Welcome!

Dingley Village began its life in a similar fashion to the other suburbs we’ve read about – as a small community based around family-run market gardens. At that time, there was no efficient way to transport or refrigerate foods, it’s easy to see why small local farms were the basis of so many of our populated areas.

Dingley Village began as a small community, centred around market gardens, and was known simply as Dingley. Established in the early 1960s were a small shopping centre, school, kindergarten and reserve. Attractions now include Sunday Markets at Dingley Reserve and a number of golf courses. It retained a village atmosphere, and the name was officially changed to Dingley Village in 1991, to reflect this.

The area was mainly used for market gardening until World War 2.  For some time, sand mining was the main industry, with the pits later becoming rubbish tips, and then parks.

Delve into these delightful Dingley Village Quick facts:

  • Dingley Village has an area of 7.9 km squared.
  • Dingley Village is bounded by the Dingley Bypass and Westall Road in the North, Springvale Road in the East, Lower Dandenong Road in the South, and Boundary Road in the West.
  • The State electorates for Dingley Village are the Clarinda District and the Keysborough District.
  • The Federal electorate for Dingley Village is the Hotham Division.

Discover more facts about Dingley Village by clicking on the tabs above.

Name origins

In 1856, Thomas Attenborough and his sister Mary built one of the first homes in Dingley Village. Thomas named his house Dingley Grange, after Dingley Hall, in Northumberland, England, where he had lived. The name Dingley comes from two Anglo Saxon words. 'Dingle' - meaning a deep valley or dell, with trees, and 'Lea' - a clearing or a pasture.

Once part of the Shire of Dandenong, Dingley Village then became part of the Shire of Springvale and Noble Park on 31 May 1955. Later this became the City of Springvale then Kingston. In 1989 a Committee was formed to put the 'Village' back in the name Dingley. The official name change to Dingley Village was published in the Government Gazette on Wednesday 7 August 1991.

Access the Kingston Historical website


Attenborough home on the southern corner of Charman Road and Coape Street. The photograph shows the Fairlam family who were later occupants of the house.

Population

  • Census DatePopulation
  • 1933301
  • 1947484
  • 20019965
  • 200610,073
  • 201110,186
  • 201610,279

Events

  • 1856
  • 1858
  • 1870
  • 1873
  • 1876
  • 1904
  • 1905
  • 1913
  • 1916
  • 1922
  • 1925
  • 1929
  • 1931
  • 1937
  • 1947
  • 1951
  • 1958
  • 1959
  • 1960
  • 1964
  • 1965
  • 1966
  • 1969
  • 1971
  • 1972
  • 1973
  • 1974
  • 1974
  • 1976
  • 1977
  • 1989
  • 1991
  • 1999
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2016
  • 2017

1856

Thomas Attenborough and his sister, Mary, built their home Dingley Grange named after Dingley Hall in Northampshire. Access the Kingston Historical website.

Thomas Attenborough, Dingley Pioneer. Image courtesy Kingston Collection.

1858

The first Church, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, was built. This later became the Heatherton-Dingley Uniting Church, located at the corner of Kingston and Old Dandenong Roads. This is one of the oldest buildings in Kingston.

1870

Kingston Common School was established. This became the Heatherton State School. Thomas Attenborough helped found the school, which is now used as a Teachers' College. Access the Kingston Historical website.

1876

Mary Attenborough died on Thursday 22 June, aged 67. Mary had led the establishment of the Church of Christ, Dingley, and the first Sunday school. Her brother Thomas, who was 10 years younger, was also influential in the area. Access the Kingston Libraries website.

1905

In February a serious bushfire destroyed buildings of Christ Church, burned the ivy covering the church walls and cracked the bell.

1913

The Post Office opened on the 21st July.

1916

The Gartside brothers - Alfred, Gerald, Henry, William and Henry - opened a cannery, which processed the oversupply of vegetables from their Market Gardens. It produced cans of carrots, parsnips, beetroot, turnips, cabbage, potatoes, peas, cauliflowers, spinach, beans, celery, onions, mushrooms and sweet corn. Access Kingston Historical Website. Access the Gartside Family In Dingley Village Website.

Grading peas at Gartsides, Dingley 1945. Image courtesy Museums Victoria Collections.

1929

Electricity came to Dingley.

1931

The Village Church began as the Dingley Union Gospel Mission. In 1953, the Village church building opened on Marcus Road. It was demolished to make way for the Dingley Village Shopping Centre renovations. The Church still meets In Harold Box Hall.

1947

The Dingley Progress Association was formed.

Dingley from Christ Church tower. c1940. Image courtesy Dingley and District Historical Society.

1951

Dingley Indoor Bowls began.

1960

In April, William Chadwick subdivided land around Pauline Avenue for shops and housing leading to the growth of Dingley Village.

1964

Dingley Public Hall was built. This was renamed in 1997 after Harold Box, who was a former councillor for Springvale from 1965-1983, Mayor from 1968-69 and 1976-1977.

1965

In Marcus Rd, the first Kindergarten opened.

1966

Gartside Canning Factory was sold, and the land redeveloped for housing. The site of the cannery has been remembered with Cannery Rd which is off Centre Dandenong Rd.

