Murrumbeena is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Glen Eira local government area. Murrumbeena recorded a population of 9,996 at the 2021 census.
Murrumbeena is a small and highly coveted suburban area with extensive parklands and a rich artistic heritage.
It has multiple commercial zones featuring services and cafes, including: Murrumbeena Village, nearby the train station; Poath Road; North Road; and Murrumbeena Road nearby the Beauville Estate and Duncan McKinnon Reserve.
Toponymy
The name "Murrumbeena" derives from the Aboriginal word "mirambena.” It may have meant "land of frogs", "moss growing on decayed wood" or it may be a derivative from the name of an Aboriginal elder. The evidence for any of these etymologies is uncertain. The name was officially adopted when the railway station opened in 1879.
History
The Boon Wurrung, the Indigenous Australians of the Kulin Nation, are recognised as the traditional owners of the land now known as Murrumbeena.
A more in-depth look at Murrumbeena’s history and historic photos can be found at Glen Eira Historical Society’s Victorian Collections page and at Murrumbeena 3163.’ 14 May 1879 – Murrumbeena Railway station opens and the name Murrumbeena is officially adopted for the settlement 21 September 1889 – Railway station signal box contract signed to erect by J. Brown. 12 May 1890 – Murrumbeena Post Office opens 1891 – A Murrumbeena football team competed against Oakleigh and other clubs. 1900 – Film segments of Soldiers of the Cross, the world's first narrative drama film presentation, shot at Murrumbeena Girls Home. 1918 – Murrumbeena Football Club is formed 1921 – Merric Boyd opens Australia's first pottery studio at Open Country, 8 Wahroonga Crescent 1922 – Electrification of railway & wicket gates 12 May 1923 - Murrumbeena Bowls Club is formed and plays at 'The Green', a 4 rink private bowling green owned by A. W. P. Olsen, a local Real Estate Agent at 'Oakdene' 41 Murrumbeena Road 1930s – Fredrick Cox commences Jolliff Pottery 1939 – Hatton Beck and Lucy Boyd open Altamira Pottery 1944 – Arthur Boyd, John Perceval and Peter Herbst establish Arthur Merric Boyd (AMB) Pottery at 500 Neerim Road 1972 – Shortening of railway siding at station used to deliver coal and goods. 1972 – Schwob's Swiss Bakery expand into manufacturing, moving to premises in Murrumbeena 6 December 1977 – Removal of railway siding at station. 1989 – Boyd Park established and officially opened by the Mayor of Caulfield, Veronica Martens. Caulfield Environment Group established by local residents to rehabilitate and plant flora in park. 1996 – Murrumbeena Secondary College closed 1998 – Oasis Bakery established 2004 – Murrumbeena Community Bank established to support local businesses and the community 2006 – The second Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship held in Murrumbeena 2010 – The Neerim Road level crossing identified by the RACV as one of the worst for traffic congestion in metropolitan Melbourne. 2016 – The Victorian government announce plans for grade separation works with an elevated rail project to run through Carnegie, Murrumbeena and Hughesdale, and the relocation of Hughesdale station to within Murrumbeena 2018 – New elevated station opens 2021 – Murrumbeena Village Precinct receives Heritage Overlay
Murrumbeena Village
Heritage protected Murrumbeena Village (1880s) sits on the main street of Neerim Road, the intersection of Murrumbeena Road and the railway station. The oldest building (430 Neerim Road) is a double storey Victorian era building dating from 1889. The village contains modern cafes and dining options (modern Australian, Chinese, fish and chips, Indian, pizza, Thai, Vietnamese); a wine bar; businesses including hairdressers/barbers, florist and curio/op shops; and services including a bank, post office, newsagent and pharmacy. Yoga and dance studios, and a martial arts centre also feature in this area.
Artist Merric Boyd would buy his sketchbooks (Octavo Spirax #577) at the newsagency here.
Murrumbeena Village is currently undergoing a creative revival following major infrastructure upgrades during 2017–2019. Numerous unique street cafes, evening dining options and a wine bar have popped up alongside small businesses in creative fields which value the suburb's combined ease of access, walkability and village feel.
A creative market with local wares pops up fortnightly on Sundays (The Alleyway, Neerim Road) opposite the station. 'Local Sundays,' combines live music with barefoot bowls on the last Sunday of the month at the nearby Murrumbeena Bowls Club.