Even the concreted-over creek is being brought back to life as Moonee Ponds ascends into the sky.
It’s 20 minutes from the city, but many Melburnians couldn’t point to it on a map. It’s been described as– others know it simply as Dame Edna Everage’s home ’burb. It’s the “forgotten” inner-city suburb that Tina Arena, Bill Shorten and Jason Moran all have in common – and it’s changing fast.
“It’s the same radius out of the city as Brunswick, Northcote, Prahran, and I think we’re growing and catching up to those places in nightlife, culture, cafes and being the place to be.”The origin of the name Moonee Ponds has never been pinned down, but it is most likely Indigenous, according to the Essendon Historical Society. Traditional owners the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung relied on the Maribyrnong River, Moonee Ponds Creek and Steele Creek for fishing, transport and food.
“I’ve got first, second and third generations of people coming in here to buy for their grandchildren,” says Kenny, who is also president of the Moonee Ponds Chamber of Commerce.The COVID years were hard for the strip, and some point to the emergence of $2 shops and pawn brokers on the strip as a sign of hard economic times. But unlike nearby Mount Alexander Road where there numerous vacant shops, there’s barely a “for lease” sign on Puckle Street.
“You can’t have increased population without increased transport facilities and we don’t have them. It’s going to be a big issue,” he says.But Rob Furness, whose family has run Sims Sports since 1935 , says the new high-rise residents have been a saving grace for the shopping area. IT consultant David Uber, 30, says the proximity to the city is the biggest drawcard of the area, and says Moonee Ponds is spoilt for public transport with the Craigieburn train line, three tram lines and multiple bus routes.
“There’s a kind of subsonic pulse in MoPo, making it more diverse, a bit edgier,” she told a council meeting this week.
Despite heavy hitters bristling to take up tenancy in the infield, opening access to the racecourse to locals with community spaces is also still baked into the plan, said Moonee Valley Racing Club CEO Michael Browell.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sister Pledge: French nuns sell cleaning products to pay abbey billsSisters of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges started enterprise to cover soaring electricity costs
Read more »
Absolutely not: Joanna Lumley on why Ab Fab could never be made todayIn the countdown to her Australian tour, the grande dame of English comedy explains why the outrageous Patsy Stone is a creature of the past.
Read more »
Absolutely not: Joanna Lumley on why Ab Fab could never be made todayIn the countdown to her Australian tour, the grande dame of English comedy explains why the outrageous Patsy Stone is a creature of the past.
Read more »
Absolutely not: Joanna Lumley on why Ab Fab could never be made todayIn the countdown to her Australian tour, the grande dame of English comedy explains why the outrageous Patsy Stone is a creature of the past.
Read more »
Happy 90th birthday, Shirley MacLaine: her 20 best filmsKooky kid sister, romantic lead, comic turn, cantankerous old dame … we pick out her greatest roles
Read more »
Police tactical response group trackers join search for man missing north of BroomeA specialised police unit has flown to Broome to help search for 21-year-old Zane Stevens, who hasn't been seen for three days.
Read more »