1969

In May the first Catholic Mass was held at Harold Box Hall. Father James Shorten would ride his bike from St Joseph’s Church, Springvale. This was the beginning of St Mark’s Catholic Church.

Gartside brothers Canning Factory. Image courtesy Dingley Historical Society.

1971

Dingley Village Community Association was formed to deal with issues like rates, roads and rubbish.

1972

Dingley Dossier (a community newsletter) started publication. This ended in July 1983, after 91 issues over eleven years.

1973

Christ Church Dingley celebrates 100 years.

Dingley Christ Church, 1968. John T. Collins Image courtesy State Library of Victoria.

1974

St Mark’s Catholic Church new building was dedicated and opened. Previously Church meetings had been held in the Harold Box Hall.

1977

Dingley Community Centre opened. In 1988 it became the Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre. Courses offered include Computer, job skills, English language and recreation. Child care, a Farmers market are amongst other activities offered. Access the Dingley Village Neighbourhood website

1989

The 'Let’s Put the Village back into Dingley' committee was formed.

Plaque on a Dingley Rock in Pethybridge Place, Dingley Village, 2006. Plaque reads “To commemorate the Declaration by the Place Names Committee of the Assignment of the name Dingley Village. The area assigned: West – Boundary Rd., South - Lower Dandenong Rd., East – Springvale Rd., and Freeway Reserve, North – Freeway Reserve. This occasion was officially recognised on 7–8–91". Image courtesy Kingston Collection.

1991

After the successful name change to Dingley Village, the committee became the Dingley Village Community Association.

1999

The new building of St Mark’s Catholic Church opened.

2012

The Dingley War Memorial is dedicated on the 29th March. The sculpture was inspired by the ANZAC Rising Sun badge.Monument Australia Website.
The Dingoes introduced Netball becoming the Dingley Football Netball Club.

Dingley War Memorial. Image courtesy the City of Kingston.

2013

Kingswood Golf Club and Peninsula Country Golf Club merged in September 2013. This was the first merger of Golf clubs in Australia. The Dingley site will close after September 2018 members can still use the Frankston site.

2016

The 6.4 kilometre Dingley Bypass is completed linking Westall Rd to Warrigal Rd.
Spring Rd reserve is opened to the public. Once landfill this 38 hectares reserve will have large areas for dogs to run. Access the Moorabbin Kingston Leader website.

Springs Rd Reserve. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

2017

Hawthorn Football Club purchased land on the borders of Old Dandenong Rd and Tootals Rd. They aim to build a world class facility which could cost up to 100 million dollars.

Planning for Hawthorn Football Club new Headquarters. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

Places

Christ Church Dingley

At the junction of Centre Dandenong Rd and Old Dandenong Rd, you can still see the beautiful stone Church Christ Church, Dingley. Mary Attenborough donated the land for the Church, which opened on September 21st, 1873.

The first Vicar was Henry Plow Kane. It was designed by architect Charles Webb.

The Church is classified by the National Trust as a building of historical significance. Stained glass in the Church honors pioneers in Dingley Village. The Church Hall was built in 1989 in similar style to the Church.

Victorian Heritage : Christ Church.


Dingley Christ Church, 1968. John T. Collins Image courtesy State Library of Victoria.

Peninsula Kingston Country Golf Club.

People

Thomas Attenborough

Thomas Attenborough was born in Dingley, Northamptonshire, UK, the youngest of five brothers. He travelled to Melbourne with his sister Mary in 1853, aboard the Roxburgh Castle. In 1856 he bought 170 acres of land for 280 pounds, naming his house Dingley Grange. From 1864-1869 Thomas was a member of the Moorabbin Roads Board, which made new roads and maintained old ones.

1867 Thomas was on a Committee to establish the Kingston Common School. 1867-1877 he was elected President of the Shire of Dandenong. In 1881 he was one of the dignitaries at Mordialloc Station to welcome the first train. In 1882 Thomas married Mary Jane Stokes in the United Kingdom.

Thomas passed away on August 10th, 1898. His death he was recognized with a stained glass window in Christ Church, Dingley Village. He is buried in Cheltenham Cemetery. Attenborough Park in Aspendale is named after him.

Access the Monument Australia website


Thomas Attenborough, Dingley Pioneer. Image courtesy Kingston Collection.

Gwen Mussert.

Gwen Mussert came to Dingley in 1946, living in a house opposite Gartside’s Canning factory. She ran a poultry farm on seven acres of land, and worked at the factory. After World War 1, she took into her own home, and cared for, people suffering from tuberculosis. She nursed many seriously ill patients back to health. Mussert Avenue was named in her honour. The avenue goes through the land where her home had been.

Harold Chivers Box.

Harold Chivers Box first job on moving to Dingley Village was at a poultry farm located where Chivers Court is now. He went on to become a councillor for Springvale Council from 1965-1983. He was Mayor from 1968-1969 and 1976-1977. Very involved in the community he was the first President of the following clubs: Dingley Baseball, Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre, Rotary Club and the Dingley Village Probus Club.Harold was Vice President of the Dingley Village Abbeyfield Society in 1991 as well as being voted Springvale's Citizen of the Year. He died in 1993 and in 1997 to remember all he had contributed to the community the Dingley Public Hall was renamed the Harold Box Hall.

