Clarinda – Kingston Yesteryear

Welcome!

Clarinda was settled before Clayton South, having a Church that opened in 1886. Clarinda is a mostly residential area with a multicultural population – more than 50% speak a language other than English. Clarinda’s once active sand quarries are now used for waste disposal and recycling – don’t mistake these things as bad or particularly yucky! It’s absolutely necessary for these facilities to exist for us to enjoy our way of life. I’m sure you can think of a great variety of reasons why. The southern area of Clarinda is quite the opposite as it’s used for horticulture, which is the growing of flowers and vegetables.

The land was heathland until it was settled (heathland being a wild area with plants shorter than 2 metres, so mainly shrubs and short trees). After that, Clarinda was mainly market gardens up until the 1950s, when more housing began to be built. It was 1970 when the Enterprise Migrant Centre opened in Springvale. It was a hostel that welcomed migrants from all over the world. Immigrants would stay 6-12 months and many of these people moved into the local area, developing the rich cultural mix that exists today. The Spirit of Enterprise Website.

Check out these key facts about Clarinda:

Clarinda has an area of 4 km² and is bounded by Centre Road on the North, Springs Road, Bourke Road and Clayton Road in the East, Dingley Bypass on the South and Clarinda Road in the West.
Clarinda is 19 kilometers south east of Melbourne.
The State electorate for Clarinda is the Clarinda District.
The Federal electorate for Clarinda is the Hotham Division.

Discover more about Clarinda by clicking on the tabs above.

Name origins

The area of Clarinda was first settled by that rather serious looking bloke below, John O’Shannessy. He had a squatting licence in the 1840s for a 40,000 ? block (squatting is when somebody can live on land without owning it – kind of like renting). John O’Shannessy was a man with a large personality who went on to become the second Premier of Victoria after deciding being a cattleman wasn’t for him.Access the Australian Dictionary of Biography website.

Bald Hill was the first name used for the area. To avoid confusion with Bald Hills in Ballarat, the name was changed to 'Bayview' because of the great views of Port Phillip Bay.

In 1912, the name was changed to Clarinda. One theory is that the name came from one of the many Scottish settlers. Clarinda was the name of a lady friend of the famous Scottish poet, Robbie Burns, Mrs Clarinda McLehose. He did write a poem called "Clarinda, Mistress of my Soul". Les Blake, in his book 'Place Names of Victoria', suggested that it was named after the American town, Clarinda, in Iowa. Jesse James frequently went through the town.

The late Sir John OShanassy, June 4, 1883. Image courtesy State Library of Victoria.

Population

Census DatePopulation
1933189
20017,961
20067,652
20117,461
20167,943

Events

1883
1886
1899
1901
1904
1905
1911
1913
1914
1923
1927
1950.
1954
1968
1971
1984
1986
1987
1999
2005
2007
2008
2011
2012
2016

1883

Clayton Railway Station opened on the new Gippsland Railway Line.

1886

Bald Hill Presbyterian Church was established. This later became the Clarinda Presbyterian Church. The South Bourke and Mornington Journal, in September 1886, reported on the opening of the Church on Sunday September 12 at Bald’s Hill, Clayton Road. The site was a free gift from the owners of the Bald Hills estate.

1899

On June 20, the first school was set up in the Presbyterian Church, called the Bald Hill Leased State School. Clarinda Primary School: School History Website.

1901

Bald Hill became Bay View Primary School. A year later this became Clarinda Primary School. Clarinda Primary School: School History Website.

1904

On Monday 12 September, the new School building for Clarinda Primary School was opened. Seventy-two children attended. This building remained until the 1970's when it was demolished and the new school building was built. Clarinda Primary School : School History Website.

1905

Moorabbin Council called for estimates to gravel 20 chains of Clarinda Road from Bunny Road. One chain = 20.12 metres.

1911

Clarinda Post Office opened on September 13.

1913

The first meeting of the Clarinda Tennis Club was held on the November 3.Clarinda Tennis Club Website : Club History.

Postcard - Group of Women & Men with Tennis Raquets, Walhalla, Victoria, 1905-1920. Image courtesy Museums Victoria Collection.

1914

On October 24, 1914, the courts were officially opened of the Clarinda Tennis Club. There was a membership of 25. Clarinda Tennis Club Website : Club History.

1923

On January 30, Springs Road Reserve was created.

