Brighton, Victoria

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Brighton
Melbourne, Victoria
Brighton Town Hall
Brighton is located in Melbourne
Brighton
Brighton
Map
Coordinates37°54′18″S 144°59′46″E / 37.905°S 144.996°E / -37.905; 144.996
Population23,252 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density2,836/km2 (7,340/sq mi)
Established1840
Postcode(s)3186
Elevation15 m (49 ft)
Area8.2 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Location11 km (7 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)City of Bayside
State electorate(s)Brighton
Federal division(s)Goldstein
Suburbs around Brighton:
Port Phillip Elwood Elsternwick
Port Phillip Brighton Brighton East
Port Phillip Hampton Hampton

Brighton is an affluent suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District,[2] located within the City of Bayside local government area. Brighton recorded a population of 23,252 at the 2021 census.[1]

Brighton is named after Brighton in England.[3]

History

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In England, on 29 August 1840, Henry Dendy (1800–81) purchased 5,120 acres (2,070 ha) of Port Phillip land at £1 per acre, sight unseen, under the terms of the short-lived Special Survey regulations.[4] Dendy arrived on 5 February 1841 to claim his land. The area was known as Dendy's Special Survey.

The area Dendy was compelled to take, called "Waterville", was bound by the coastline to the west and the present day North Road, East Boundary Road and South Road.[5] A town was surveyed in mid-1841, defined by the crescent-shaped street layout which remains today, and subdivided allotments were offered for sale. The area soon became the "Brighton Estate", and Dendy's site for his own home was named "Brighton Park". Unfortunately, the land did not have any ready sources of water. Sales were slow at first, and the financial depression came and Dendy's scheme for emigration and land sales failed. The family of his agent Jonathan Binns Were (1809–85) who had arrived in Melbourne in 1839, bought the land.[6] All of Dendy's business ventures failed, and he died a pauper.

After the depression, sales of land resulted in Brighton becoming the third most populated town in the Port Phillip District (after Melbourne and Portland), by 1846. Brighton attracted wealthy residents who wanted generous building sites and the prospect of sea bathing. By the late 1840s stately homes were built in an area known as 'The Terrace', now called the Esplanade, overlooking Dendy Street Beach. The Brighton Post Office opened on 19 April 1853.[7]

St Andrew's Anglican Church, Brighton, one of the earliest churches in Victoria, was founded in 1842. Wesleyan and Catholic churches followed by 1848, and a Methodist church in 1851. Schools were opened on the Anglican Church land (1849) and by the Catholic Church in Centre Road (1850). Another was opened in the Wesleyan Church in 1855. In 1854, Brighton had a census population of 2,731.

A railway connection to Melbourne was built in stages: Windsor to North Brighton was completed in 1859 and connected to the loop line to St Kilda station; the connection to Melbourne was made in 1860; and the line was extended from North Brighton to Brighton Beach in 1861. A single line railway-tram from St Kilda to Brighton Beach was completed in 1906. The railway tramline was duplicated in 1914. In 1919 the railway was electrified. A tram ran down Hawthorn Road; the section from Glenhuntly to North Road was completed in 1925 and extended to Nepean Highway in 1937.

The noted bathing boxes in Brighton are known to have existed as far back as 1862, although the earliest ones were at the water's edge at the end of Bay St[8] rather than their present location on Dendy Street Beach just south of Middle Brighton.[9] In 1906, the completion of a tram line from St Kilda to Brighton led to an increase in applications for bathing box permits and significant construction between 1908 and 1911; final numbers are uncertain, but between 100 and 200 bathing box sites may have been allocated prior to the Great Depression.[8] As part of capital works programs during the Depression to help relieve unemployment, the City of Brighton, backed by State Government funding, relocated all bathing boxes to the high-water mark on Dendy Street Beach, or removed them completely. The boxes were relocated again in 1934 to their present position at the rear of this beach.[10]

Two years after the opening of the railway line to Brighton Beach in 1861, Captain Kenny's Brighton Beach Baths opened.[11] At the time, bathing in the open during daylight hours was strictly prohibited, as was mixed bathing: separate sections of the beach were designated for men and for women. The baths were built off shore and were accessed by a wooden bridge, so that bathers would not have to cross the sand clad only in bathing costumes, but could gain entry straight into the water. Brighton Beach Baths had been destroyed several times, and were finally demolished in 1979.[12] The Middle Brighton Municipal Baths were opened in 1881. The Baths are one of the only remaining caged open water sea baths in Australia.

