgrave recorded a population of 3,894 at the 2021 census.
History
Belgrave is situated in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, part of the land of the Wurundjeri first nations people. Belgrave was first settled by Europeans in 1851.
Belgrave was named after an 1840s chapel in Leeds, Yorkshire, England; the name was carried by Mr and Mrs R.G. Benson when they came to Melbourne in 1856. Their sons, the Benson Brothers, settled in the Belgrave district in the 1870s. Though originally the area was known as "Monbulk" for the reservoir that lay near by, the town wasn't known as Belgrave until around 1903, and another suggested name for the town at that stage was Glassford. A Post Office opened in the area around 1904. Many men from Belgrave went to the two world wars, and there is a war memorial in Belgrave.
McDonald's rejection
In 1993, the Shire of Sherbrooke prepared a site specific amendment for land adjoining the Belgrave roundabout to facilitate the development of a 70-seat McDonald's restaurant including drive-through. The proposal was unpopular attracting many objections from within the local community. The Panel approved the proposal but disallowed the drive-through. McDonald's decided not to proceed with the development. Application for a nearly identical proposal by the site owner was approved by Yarra Ranges Council in 1996 but lost on appeal at the Victorian Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Belgrave Volunteer Fire Brigade
The local fire brigade, currently an all volunteer Emergency Responder capability, was established by the local community in 1923. In 2023 it marked 100 years service to the local community.
The fire brigade is currently located in Bayview Road.
Business
Most of the commercial district of Belgrave is located on Main Street, which is at the end of Burwood Highway. There are also shops on Bayview Road, which is located just across the rail bridge. Belgrave has galleries and bookshops. There is an organic and fair trade emphasis amongst some businesses including Belgrave Organics, a number of cafés serving fairtrade coffee (Earthly Pleasures Organic Café, The Laughing Owl, Mareesa's Cafe, Tree of Delights and Bensons). There is Belgrave Emporium with stalls of new and vintage wares, works from local artists plus vintage clothing and items. There is a Woolworths supermarket, two hairdressing salons, a travel agency, a building design (drafting) service, a pharmacy, a butcher, a dry cleaner, a bakery, a patisserie “ The Blacksmith" a newsagency, a cinema, a few fast food outlets, restaurants, a Centrelink office, a pub and a few bars/lounges, two banks (the Commonwealth Bank and the Bendigo Bank), a tattoo studio, as well as a public library. It also has a very active Traders Association.
Tourism
Belgrave's most notable attraction is the heritage narrow gauge, steam-operated Puffing Billy Railway, which was reopened in 1962—after four years of restoration by volunteers—and travels through 24 kilometres of cool temperate rainforest, semi-urban development and rural farmland to Gembrook. It is also the terminus of the Belgrave railway line.
Other nearby attractions include The 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully, Sherbrooke Forest and Sherbrooke Falls in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Social scene
Belgrave has a park 3 km from the Main Street.
The Cameo Cinema has eight cinemas, with Cinema 1 dating to the 1930s. There is an outdoor Cinema at the rear of the building, which is open only during the summer months (December to March). There is a music scene with live acts taking place at Sooki Lounge, 12 Bar Belgrave, Zuke's Place, and Belgrave Hotel. There is a recording studio. The historic property known as Glen Harrow Gardens has been featured on travel television programs. During the summer months, Belgrave Pool is open. Belgrave pool is an outdoor 33m heated pool.
Special events
Belgrave has a growing reputation for popular, and innovative cultural events. Belgrave Survival Day is an annual event held on 26 January (Australia Day) and presents an opportunity for people in the area to honour and celebrate Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their continuing culture and heritage.