1927

Kingston suburbs haven’t been lucky with fires, unfortunately. On Thursday January 20, a bushfire at Centre Road, Clarinda, destroyed fencing and 15 acres of grass. Yet another fire on Dandenong Road Clayton destroyed 20 acres of grass.

Fires near Oakleigh, 1927, January 21st. Image retrieved from Trove.

1950.

The arrival of the first war migrant students arrived at Clarinda Primary School, four children and three Dutch children.

The Henwood Family Emigrate To Australia. Image courtesy Britannica Imagequest.

1954

In May, prices for land averaged 100 pounds for each subdivision in Clarinda Road, Clarinda. That is $200 in today's money.

Property Sales (1954, May 31). The Age. Image courtesy of Trove.

1968

Clarinda likes their tennis. Another Tennis Club opened in a new location in Crawford Rd, after selling land in Clarinda Road to Electronic Industries Limited.

1971

Clarinda Post Office closes.

1984

Clarinda Post Office reopens.

1986

Clarinda Branch Library opened on August 11 at Sundowner, sharing the building with the Sundowner Kindergarten and Maternal Health Nurse. Sundowner Kindergarten open it's doors to children on 23 June.

1987

On March 22nd, the first meeting of the Clarinda Baptist Church was held at the Viney Street Community Hall. Access the Clarinda Baptist Church 1837-2017 Website.

1999

On June 20, Clarinda Primary School celebrated it's centenary.Clarinda Primary School Website: School History.

2005

On the November 21, the Lord Mayor Topsey Petchey opened the Clarinda Community Centre which included the Library and Central Bayside Community Health Service.

2007

Clayton West Primary School and Clarinda Primary School merged to become the new Clarinda Primary School.

2008

Bundle of Sticks by Artist Dr Elizabeth Weissensteiner was launched in April. The art work is based on the fable Bunch of Sticks and represents shared identity and purpose.Kingston Arts : Arts in Public Spaces Website.

Bunch of Sticks. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

2011

From June 2011 the Library operated as a mini Library whilst renovations were underway.

2012

Melaleuca Activity Hub reopened on July 20 after renovations. The Hub features a community garden and activities such as Tai Chi, Mum and bubs Yoga and Kingston Family Day Care group. Clarinda United FC started. It competes in the State member Football Federation Victoria South League. Clarinda United FC Website: About us. On the 17th February the Lord Mayor J.M. Ronke opened the redevelopment and extension of Clarinda Library.

Melaleuca Activity Hub. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

2016

The 6.4 kilometre Dingley Bypass is completed, linking Westall Road to Warrigal Road.

Dingley Bypass Open Day. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

Places

Bald Hill Park.

Bald Park pays respect to Clarinda’s first name. With over 13 hectares, Bald Hill Park sports a bike and walking path, picnic shelters and playgrounds. The area was actually one of those sandpits that Clarinda was once famous for. In 2012 the park was awarded the 2012 Victorian Kid Safe Award thanks to a smart design of three raised timber houses connected with suspension bridges.

People

Frederick John Holdsworth

Frederick John Holdsworth won the OAM in 2006 for service to the community, particularly the welfare of former servicemen.

Alana King

Born on the 22nd November 1995. Alana King is an Australian Cricketer who has played for both the Melbourne Stars and Victoria Spirit. Alana who grew up in Clarinda was only 9 when she started playing for Oakleigh. She is a Right arm leg spinner and right handed batter. Maddie Riewoldt's Vision: Alana King Website.

Fun Facts

Clarinda Poultry Farm occupied 22 acres off Centre Rd, Oakleigh. It housed a whopping 7,000 chickens. "The Australasian Newspaper said the farm was operated on sound principles. Crops are grown for green feed, with half the land being used for growing maize and peas.

Clarinda Poultry Farm, 1925. The Australasian. Image retrieved from Trove.

Clarinda was the site of the best laid out piggery in Melbourne in 1940.

Model Piggery at Clarinda, 1940. Image retrieved from Trove.

Ode to Clarinda written by Mary Keely in 1985 us a 13 verse ode to the suburbAccess the Ode to Clarinda Website

Photos

Sundowner Community Centre. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

The Sea-View Estate (Late Bald Hill Estate), Heatherton, East Brighton : a new government township adjoining Oakleigh c. 1880. Image courtesy State Library of Victoria.