Dingley Library and the Harold Box Hall. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

Joe Souter.

Joe was the first head of the Recreation Committee that built the oval and Hall. He was also involved in raising money for the project. Joe remained President for 15 years, the oval was named after him, Souter oval. He was a succesful market gardener, well known for his story telling and very clever with mechanics. Joe was Chairman of Ausveg a organisation which represents all vegetable growers in Victoria from 1970-1971. He died in September 2009 living to the age of 95.

Fun Facts

Brothers Nic and Chris Chester, from the rock band, Jet, grew up in Dingley Village.

Jet Perform On The Yarra River. Image courtesy Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.

There was no mail delivery or street addresses in the early days. All mail went to the nearest post office at Heatherton.
Fortnightly euchre party and dance used to be held at Dingley. Euchre is a card game.
Up to the 1970’s, snakes were often seen in the area. These included tiger, copperhead, red-bellied and king brown snakes.
The Melbourne Hunt Club would gather in the paddocks around Christ Church, Dingley.

Melbourne Hunt Club at Dingley May 22nd , 1929. Image courtesy Trove.

Marcus Clarke wrote part of his famous novel 'For the Term of His Natural Life' whilst staying on his cousin’s Sir Andrew Clarke on his estate in Dingley Village in a weekend Hunting Box.

Marcus Clarke, c.1891. Image courtesy State Libary of Victoria.

Adam Lindsay Gordon - Australian poet, horseman and politician - was a guest of Marcus Clarke when he was staying in Dingley.

Adam Lindsay Gordon c.1890. Image courtesy State Library of Victoria.

When world-famous pilot, Amy Johnson, flew from London in 1930, the girls from Gartsides factory went to welcome her. The boss drove them in the work truck!
Annual Pet expo held in Dingley Village.

Pet Expo 2017 at Corrigan Oval, Dingley Village.

In 2014 Australian Tennis player Sam Groth represented the Dingley Tennis Club. The Club has one of the best teams in the Victorian division of the Asia-Pacific Tennis League.
There is a Banksia Marginata tree outside Five Ways Caravan Park, 597 Lower Dandenong Road, Dingley Village. It is considered to be significant and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Database. Access theVictorian Heritage Database.

Banksia Marginata at Five Ways Caravan Park, 597 Lower Dandenong Road, Dingley Village. Image courtesy City of Kingston.

Marcus Road and Clarke road were named after the author Marcus Clarke who lived on the corner of Springs Rd whilst doing some writing.

Photos


A couple in front of the Dingley Church July, 1935. Image courtesy Museums Victoria Collections.


Grading peas at Gartsides, Dingley 1945. Image courtesy Museums Victoria Collections.


Thomas Attenborough, Dingley Pioneer. Image courtesy Kingston Collection.


Dingley Christ Church, 1968. John T. Collins Image courtesy State Library of Victoria.


Melbourne Hunt Club at Dingley May 22nd , 1929. Image courtesy Trove.


Foundation Stone of Christ Church Dingley. Image courtesy Kingston Collection.


Plaque on a Dingley Rock in Pethybridge Place, Dingley Village, 2006. Plaque reads “To commemorate the Declaration by the Place Names Committee of the Assignment of the name Dingley Village. The area assigned: West – Boundary Rd., South - Lower Dandenong Rd., East – Springvale Rd., and Freeway Reserve, North – Freeway Reserve. This occasion was officially recognised on 7–8–91". Image courtesy Kingston Collection.


Dingley. (1899, August 16). South Bourke and Mornington Journal Image retrieved courtesy Trove.


Marcus Clarke, c.1891. Image courtesy State Libary of Victoria.


Jet Perform On The Yarra River. Image courtesy Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.


Adam Lindsay Gordon c.1890. Image courtesy State Library of Victoria.


Pet Expo 2017 at Corrigan Oval, Dingley Village.


Planning for Hawthorn Football Club new Headquarters. Image courtesy City of Kingston.


Springs Rd Reserve. Image courtesy City of Kingston.


March 2016 Dingley Bypass Community Open Day. Image courtesy City of Kingston.


Kingswood Golf Club, 2017. Image City of Kingston.


Dingley War Memorial. Image courtesy the City of Kingston.


Attenborough home on the southern corner of Charman Road and Coape Street. The photograph shows the Fairlam family who were later occupants of the house.


A group of Bike Riders from Dingley. Image courtesy City of Kingston.


Dingley Library and the Harold Box Hall. Image courtesy City of Kingston.


Gartside brothers Canning Factory. Image courtesy Dingley Historical Society.


Grigg and son outside Milk Bar. Image courtesy Dingley Historical Society.


Tractors levelling the site for the oval at Marcus Rd. Image courtesy Dingley Historical Society.


Dingley from Christ Church tower. c1940. Image courtesy Dingley and District Historical Society.


Banksia Marginata at Five Ways Caravan Park, 597 Lower Dandenong Road, Dingley Village. Image courtesy City of Kingston.