On 18 January 1859, the municipality of Brighton was proclaimed extending eastwards between Dendy's survey boundaries to Thomas Street and Nepean Highway. Brighton became a borough in October 1863, and in 1870 parts of Elwood and Elsternwick were added. Brighton became a town on 18 March 1887. It annexed 13.8 hectares (34.1 acres) from the City of Moorabbin on 3 April 1912 and became the City of Brighton on 12 March 1919.[13] On 14 December 1994, the City of Brighton was incorporated in a new municipality called City of Bayside.[14]

The Brighton Magistrates' Court closed on 1 February 1985.[15]

  • Church Street, Middle Brighton in 1907
    Church Street, Middle Brighton in 1907
  • Postcard of Brighton Beach in 1910
    Postcard of Brighton Beach in 1910
  • John Knox church (built 1876) in Brighton
    John Knox church (built 1876) in Brighton
  • St Joan of Arc church in Brighton, 2021
    St Joan of Arc church in Brighton, 2021
  • Heritage Kamesburgh Gardens in North Road
    Heritage Kamesburgh Gardens in North Road
  • Aftermath of the Brighton tornado of 2 Feb 1918
    Aftermath of the Brighton tornado of 2 Feb 1918

Today

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Aerial panorama of Middle Brighton pier and its surrounds; February 2023
Brighton baths health club

On the beach, Beach Road is a popular cycling route, with the Bay Trail off-road walking/cycling tracks also following the coastline.

Dendy Street Beach, just south of Middle Brighton, features 82 colorful bathing boxes,[9] which are one of the tourist icons of Melbourne. The boxes share a uniformity of size and build, and a regular arrangement along the beach, and are the only surviving such structures close to the Melbourne CBD.[16] A Planning Scheme Heritage Overlay on the boxes by the Bayside City Council restricts alterations, and all retain their Victorian era architecture, such as timber frames, weatherboard sidings, and corrugated iron roofs, without amenities such electricity or running water.[16] The bathing boxes may only be purchased by residents paying local council rates, and as of 2020 were selling for prices in the range of A$300,000 - 400,000 with annual council rates of around A$500, despite their lack of amenities.[17] In 2009 plans were announced to build at least six new bathing boxes in an effort by the council to raise funds in excess of A$1 million during the 2007–2008 financial crisis.[17]

The bathing boxes on Dendy Street Beach with Middle Brighton pier and breakwater and the city skyline in the background

Between Middle Brighton Beach and Sandown St Beach are the historic moderne Middle Brighton Municipal Baths, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, and the Middle Brighton Pier and breakwater.[9] North Road in Brighton features many old churches and residences. The North Road Pavilion is a café which has an outlook of Port Phillip Bay, while the beachfront features views of the Melbourne city skyline.

There are two cinemas in Brighton, Palace Cinemas in Middle Brighton Palace Brighton cinema located at Bay Street North Brighton

Aerial panorama of Elsternwick Park and Port Philip Bay. Shot February 2023.
Elsternwick Park Aerial panorama with Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve and the Cricket Club in the frame.

The former Brighton Municipal Offices, now the Brighton library and council chamber, were designed by K. F. Knight in 1959-60 are a red brick miniature of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The interior furnishings were created by industrial designer Grant Featherston.[18]

Population

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Vertical aerial panorama of Middle Brighton Pier.and the Brighton Baths from above. February 2023.

In the 2016 Census, there were 23,253 people in Brighton. 68.1% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 5.4%, China 2.8%, New Zealand 1.7%, United States of America 1.2% and South Africa 1.1%. 79.0% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 3.2%, Greek 1.9%, Italian 1.5%, Russian 1.4% and French 0.8%. The most common responses for religion in Brighton were Christianity 55.9%, No Religion 33.6%, Catholic 22.5% (subsector of Christianity) and Anglican 16.7% (subsector of Christianity.[19]

Transport

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Brighton is serviced by the Gardenvale, North Brighton, Middle Brighton, and Brighton Beach railway stations on the Sandringham line.

Tram Route 64 from Melbourne University services the eastern extremities of the suburb,[20] while there are also a range of bus services, including 216,[21] Monash University bound 630[22] and 219[23] which run through the Melbourne CBD. Several major arterial roads run near or through Brighton.

The Bay Trail off-road bicycle path passes through the Brighton foreshore.

  • North Brighton station
    North Brighton station
  • Middle Brighton station
    Middle Brighton station

Education

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  • Brighton Primary School
    Brighton Primary School
  • St Joan of Arcs Primary School
    St Joan of Arcs Primary School
Aerial panorama of Middle Brighton Pier and its fleet of yachts. February 2023.

Secondary schools within Brighton includes Brighton Grammar School, Brighton Secondary College, Firbank Girls' Grammar School, Haileybury's Castlefield campus, St Leonard's College, Xavier College's Kostka Hall junior campus (closed down in 2021), and Star of the Sea College.

The Melbourne International School of Japanese, a part-time Japanese school, previously held its classes at the Brighton Grammar School in Brighton.[24] The local Catholic Primary schools are St Joan of Arcs Brighton and St James Primary School which is near Star of the Sea.[25]

Sport

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Golfers play at the Brighton Public Golf Course[26] on Dendy Street.[27]

Brighton is home to the Brighton Icebergers.

Brighton Beach is one of Port Phillip Bay's premier kite surfing locations with designated access lanes for kitesurfing and regular lessons being held opposite the beachfront hotel; The Brighton Savoy.

Bridge is taught and played the Dendy Park bridge club.[28]

Brighton is also home to the following sports clubs:

  • Bayside Cougars Hockey Club
  • Brighton Soccer Club
  • Cluden Cricket Club
  • East Brighton United Soccer Club
  • Old Brighton Grammarians Amateur Football Club (Australian Rules)

Notable residents

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Some notable residents, past and present, include:[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Brighton (Vic.) (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Edit this at Wikidata Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
  2. ^ "Postcode for Brighton, Victoria (near Melbourne) - Postcodes Australia". postcodes-australia.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  3. ^ Monash University Gazetteer. "Australian Places – Brighton". Archived from the original on 29 June 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  4. ^ A History of Brighton by Weston Bate (1983)
  5. ^ "People: Henry Dendy: The Squire Who Had No Head For Business". 19 July 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  6. ^ Bate, Weston (1983). A History of Brighton (2nd ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. 101–103. ISBN 0522842704.
  7. ^ "Post Office List. Brighton". premierpostal.com. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b "History – Pre and Post European settlement to 1930". Brighton Bathing Box Association Inc. 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  9. ^ a b c Greater Melbourne Street Directory 2007 (34 ed.). Mount Waverley: Melway Publishing Pty Ltd. 2006. pp. Maps 67, 76. ISBN 0-909439-24-9.
  10. ^ "History – Realignment and loss 1931–1960". Brighton Bathing Box Association Inc. 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  11. ^ "Bayside History Trail". Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  12. ^ "History & timeline - Brighton Bathing Box Association Inc". www.brightonbathingbox.org.au. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  13. ^ Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. pp. 318–319. Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.
  14. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 4. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
  15. ^ "Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria" (PDF). Auditor-General of Victoria. 1986. p. 79. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  16. ^ a b "The Brighton Bathing Boxes Melbourne, Australia". Brighton Bathing Box Association Inc. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  17. ^ a b Greenblat, Eli (26 February 2009). "Brighton shacks to help bolster council funds". theage.com.au. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  18. ^ Goad, Philip (1999). Melbourne architecture. Sydney: The Watermark Press. p. 185. ISBN 094928436X.
  19. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Brighton (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 August 2018. Edit this at Wikidata Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
  20. ^ "64 Melbourne University - East Brighton". Public Transport Victoria.
  21. ^ "216 Sunshine Station – City via Dynon Rd". Public Transport Victoria.
  22. ^ "630 Elwood - Monash University via Gardenvale & Ormond & Huntingdale". Public Transport Victoria.
  23. ^
  24. ^ Mizukami, Tetsuo. The Sojourner Community: Japanese Migration and Residency in Australia (Volume 10 of Social sciences in Asia, v. 10). BRILL, 2007. ISBN 9004154795, 9789004154797. p. 119.
  25. ^ St Joan of Arcs Brighton Bayside City Council [dead link]
  26. ^ "Brighton Golf Course". Brighton Golf Course. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  27. ^ Golf Select. "Brighton". Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  28. ^ Dendy Park Bridge Club Retrieved 6 June 2017
  29. ^ "Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  30. ^ "Wasim Akram: Pakistan cricket legend puts Brighton home on the market". Realestate.com.au. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023. Akram and wife Shaniera have owned the 31 Whyte St home for the past nine years, initially living in it before renting it out 12 months ago. "While there will always be a little part of me that's attached to this fantastic home, we're really happy to still be able to live in Brighton and enjoy everything this great area has to offer," he said.

Further reading

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